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Penn State Loses BIG 10 Championship to Oregon

Tagged under: Gameday Hub, News, Penn State, Pennsylvania Colleges, pfn

| December 8, 2024

Photo Credit: AP (Daron Cummings)

 For the first time since 2016, Penn State entered the matchup with Oregon looking to win the BIG 10 title game. 

  Oregon’s offense was simply too much for this Penn State defense, and it was evident all game. Entering this matchup, the most points Penn State has allowed in a game was 30 (USC). Oregon beat that mark in the first half. The Ducks offense clicked off 3 TDs in as many drives. Dillon Gabriel was dialed in all night and the great Penn State defense looked below pedestrian. As stated in my preview article this week, the trio of Oregon WRs would be tough for Penn State to stop. Amongst those three, Tez Johnson destroyed them. Johnson had well over 150 yards. The Oregon WR core simply exposed the Penn State defense.

  It was evident early on that Penn State needed to score at a rate they’ve seldom scored at this year. With Oregon’s offense locked in, the Penn State defense needed to be near perfect to stay in the game, they were pretty close. The offense, especially the running game, had plenty of success throughout the entire game. But, in the end, Penn State made too many mistakes and that was the deciding factor in the game. Drew Allar threw two interceptions, including the game-deciding pick in the waning moments.

  Early in the game, Oregon looks as good as they have all year. Dillon Gabriel was tearing apart this elite Penn State defense. By just the 13-minute mark of the 2nd quarter, Gabriel had 3 TDs passing, and Oregon led by 11.

 

  Just minutes later, after an Allar pick, Oregon capitalized with the ball at the 1, and Jordan James ran it in with ease to give them a 28-10 lead. Down 18, Penn State was in a dangerous territory. Luckily for the Nittany Lions, they were able to rattle off 14 points to close the half. One TD was scored by Omari Evans, and the other scored on a keeper from Drew Allar. Penn State entered the halftime locker room trailing 31-24.

  In the 2nd half, Oregon continued their first-half success. Gabriel connected with Tez Johnson for a 48-yard score to put Oregon further ahead.

 

  Both running backs Kaytron Allen and Jordan James traded TDs, and Penn State still trailed by multiple scores late. On a do-or-die 4th down, Allar ripped in a dart to Harrison Wallace to keep the Nittany Lions in the game. 

  After getting a stop, Penn State got the ball down 8 with a chance to go tie it. After a few successful plays, Allar loaded up and threw a pick to seal the win for Oregon.

 

  This is definitely a setback for Penn State, but it’s not the end of the world. If this was last year, Penn State’s season would be over. Now, with the 12-team playoff, Penn State will most likely still host a playoff game in two weeks. James Franklin still has just one win against top 5 teams, and that’s a problem. Drew Allar still had a good game, even considering the two interceptions, he still played one of his better games as a Penn State QB. Tyler Warren was his usual self with 7 catches for 84 yards. Once again, the story in the air game for Penn State could not get just 100 receiving yards out of their receivers, that’s a problem. In their playoff game, they will need at least a mediocre showing to have success.

  

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