For the casual college football fan, Saturday brings a top-10 rematch between two teams still defined by what happened in last year’s Big Ten title game.
Oregon used that 45-37 victory to lock up the No. 1 seed heading into the 2024 postseason. For Penn State, it was a long-awaited shot at a conference title without Ohio State or Michigan in the way — and they let it slip.
This year’s showdown features two of the sport’s premier quarterbacks and has plenty of playoff implications once again.
Oregon’s Dante Moore is off to a sharp start, averaging 262.3 passing yards per game with an 11-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s supported by a backfield that’s averaging a staggering 9.1 yards per carry and 255.3 rushing yards per game.
Penn State’s Drew Allar lit up Oregon’s defense for 280 total yards and four touchdowns (with two picks) in last year’s title game. He returns alongside 12 other starters who know what it’s like to reach the postseason — and what it feels like to see a shot at a national title disappear on a single play. They’re hardened by sorrow. Powered by it. Fueled by a six-month fight to take the crown.
Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions smiles during an interview after a game against FIU. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
The Nittany Lions are showing their teeth early this season, averaging 44 points per game and outscoring their first three opponents, 132-17. They are 22–0 against unranked teams with Allar at quarterback, but unranked teams aren’t the ones standing between them and a national title. And make no mistake, that’s the goal.
This class — or litter — of Nittany Lions seek their first successful hunt: a big-time win against an opponent in their weight class. The Ducks are their first real shot this season.
Yes, this is Oregon’s first road game against a ranked opponent in 2024. But Penn State is battling more than just the Ducks. They’re fighting their own history.
- Penn State is 4-20 against top 10 opponents under James Franklin.
- Penn State hasn’t beaten a Power 4 top-10 opponent in 996 days (Jan. 2, 2023, Utah).
- Penn State hasn’t beaten a Big Ten top-10 opponent in 2,132 days (Nov. 23, 2019).
In the event you’ve bought the quantity 1-to-10 subsequent to your identify on a rating bug, you are more likely to beat James Franklin at Penn State. That’s a troublesome actuality for the Nittany Lions, who haven’t received a nationwide title within the twenty first century — similar to their Saturday opponent, Oregon.
The Geese have come shut, reaching the 2015 nationwide championship recreation earlier than falling to Ohio State. And final yr, they have been decisively crushed within the Rose Bowl.
Head coach Dan Lanning of the Oregon Geese speaks to this group through the second quarter in opposition to the Ohio State Buckeyes through the Rose Bowl Recreation. (Picture by Harry How/Getty Pictures)
Oregon’s offensive coordinator, Will Stein, stated he couldn’t discover a single play that allowed his group to run the ball ahead in final yr’s Rose Bowl recreation. The Geese completed with minus-23 yards dashing, and followers watched in disbelief as Oregon fell behind Ohio State 34-0 within the second quarter.
In the meantime, Penn State’s James Franklin absolutely took observe, not simply of what Ohio State did to Oregon, however what that Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator may deliver to his personal program.
Jim Knowles was the most effective playcaller within the nation final yr. He ought to’ve received the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s prime assistant coach, after fielding a protection that ranked No. 1 in scoring protection (12.9 factors per recreation) and appeared as impenetrable because the Sphinx rhyming riddles. After dropping Tom Allen to Clemson, Franklin and Penn State made Knowles the highest-paid assistant coach within the nation, not only for what he did final yr, however for what he is anticipated to do that season: win video games like this one.
Penn State wins video games like this one in opposition to Oregon as a result of that’s been its id — and previously, it additionally misplaced video games like this for the exact same motive. However I am informed this group is not that group. I am informed this group has been cooking within the lab, ingesting gasoline prefer it’s water, sweating vinegar, chewing nails, making thunderclaps with each step and calling down lightning like Mjolnir is swinging in its proper hand. Simply take a look at the AP ballot, the place Penn State checks in at No. 3 this week. It’s clear this group isn’t like some other we’ve seen or heard about in State Faculty.
OK, Penn State. End the magic trick. I’ve seen the pledge. I’ve seen the flip. Present me the status.
RJ Younger is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities. Comply with him @RJ_Young.
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