Dillon Gabriel felt he and Oregon were the “perfect” match when he decided to transfer there. And Saturday night proved his instincts correct.
The top-ranked Ducks remain undefeated. Despite the best efforts of the No. 1 seed, 3 Penn State won the Big Ten Championship 45-37.
The Ducks led by as many as 18 in the first half, scoring touchdowns on four of the first five drives. Penn State pulled away to come back within four. But after backing up 14 midway through the third quarter, Oregon appeared to have all the momentum, taking a 38-24 lead.
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Jordan James #20 and Marcus Harper II #55 of the Oregon Ducks celebrate after scoring a touchdown during the first half of the 2024 Big Ten Football Championship Game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Indianapolis. Indiana State (Picture Aaron J. Thornton/Getty)
The Nittany Lions weren’t dead yet, as Kaytron Allen ran for 32 and 26 yards on drives. Finishing the job with a one-yard score, James Franklin chose to be aggressive. and two went, but their version of the Philly Special was not a success.
Oregon’s offense did its usual thing after that, driving on a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Jordan James’ touchdown, his second, up 45-30 with 7:28 to play.
But Penn State stayed alive – on 4th-and-10, Drew Allar narrowly escaped a sack and zipped one into the end zone to make it an eight-point game – and then they forced a three-and-out. But Allar went deep. And he was picked out. Oregon was able to get on the field first as Penn State ran out the clock to clinch the title.
Kenyon Sadiq #18 of the Oregon Ducks reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of the 2024 Big Ten Football Championship Game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Picture Aaron J. Thornton/Getty)
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Tez Johnson had a day. Completing 11 passes for a Big Ten championship record 181 yards and a touchdown, Dillon Gabriel completed 22 of 32 passes for 283 yards and 4 scores.
Oregon would be the only seed in the playoffs and even then lose. But Penn State is definitely in the race to host the game in the first round. They will know their fate on Sunday afternoon.
Dontae Manning #8 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates an interception against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second quarter of the 2024 Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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For the Ducks, it was their first conference title since winning the Pac-12 in 2020, and they are now poised for their first playoff appearance since 2014, a playoff year. occur
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