The Big Ten race has come all the way down to Oregon vs. Penn State. For the primary time this season, the Ducks and Nittany Lions will conflict within the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game (Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS). This can be simply the fifth assembly all-time between the 2 groups and the primary since 1995 when Penn State beat Oregon within the Rose Bowl to cap a 12-0 season.
In one sense, this sport is for College Football Playoff seeding, as each groups are seemingly in whatever the outcome inside Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday in Indianapolis. While that is a heck of a security internet, Oregon and Penn State go into Tuesday’s penultimate College Football Playoff Rankings at Nos. 1 and 4, respectively.
Penn State’s solely blemish on its document a 7-point loss in opposition to Ohio State at dwelling. Ohio State’s Week 14 loss in opposition to Michigan opened the door for Penn State to re-enter the title sport dialog, and the Nittany Lions pounced on the chance with a 44-7 rout of Maryland.
Given Oregon and Penn State’s résumés up to now, it might be an exciting Big Ten Championship Game with a lot on the road!
What to find out about Oregon
Dan Lanning has carried on what Mario Cristobal began — which is loading up on brawn and velocity to make Oregon resemble an elite SEC group.
The Ducks could also be higher than everybody at these two elements, nonetheless. Oregon has been No. 1 within the AP Top 25 ballot since Oct. 20. The pinnacle of the season, thus far, is squeaking out a 32-31 sport over Ohio State in Eugene that completely lived as much as the hype.
The Ducks are led by QB Dillon Gabriel, who’s inside throwing distance of the FBS profession passing mark relying on how far Oregon advances within the postseason. Gabriel will make his FBS profession document 62nd begin in opposition to Ohio State.
If you are on the lookout for edges, this can be Oregon’s tenth straight week of soccer. The Ducks have been resilient thus far, combining a managed passing sport and a punishing operating assault with a smothering protection.
That protection is led by linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei, who’s having an All-American season. The youthful brother of DJ Uiagalelei has 8.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, whereas his breakout sport might have come within the Ohio State win. In that win, he had a then-career excessive 5 tackles and a sack of Howard on the Buckeyes’ last drive.
Lanning is a nationwide coach of the yr candidate having assembled the nation’s solely undefeated group. Instead of adapting to the Big Ten of their first season as a league member, the Ducks have dominated it. Now, can they cap it with a convention title?
What to know About Penn State
For the primary time in eight years, and the second time underneath coach James Franklin, Penn State is making its means again to Indianapolis. Good information, Nittany Lions: You’re 1-0 in your Big Ten Championship Game appearances underneath Franklin, and also you additionally keep away from enjoying both Ohio State or Michigan with a title on the road.
Penn State’s protection has been predictably glorious this season. The Nittany Lions entered Week 14 ranked third within the Big Ten in whole protection (273.4 yards per sport) and second in scoring protection (14.6 factors per sport). Abdul Carter, who dons Penn State’s all-important No. 11, has put collectively an All-Big Ten marketing campaign with 10 sacks on the yr.
But the true story has been Penn State’s offensive revitalization. Franklin made a splash within the offseason by going out and hiring offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas, and he has solidified his standing as one of the crucial progressive minds within the sport.
Former five-star quarterback Drew Allar is enjoying the very best soccer of his profession underneath Kotelnicki. Allar completed the common season with a 71.6% completion proportion and a couple of,668 yards passing, that are profession highs, and 18 touchdowns via the air. The Nittany Lions even have the Big Ten’s high dashing dashing assault behind the stellar operating again duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
And then there’s tight finish Tyler Warren, who has been a revelation for a Penn State go sport that sorely lacked in playmakers getting into the yr. Kotelnicki has unlocked Warren’s talents as a multi-dimensional risk; the senior has lined up at tight finish, quarterback, fullback, operating again, huge receiver and even offensive line this season.
He’s the clear point of interest of Penn State’s offense, with a team-high 81 catches for 978 yards and 6 touchdowns, and the Nittany Lions are more likely to go as he does via the postseason.
