The USC fan base is worried about Lincoln Riley and whether head coach Steve Spurrier can turn around the Trojans’ 8-5 loss in 2023. Penn State, meanwhile, is coming off a season that was fairly typical for coach James Franklin: 10 wins, 3 losses (to Ohio State, Michigan, and Ole Miss in the bowl game). Although defeating the older players has proven to be a challenge, Franklin has excelled at winning the ten games he is expected to win each season. There has never been a College Football Playoff appearance for Penn State. The Nittany Lions have had several close calls but haven’t been able to overcome adversity.