Editor’s note: This story was updated to include the final score and stats.
No. 6 Penn State’s road game against USC in Week 7 on Saturday was a nail-biter that went to overtime before the Nittany Lions ultimately won, 33-30.
In the incredible comeback win — Penn State was down by two touchdowns at one point — Nittany Lions senior tight end Tyler Warren had an exceptional game all over the field.
He ran for it, he threw the ball and he racked up 17 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown, averaging 13.2 yards per catch. As the CBS broadcast noted, Warren tied the FBS record for most single-game receptions among tight ends with his 17 catches.
But we’re here to talk about that touchdown catch because it was anything but ordinary.
With a little bit of trickery early in the third quarter, Warren snapped the ball on first-and-10 from USC’s 32-yard line to sophomore quarterback Beau Pribula, who then threw it behind him to Penn State starting quarterback Drew Allar. The double pass allowed Warren to take off (as an eligible receiver) and make the 32-yard touchdown catch in the end zone to help shrink the Nittany Lions’ deficit to 20-13.
DOUBLE PASS AND WHAT A CATCH! pic.twitter.com/DSOQOIa14t
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 12, 2024
Here are a couple more looks at exactly how Warren pulled this off:
Don't see this every day.
Tyler Warren snapped the ball and then caught the touchdown. pic.twitter.com/JylEKQGPvB— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 12, 2024
Tyler Warren started the play with the snap and ended the play with the TD catch. Here's how it happened. pic.twitter.com/Onq9jkPhS2
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 12, 2024
He was really doing it all in this game, and, as CBS noted, he took snaps at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and, of course, tight end.
How college football Twitter reacted to Tyler Warren’s snap-and-touchdown combination in Penn State-USC
Tyler Warren not only just took a snap at Center, but then caught a receiving TD on that same play…I’m serious about this whole Heisman thing
— Sean Clifford (@seancliff14) October 12, 2024
The catch by Tyler Warren is INSANE, but do not sleep on the creativity by Penn State’s OC Andy Kotelnicki. The man who snapped the ball caught the TD!!!! Has to be a first in football history. Coach K is special man pic.twitter.com/pseyOs5S0f
— Ryan Hickey (@Ryan_Hickey3) October 12, 2024
Just an unbelievable individual performance by Penn State TE Tyler Warren. He’s got 15 catches for 219 yards, a run for 4 and a completed pass for 9. Has willed Penn State back into the game. They trail USC 23-20, but are driving.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 12, 2024
TYLER WARREN SNAPS THE BALL AND THEN ENDS UP CATCHING IT FOR THE PENN STATE TD pic.twitter.com/GtOgB35x2l
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) October 12, 2024
Tyler Warren is the best Tight End in the country. What a play
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 12, 2024
Tyler Warren is CARRYING fraudulent Penn State right now. He may be TE1 in 2025 👀 pic.twitter.com/vhvD5k0DBo
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) October 12, 2024
Tyler Warren may be the first player to snap the ball and score a TD on the same play
— LandonTengwall (@landon_tengwall) October 12, 2024
Really fun trick play from Penn State but this contested catch from Tyler Warren is outrageous. Making a strong case to be in the TE1 conversation. pic.twitter.com/tF3fVrBKGj
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 12, 2024
Tyler Warren. Wow. pic.twitter.com/zftrsxAOyu
— Lexie Linderman (@lexieleigh28) October 12, 2024
Give Tyler Warren every award… this man is just spectacular pic.twitter.com/e7TEedcpQa
— The Jump Sports (@TheJumpSports) October 12, 2024
Tyler Warren has 1st round pick written all over him pic.twitter.com/e8WoyEhYQg
— Phighter 🦅2-2 🔶1-0-0 🐍9-14-10 (@ItsPhightinTime) October 12, 2024
What a catch by Tyler Warren! This TE class is exciting!#WeAre | #RatedProspect
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) October 12, 2024
