Oregon expected to be in Indianapolis on Saturday to play in its first Big Ten championship game after defeating Ohio State in October and crossing the finish line with an undefeated regular season.
Penn State lost to Ohio State and knew it would need help reaching the same destination.
Their paths intersect in primetime with not only the conference title on the line, but a coveted first-round bye in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The winner at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday won’t have to take the field for the opening weekend of the playoff Dec. 20-21.
The No. 3 Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) got the break they needed when Michigan shocked the Buckeyes 13-10 on Saturday in a seismic upset.
A massive 20-point favorite, Ohio State stalled early and often to suffer a second conference loss that served to nudge Penn State into the championship game by virtue of a tiebreaker over one-loss Indiana. Ohio State missed out on more than a chance to avenge a 32-31 loss to the top-ranked Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten).
Oregon’s playoff bid will be its second in the College Football Playoff era, following a runner-up finish to Ohio State in 2014. In 2010 the Ducks lost to Auburn in the BCS national championship game. Last season, Oregon was No. 5 entering conference championship weekend. But the Ducks lost to Washington 34-31 in the Pac-12 championship game to miss out on a playoff spot. Oregon made six appearances in the title game with four wins since 2011.
While preparations took a hit because of National Signing Day on Wednesday, and some debate whether the top-ranked teams should earn a pass this weekend to allow at-large contenders from power conferences another opportunity, Oregon coach Dan Lanning told his team to embrace the stretch ahead.
“For us it’s an opportunity to compete for a championship in a league that’s one of the toughest in college football. You only get so many opportunities to play games,” said Lanning, who is 34-5 as Oregon head coach. “I value every one of those for our players. The chance to step out on the field and compete with their brothers, that’s a big positive. The timing of college football right now is a little chaotic with all the things that are happening this week, I don’t know if that’s the most convenient piece, but if you can adapt to the challenge, what an opportunity.”
Even if it might appear the Nittany Lions backed into the opportunity, Lanning is impressed with the job done by Penn State coach James Franklin.
“I think this team has its own unique identity and they do some different things that we haven’t seen so far this season,” Lanning said. “Obviously they play a physical brand of football. I think coach Franklin does an elite job in all three phases. They’re very detailed; I think that shows up.”
Franklin has taken heat for his record against top teams and Penn State is 1-1 against Top 25 teams in 2024. His coaching record — 1-12 against AP top 10 teams at Penn State and 1-15 overall as an FBS coach — fuels questions to Franklin directly about his ability to win spotlight games like this one.
He said after a 10th loss to Ohio State in 11 games against the Buckeyes he “owns it all” and vowed to sharply refocus for the remaining schedule. The 11th-year coach is now a win away from 100 at Penn State (99-40) and knows knocking off No. 1 Oregon would be an emphatic reply to a lot of doubts.
“Ninety-nine percent of the programs across college football would die to do what we’ve been able to do in our time here. But I also understand when you’re at a place like Penn State, there’s really, really high expectations. … I get it, I totally get it,” he said in November.
If there is one given Saturday, it’s likely to be elite defense.
Penn State is sixth nationally in scoring defense (14.0 points per game) and Oregon is No. 9 (16.2). The Nittany Lions are also fourth in total defense (266.8 yards per game) and Oregon seventh (283.8).
“I know they’ve obviously done a really good job of team defense,” Franklin said. “I know they’ve been disruptive up front. Coach Lanning has done a great job there. … Dan’s taking it to the next level, they’ve done a phenomenal job. It’s also a place with tremendous resources as well, and they’ve built that thing to compete at the highest level.”
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year on Tuesday, is No. 2 nationally in completion percentage (73.5), 10th in passing yards (3,275) and tied for 12th in total touchdowns (31), including 24 passing TDs.
Gabriel was at his best on Oct. 12 in Eugene, Ore., when the third-ranked Ducks downed No. 2 Ohio State 32-31. He was 23 of 34 for 341 yards and two touchdowns while running for 32 yards and a score.
He has plenty of help around him.
Running back Jordan James has 1,166 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns and his top target is wide receiver Tez Johnson, who is third in the Big Ten with nine touchdown receptions.
The Nittany Lions’ offense relies heavily on Tyler Warren. He set the Big Ten record for receptions by a tight end in a season with 81 and holds the school record for career TD catches by a tight end (17).
“He’s obviously an elite player, a matchup issue, and a complete tight end,” Lanning said. “I’m excited to hop in and dive into that plan and see how we can neutralize him.”
Penn State was ranked one spot ahead of Ohio State when the teams played in a No. 3 vs. No. 4 showdown in State College, Pa., on Nov. 2. Ohio State held off the Nittany Lions (20-13) in part because Penn State came away with no points in two first-and-goal situations.
Oregon is favored to win the championship in its first year in the Big Ten. According to the latest CFP rankings, if the Nittany Lions lose they are projected to host Arizona State or Iowa State of the Big 12 on Dec. 20 or 21.
Penn State is in its second Big Ten title game after winning it in 2016 and previously claimed conference championships in 1994, 2005 and 2008.
This is the fifth meeting between Oregon and Penn State and first since the 1995 Rose Bowl.
Penn State owns a 3-1 advantage in the series. In 1995, the Nittany Lions notched a 38-20 win to finish their own perfect (12-0) season. Ki-Jana Carter rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns.
–Field Level Media
