In what will go down as one of the more memorable games in Rose Bowl history, Southern California and Penn State went down to the wire Monday night. USC prevailed, 52-49, but it was a back-and-forth contest throughout.

What were some of the more important, possibly overlooked plays of the game, and what wasn't shown on the final stat sheet? Let's check the tape.

- In what would prove to be the final game of his Penn State career, junior defensive end Garrett Sickels finished with only one tackle, but that shouldn’t be representative of his body of work against Southern California. From the beginning of the game he was disruptive, fighting through double teams, stunting to get away from them and then battling through what some referees would consider holding penalties.

- On this first play, when it was still scoreless in the first quarter, Sickels fires off the ball and then squeezes through two blockers in order to flush the ever-evasive QB Sam Darnold out of the pocket. With only a three-man rush, however, Darnold was able to roll out in order to find the open receiver, despite PSU dropping eight back into coverage. With this play coming on a third-and-10 on USC’s second offensive drive of the game, which ultimately results in its first touchdown, this could’ve been a critical early stop before the Trojans crossed midfield, if only Sickels had some frontside help in contain.

- For another example of Sickels’ pressure in the pass game, take this first down on the final drive of the second quarter. With USC leading by one possession and driving into Penn State territory, Sickels gives a relentless effort against LT Chad Wheeler. When Darnold attempts to step up into the pocket in order to get a clear path to his check-down receiver, Sickels drags down the 6-foot-4 224-pound QB, but not before he gets the ball off for an incomplete pass. Sickels didn’t get the sack, but this significant play negated any gain and two plays later USC missed a 49-yard field goal attempt.

- Sickels announced Wednesday night that he’ll forgo his senior year for a shot at the 2017 NFL Draft. Room for improvement does exist for Sickels, especially when it comes to his consistent stoutness in run support, but in what many consider to be a pass-first league, Sickels could be a valuable commodity for pro teams looking for a situational pass rusher. Despite finishing without a sack, he proved just that against the Trojans, as their OL clearly made him a point of emphasis throughout this game.

- Chris Godwin’s nine-catch night provided plenty of highlights, but what shouldn’t be overlooked is the consistent effort from the entire WR group in run blocking. I’ve highlighted this point before in this feature, because position coach Josh Gattis stresses to his pupils the importance of downfield blocks. Godwin’s body language on the first run of the game demonstrates just how important it is to them.

- On this 12-yard gain from RB Saquon Barkley early in the first quarter, pay close attention to Godwin’s block on CB Adoree Jackson. What is supposed to be a trap run left, Barkley bounces it out to his right as Godwin fights to stay in front of Jackson’s face. With USC LBs in pursuit, Barkley is forced to go toward the sideline, which allows Jackson to slip away from Godwin and make the tackle. A frustrated clap from Godwin at the end of the play illustrates the importance that he puts on making the block for his teammate.

- Godwin was effective most of the night in the run game, not to mention his 187-yard receiving night. His position-mates were as well. Although WR DaeSean Hamilton finished the game without a catch, he, too, was engaged in run-blocking efforts. Take this 16-yard swing pass to Barkley on first-and-10 in the second quarter as an example (above). With QB Trace McSorley floating it out to Barkley, the RB has TE Mike Gesicki, WR DeAndre Thompkins and Hamilton set up in front. They all get enough of a block to allow Barkley to gain yards after the catch, but watch how Hamilton finishes his. Against CB Ajene Harris, Hamilton violently fights to stay square all the way through the whistle, and he gave similar effort later in the game on run plays. This eventually leads to Penn State’s first TD of the game, which we’ll look at later.

- First, the effectiveness of the WR’s run blocking is best highlighted on this instant-classic 79-yard TD run from Barkley on PSU’s first offensive play of the second half. It’s an incredible individual effort from Barkley, breaking six tackles en route to the end zone, but with Thompkins staying on CB Jackson and with Hamilton cracking back on LB Cameron Smith, it opens up a path for Barkley to get through the first-down marker.

- Barkley then makes one of the better lateral cuts that you’ll see, leaving five would-be tacklers empty-handed, but it’s then Godwin’s effort at the very end of this run that helps escort Barkley into the end zone. If there was any concern about Godwin’s top-end speed, this play should alleviate some of that, as he at first leads Barkley before coming back for a block on Harris. Godwin then bounces off that block to get a burst out in front of Jackson just before Barkley crosses the goal line.

- There have been examples all season of OC Joe Moorhead’s effectiveness in his no-huddle, check-with-me offense, but there are few that are more clear than on the Nittany Lions’ first TD against USC.

- Facing a third-and-6 early in the second quarter, Moorhead recognizes a wide front and a possible blitz from the MLB. After McSorley looks to the sideline pre-snap, they call a run through the right A-gap. Due to USC’s formation, this large gain is first sparked by two key blocks from C Brian Gaia and OG Connor McGovern. With Gaia using textbook technique in order to open the shoulders of NT Josh Fatu and with McGovern picking up the inside blitz of LB Porter Gustin, it opens up a hole for Barkley to hit a burst at the LOS.

- With the DBs aware of a possible play-action pass on third-down, their initial hesitation creates poor pursuit angles and allows Barkley to speed past them en route to the end zone. When Penn State needed it most, trailing by 13 points, this call and run came precisely at the correct time.

- LB Brandon Bell provided one of the game’s highlights with his 24-yard interception return that set up a Penn State touchdown in the third quarter, but that play also proved to be his last, as he injured his right wrist. He would not return to the game and his absence proved costly.

- Bell wasn’t perfect in this game before he went down, but his leadership presence and, more, his physical presence were sorely missed after he left. Following his injury, PSU surrendered 243 yards and 24 points. This first-and-goal from the 3-yard line in the fourth quarter was one play in which Bell was needed.

- In part due to LB Manny Bowen’s suspension, true freshman LB Cam Brown, who weighs in at 215 pounds, was put into Bell’s box LB spot as a replacement. And USC ran directly at him here in the fourth quarter. Starting the play out of an off-set I-formation with the strength toward the boundary, QB Darnold gives the ball to RB Donald Jones out of a counter handoff. With Darnold initially opening up away from the strength of the formation, the counter draws Brown and DE Torrence Brown inside. That causes them to lose outside leverage and to be easily blocked down. It also creates an open path to the goal line and Jones goes untouched for the score. DE Sickels, however, nearly tracked him down from the backside, and had he taken a flatter pursuit angle down the LOS, he might have gotten him.

- This score cut the Trojans’ deficit in half and put momentum in their favor for good.

- In every game there are some penalties or no-calls that could have changed the outcome of the game. I rarely dwell on them in this feature, as they often go both ways. But it’s hard to skim past this, considering the timing, as it could have possibly forced this game into overtime. And who wouldn’t have wanted to see more action in this one?

- After the game QB McSorley and WR Godwin both took responsibility for this interception. McSorley said he shouldn’t have forced the throw; Godwin said he should’ve come back more forcefully in order to make a stronger play on the ball. Either way, it resulted in a pick, but the more gutting aspect of this play was the 32-yard return from CB Leon McQuay that followed. But should it have been called back? Yes, probably.

- As Godwin chases McQuay down from behind – he wouldn’t have caught him, anyway – DB Chris Hawkins comes from the middle of the field and clearly blocks Godwin in the back. With contact occurring at the 48-yard line, had the penalty been called, it would’ve been a 10-yard spot foul. It would’ve backed USC to its 38 and, at the least, forced a farther path to its game-winning FG. Instead, USC started at PSU’s 33. It required one small 5-yard gain before the Trojans set themselves up with a final 46-yard FG attempt and to walk away victorious.