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Oregon takes down Penn State, wins first-ever Big Ten Championship

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh12/08/24griffin_mcveigh
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin shakes hands with Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin shakes hands with Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)

For the second straight season, Oregon is playing in a conference championship game. This go-round was quite different though, for multiple reasons. One, the Ducks are now members of the Big Ten instead of the Pac-12. Two, Dan Lanning‘s team will walk off the field as winners, the program’s first conference title since 2020.

Penn State was on the opposite end Saturday night, putting up a great fight. A shootout certainly broke out in Indianapolis, as Oregon won by the final score of 45-37. Both offenses looked great at times but a fourth quarter surge put Oregon over the top.

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Dillon Gabriel was magical all night, throwing for 283 yards and four touchdowns while completing 22 of 32 passes. His favorite target was Tez Johnson as the wide receiver broke out for 181 yards and one of Gabriel’s touchdowns.

Oregon found plenty of success on the ground as well, rushing for 4.5 yards per carry. Jordan James was the leading rusher (87 yards) but Noah Whittington provided a nice spark for the Ducks as well. A nice one-two punch developing for Will Stein‘s offense heading into the postseason.

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A spot in the College Football Playoff was locked down heading into the Big Ten Championship. But winning likely secured the No. 1 overall seed, earning a bye. No other team finished the regular season plus conference championship weekend undefeated. It will be an easy decision for the CFP committee.

Oregon’s biggest concern on Selection Sunday will be who the eight and nine seeds are, looking for potential opponents.

Looking from Penn State’s perspective, the big-time win still eludes head coach James Franklin. The good news is at least one more opportunity will present itself in the CFP. Penn State will be included in the field as an at-large and be seeded quite highly.

Happy Valley should host a game on Dec. 20 or Dec. 21, getting a massive homefield advantage. No venue in the first round will be better than there, especially if a big-named opponent comes to town.