The No. 1 Oregon Ducks are your Big 10 champions. Although the 2024-25 season got off to a shaky start, Oregon hasn’t looked back for a second and has dominated the nation ever since. Their victory over Penn State on Saturday marked their second win against a top five program, following their triumph over Ohio State in October. But let’s break down how it all went down in Indy. From the very first possession, the Ducks came out firing.
Photo Cred: The Register Guard
They marched down the field and scored the opening points of the game, thanks to a beautiful hurdle from Kenyon Sadiq, who entirely cleared the defender. That opening possession set the tone for the rest of the game. Oregon was unconscious on the offensive side, making big plays at will and showing incredible poise. As usual, Dillon Gabriel led the charge with 283 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-32 passing. Jordan James and Noah Whittington powered the ground game, with 87 and 82 rushing yards, respectively.
James also had two touchdowns. The hero of the night, though, was Tez Johnson. With 11 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown, the adopted brother of Broncos QB Bo Nix should see a spike in his draft stock after his masterclass performance. A lesser team than Penn State might have folded after the Ducks’ electrifying first possession. But the Nittany Lions showed they had firepower too. On their first drive, Penn State calmly and decisively marched down the field. Though they were forced to settle for a field goal, they made it clear they weren’t rattled by Oregon’s fast start.
Although they never led, Penn State was constantly threatening to tie the game or even take the lead. The Nittany Lions actually outgained the Ducks 518-466, and quarterback Drew Allar was fantastic. He threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns, and his running game stood out as well. Allar made several smart decisions to take off with the ball himself, finishing the game with 54 rushing yards. One baffling aspect of Penn State’s strategy was their use of trick plays.
Photo Cred: SI
No fewer than three times, Penn State attempted highly telegraphed trickery that had no effect on the Oregon defense. Given how effective the Penn State offense was on Saturday, these gimmick plays proved to be wasted opportunities. The Nittany Lions fought valiantly and were just a score and a two-point conversion away from tying the game when Oregon DB Nikko Reed made an incredible diving interception to seal the game.
This defensive play led Oregon to their first-ever Big 10 Championship victory. Both teams from Saturday’s matchup have earned spots in the College Football Playoff bracket. Oregon will face the winner of the Ohio State vs. Texas game in the Rose Bowl, while Penn State will face SMU in the opening round.
