The No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions are scheduled to play the No. 1 Oregon Ducks on Saturday in the Big Ten Championship game, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since they met in the Rose Bowl in 1995, and the fifth time in history that the rivals have faced each other.
This game should be a talent-filled game featuring the nation's No. 1 seeds heading into the College Football Playoff, and there will be plenty of NFL prospects in attendance on Saturday.
Who are the NFL's leading candidates to play in this year's Big Ten Championship Game? We break down everything you need to know.
pennsylvania state university
DE Abdul Carter
Arguably the top edge rusher in this year's class, Abdul Carter will be a player to watch as the top player in Penn State's front seven on Saturday.
Carter, who has been used in a more of a hybrid role the past two seasons, has turned into more of a true edge rusher this year, with 85.7 percent of his snaps along the outside defensive line.
As a result, he racked up 45 pressures and 10 sacks in a monster year for Penn State, producing one of the best seasons in college football, while also being a great edge setter with 36 stops.
Although some draft experts are concerned about his size, he is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and should have a ton of suitors come draft season.
TE Tyler Warren
One of the most unique players in this year's draft class, tight end Tyler Warren has a good chance of being the first player off at his position.
The elite tight end had 81 catches for 978 yards and six touchdowns this season, and 21 rushes for 182 yards and two scores. The centerpiece of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnecki's creative attack, Warren excelled in State College as Drew Allard's top target.
At 6-foot-6 and 257 pounds, Warren has the ability to line up anywhere at Penn State, whether it's in the slot, as an in-line tight end, or out wide as a receiver; A true unicorn. .
He should be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, but depending on the outcome of the first round, he could fall to the second round.
QB Drew Aller
This year's quarterback class is truly uncertain, as there is no true top signal caller like in previous years.
Colorado's Shedule Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward are rated as the best quarterbacks by many draft experts, but Penn State's Drew Allard is considered the best quarterback in the class if he hits his limit. There is a possibility that it will turn back.
The 6-foot-5, 238-pound Aller threw for 2,668 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions in Penn State's run-heavy offense, completing a career-high 71.6 percent of his passes. He had a good season this year as well.
He's always had a strong shoulder, but this year he mainly put it all together without turnovers (he had three interceptions in one game against USC).
Aller has the typical size, arm talent, and mobility to be a future NFL quarterback. He should be available during the first two days of the NFL Draft.
Oregon
DT Derrick Harmon
Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, a transfer from Michigan State University, has been one of the most impactful players in college football this season.
Harmon led Oregon with 47 pressures this season, racking up four sacks and 20 run stops along the way as a devastating three-down defensive lineman.
He moves well for his size at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, and has both the reaction skills and physicality to hold up well in the run game, while also being an excellent penetrator on both sides of the defense. .
He should be gone by the first two days of the NFL Draft.
WRs are Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart.
Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart are two of the best wideouts in the country, and Oregon's explosive offense wouldn't be the same without two high-end receivers.
Johnson, 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, has 67 catches for 685 yards and nine touchdowns this season despite missing three games.
He then had a productive season in 2023, catching 86 passes for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Oregon likes to put the ball in the hands of its playmakers and let them do the work after the catch. Johnson benefited from that, averaging 7 yards after the catch on every reception as his average target depth was just 5.2 yards.
A speedy receiving threat with excellent after-the-catch ability, Johnson could be a second-day pick in this year's draft.
Stewart, meanwhile, arrived from Texas A&M this offseason as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2022. He is an explosive threat, catching 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns this season.
He has the highest average target depth on the team (among eligible receivers) at 12.5 yards, as he has played a different role than Johnson for the Ducks.
Nevertheless, he should be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft if he chooses to declare, and could be available as early as Day 2.
OT Josh Connally Jr.
Looking into the trenches, tackle Josh Connally Jr. is one of Oregon's top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
At 6’4” and 315 pounds, Connally has great athleticism. He's a fluid player who can adapt well to a variety of concepts in the run game, both as a puller and as a climber to the second level.
In pass protection, he has good feet and technique, and he recovers well when he gets hit initially with pass rush moves.
Overall, he could be a top-five tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft and should be selected by Day 2, assuming the pre-draft process goes well.
