The first-place Oregon Ducks defeated the third-place Penn State Nittany Lions 45-37 to win the Big Ten Championship in the conference's first year, completing a spectacular finish.
The game was high-scoring from the start, with the Ducks scoring touchdowns on their first three drives and quickly building a double-digit lead.
But it was a back-and-forth affair from there, with Penn State quarterback Drew Allard throwing a game-clinching interception with 1:54 left and the Nittany Lions attempting to break the tie in the final minutes. It lasted until
Here are three quick takeaways from the Ducks' 45-37 win over Penn State.
Ground game gets attention
From the initial outlook, the Ducks were going to run the football with both star running back Jordan James and backup Noah Whittington working.
From the start of the game, the Ducks had one of the most explosive passing attacks in the country, but they are the more physically imposing team, gaining 188 rushing yards on 40 carries, not including sacks and knee downs. It looked like.
James got going early and picked up momentum in the second half, finishing with 87 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, while Whittington had a season-high 15 touches in the win. .
Oregon State took control early in the game, but stalled by giving up a goal near the end of the second half. However, they remained balanced in the second half and generated enough offense to hold a healthy lead from the Nittany Lions en route to a 45-37 victory.
Now, Penn State was no slouch on the ground either, considering their inconsistency through the air and needed an explosive rushing attack to score 37 points.
The Nittany Lions finished with an impressive 298 yards on 8.8 yards per carry, not including sacks, as Caitron Allen and Nicholas Singleton lost more than 100 yards.
Penn State fought back to cut the lead to one point at the end of the first half, but that was largely due to the running game as they rotated two Starbs. And when they looked for an unlikely comeback late in the game, they once again relied on their running backs to lead the charge and nearly give them the win.
Nevertheless, it was a classic Big Ten game with a ton of activity on the field, which was the deciding factor in a competitive battle throughout the night.
Penalties
Only eight flags were thrown that night, but there were some significant flags, especially early on for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State committed four 15-yard penalties within the first quarter and a half. Three of those came on the defensive end, and the Nittany Lions allowed touchdowns on all three drives, giving Oregon a quick 21-10 lead.
Then, in an effort to keep up with Oregon State's offense, Penn State took unnecessary roughness penalties on offense, limiting their scoring opportunities and keeping them separated for much of the first half.
While the way the game ended will be evaluated more closely, Oregon's start was just as important, and the three penalties were huge in moving the Ducks up the field and getting an early touchdown drive.
Oregon State, on the other hand, remained disciplined all night with only three penalties for 24 yards, although there were moments when the referees' decisions were questionable.
Sales
If your turnover differential is negative, you can't win the game. The Nittany Lions had two important games on Saturday, but the Ducks had none.
Drew Allard's first interception came at a critical moment when the Nittany Lions were forcing a punt and trying to force it out of their own end zone. However, the quarterback threw a pass behind the intended receiver, and Oregon cornerback Donte Manning intercepted the pass and brought the ball back to Penn State's 1-yard line.
The Ducks then scored on Jordan James' 1-yard rushing touchdown to extend their lead to 28-10, but even if they cut the score to seven points at halftime, it was difficult for Penn State to come out of this situation. would be difficult.
Coming out of the first half, Penn State drove inside Oregon and had a big chance to fight back, but opted to kick a field goal on fourth-and-5 at the Oregon State 23-yard line, with Ryan Barker hitting the 40-yard line. Missed the yard.
Oregon State jumped out to a two-point lead and never trailed, maintaining a healthy lead until Penn State's final drive, when the Nittany Lions took possession at their own 37-yard line. was two minutes away from an eight-point lead.
After a 9-yard run from Caitron Allen, they chose to give Drew Aller a shot and throw a one-on-one go-ball to wide receiver Harrison Wallace, but Wallace was thrown by defensive back Nikko Reed. They were unable to get separation on the outside. Reed paced and made a great play on the ball, turning his head and securing an interception that sealed the deal for Oregon and gave them their first Big Ten Championship.
With the win, the Ducks maintain the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and improve to 13-0 on the year, while Penn State could be eliminated, but with a new 12-1 home game. Expected to start the team – team CFP format.
Nevertheless, Saturday night's game was a thriller at Lucas Oil Stadium, setting the stage for the upcoming exciting College Football Playoff.
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee will announce the 12-team field on Sunday, December 8th at 12:00 PM ET.
