The Big Ten championship game between Penn State and Oregon is just a few days away. In addition to competing for a first-round College Football Playoff bye and potentially the top overall seed, the Nittany Lions and Ducks are also vying for league bragging rights.
Let’s examine the players and matchups that will determine Saturday night’s Big Ten championship game between Oregon and Penn State at Lucas Oil Stadium.
(Player counts are enclosed in parenthesis.)
Penn State’s red-zone defense versus Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel
One of college football’s most productive quarterbacks is Dillon Gabriel (8). The offensive player of the year for the Big Ten has passed for 24 touchdowns and 3,275 yards. He has only thrown six interceptions on 374 attempts and has the second-best completion rate in the FBS at 73.5%. Quite remarkable.
However, Gabriel has found himself in some hot water. He made six interceptions, four of them came in the red zone. In Oregon’s close 16–13 victory over Wisconsin, he threw one. In October, he threw two against Michigan State. The previous week, he also threw a pick-six against UCLA.
Gabriel’s legs are hazardous. He is tied for the most rushing touchdowns among Big Ten quarterbacks with seven. However, the Nittany Lions might end up with an advantage in the red zone. Out of 134 FBS teams, Penn State has the second-best red-zone touchdown rate allowed (40%) in the league.
The performance of Penn State’s defense in the red zone could be the difference in a close game.
Penn State’s secondary vs Oregon’s wide receivers
The wide receiver positional disparity between Oregon and Penn State may be the largest one between the position groups in this contest. Everyone knows that 15-year-old Drew Allar loves to throw to 44-year-old Tyler Warren, and as the offensive center, the standout tight end will need to perform once more. Three dynamic wide receivers, however, provide Gabriel with support.
A former five-star Texas A&M transfer, Evan Stewart (7), might be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.One of the top receivers in the nation is Tez Johnson (15). The transfer from Alabama, AndTraeshon Holden (1), has a lot of quickness. Together, the trio has amassed 1,871 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 receptions of 30 yards or more.
Johnson can catch and run, but Stewart and Holden are downfield threats. We’ll test Penn State’s corners, A.J. Harris (4), Jalen Kimber (3), and others.
DC’s Penn State Oregon’s passing game against Tom Allen
Oregon defeated Ohio State due to the Buckeyes’ inability to apply pressure as well as Will Howard’s earlier failure to slip. Jim Knowles, the play-caller for Ohio State, relied on his four-man front to get home instead of blitzing as much as he usually does. It was unsuccessful. Gabriel completed 23 of 34 throws for 341 yards and two touchdowns, while the Buckeyes did not record any sacks.
The way that Tom Allen, the defensive coordinator at Penn State, chooses to tackle this Oregon attack intrigues me. Will Allen rely on Penn State’s defensive line, Dani Dennis-Sutton (33), Zane Durant (28), and Abdul Carter (11), the Big Ten defensive player of the year, to exert pressure? Jaylen Reed (1): How frequently will he blitz safety? Will he timing his blitzes correctly? Or will Gabriel exploit it?
This season, Oregon has given up just 12 sacks, which is the second-fewest of any Big Ten school. Making Gabriel uncomfortable will be the responsibility of Carter, Dennis-Sutton, and Allen in the end.
Oregon’s pass defense versus Penn State quarterback Drew Allar
This season, 73 FBS quarterbacks have been under pressure on at least 100 dropbacks. Out of all the quarterbacks in that group, Allar is the only one who has zero turnover worthy plays under pressure.
The way Allar is handling the ball is outstanding. He’s moving the chains with his legs, extending plays, scurrying out of danger, and locating open receivers. And against a formidable Oregon defense, the junior will need to maintain it.
Together, edge rushers Jordan Burch (1) and Matayo Uiagalelei (10) have 20 sacks.Derrick Harmon, a 55-year-old defensive tackle, has first-round talent. Additionally, the Ducks are sixth in the nation with 68 passes defended.
Against the Ducks, Allar must go out and make big plays. To win the Big Ten title, though, he must also avoid disastrous errors, just as he has done throughout the season.
PERKS
Quarterback: Oregon
Returning quickly: Even
Tight ends and wideouts: Oregon
Oregon is the offensive line.
Penn State is the defensive line.
Oregon linebackers
Secondary: Even
Special teams: Even
Mentoring: Even
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