Tickets to the Penn State-USC game: $295 each.
Run out of the tunnel with the USC football team: $1,800.
The chance to do it while wearing Penn State gear? Priceless.
For Jordan Mott and his wife, Claire, the decision was a no-brainer. The question was whether they would actually get the chance to live this experience.
Mott, 32, is a fourth-generation Penn State alumnus who has bled blue and white “since the day (he) was born.” The 2013 graduate actually even tried to walk on to the football team during his college days.
He and Claire were married two months ago, making sure to tie the knot before the college football season began, because, as she wrote in her vows, she promises to never make plans on a Saturday when the Nittany Lions are on.
But Mott was also born and raised in California, where he has lived since graduation. So, while many were gravely upset by conference realignment, Mott was thrilled because it meant the Nittany Lions would make regular trips to Los Angeles to face USC and UCLA in the Big Ten.
Two weeks prior to Saturday’s game, the Motts bought tickets via a third-party vendor. A few days later, the Sunday before the game, Mott noticed an email from the USC athletics department offering its gameday experience packages. These include things such as messages on the video board, photos on the field and watching the fourth quarter from the sidelines.
But the most expensive package listed offered the chance to run out of the tunnel with the team before kickoff.
“I was like, ‘Oh, that would be absolutely hilarious to troll them and run out in all Penn State attire,’” Mott said, thinking he’d never actually be able to go through with it.
Nonetheless, Mott purchased the experience and waited to see if he was approved.
During this period he spoke with friends and family about the possibility. None thought it was doable. The only way, most of them said, would be if he wore USC gear over his Penn State attire and then ripped off the USC clothes as he ran out.
“There's not gonna be a day that I put any USC attire on my body,” Mott said.
But within a couple days, Mott received an email from the Trojans, approving his purchase. The plan was in motion, but the thought of fulfilling it never changed.
“There's no way that this is actually going to take place once we show up in all Penn State attire,” Mott said.
It was a win-win situation though, Claire said. If they allowed it, tremendous, and if they were told they weren’t allowed because of their Nittany Lion gear, they would get their money back and go to their seats as they normally would have.
Still, Saturday morning, Mott received an email from USC athletics with instructions to meet under the torch at the Los Angeles Coliseum an hour before kickoff, 11:30 a.m. PT.
Mott’s hope, once they arrived, was there would be college students checking them in who would be nervous to cause a scene. And he was right. They were certainly surprised to see Nittany Lions gear, he said, but they checked the couple in.
After about 15-20 minutes of waiting for other USC fans to check in for their own gameday experiences, a USC staff member arrived and began handing out field passes.
When she called the Motts' names, she was visibly confused to see two people wearing Penn State gear, Mott said. But nothing was said to them. The couple took their field passes and spent the next 45 minutes roaming the Penn State sidelines, watching the Nittany Lions warm up.
Their instructions were to be back in the tunnel 25 minutes prior to kickoff, but they meandered back a few minutes early. While waiting, Mott asked the USC employee who handed them the passes if anyone else had ever attempted this before.
“She’s like ‘honestly no,’” Mott said. “So I'm like, ‘That's epic.’”
Shortly after, the actual Trojans football team made its way to the tunnel with some intimidating glares, Mott said.
“I remember looking at my wife at one point and being like, ‘These guys look like they want to punch us.’” Mott said. “I absolutely do not want to get punched by any of them.”
But again, nothing was said. ... at least by the players. The Motts did speak with some Trojan fans who paid for the same experience.
“Everybody was really genuinely nice,” Claire said.
“They thought it was hilarious,” Mott added. “And they're like, that's fine, we'll take your money.”
.@CoachJFranklin saw the viral video & had to get our guy on the phone ???????? https://t.co/1K5RIe46iQ pic.twitter.com/zyfS6r82ZE
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) October 16, 2024
Sequentially, USC players and coaches ran out, followed by the fans, who were then followed by Penn State.
“It was almost like we were leading Penn State out onto the field,” Mott said.
In the video he filmed, he yelled, “Let’s go boys!” before charging out to United Airlines Field in front of thousands of fans.
“It was an absolutely incredible experience from start to finish,” Mott said. “I'm incredibly shocked that they would allow opposing team fans to run out with their team, and I go out on a limb and maybe say that there are some terms and conditions that might take place moving forward.”
He was right again.
Tuesday night, after speaking with cllct, Mott noticed a change to the “Run with the Team”, which cllct confirmed.
Prior to the game, the description read as follows: “You and one (1) guest will be escorted to the field 60 minutes prior to kick-off to enjoy the sights and sounds of pre-game, including the band performance and team warm-ups. As the team takes the field, you will be able to run out with the team to the roar of the crowd.
"Minimum age of guest is 12 years old. Must be accompanied by adult, 18 years or older. If two guests are under 18 years old, both guests must be over the age of 14 years old. Two guests under the age of 15 years old will NOT be permitted.”
A line has since been added at the end: “All participants must be in USC apparel to partake in Game Day Experiences. USC Athletics reserves the right to remove individuals who are not compliant.”
USC did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
In the days since, Mott’s Instagram, where he posted his video, has been flooded with messages and comments.
USC fans have called him the sucker who paid $1,800 to a conference rival. Some Nittany Lions fans have called him a hero.
Even Penn State receiver Liam Clifford, who had three catches for 26 yards Saturday, reached out.
When reached by cllct, the Penn State athletic department had no comment on the stunt.
The Nittany Lions completed a comeback Saturday, winning 33-30 in overtime and capping a magical day for Mott.
The only thing that could make it any better, he said, is for Penn State to make him the pregame hype man in Happy Valley.
“I'm still waiting on my call from James Franklin,” Mott joked.
“Even if that didn't happen, it's 1,000 percent worth it,” Claire said.
“We just went into it generally wanting to have a really cool time together and have some memories that will last forever. ... (We) had quite frankly, what could possibly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That alone is all we wanted out of it. So, like, anything on top of that is, is just an extra.”
UCLA and Penn State have already played this season, but whenever the Nittany Lions are back in Los Angeles, Mott is going to keep his eyes peeled for any opportunities.
“If the game-day experience is offered at UCLA,” Mott said, “we'll definitely do it at UCLA, too.”
Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct.