Oregon holds off Penn State to win Big Ten in debut season, locking up No. 1 seed in College Football Playoff

The Ducks were perfect this season, going 13-0 as the only unbeaten team left in the FBS

By Brandon Marcello

Dec 8, 2024 • 1 min read

Oregon's first season in the Big Ten was perfect. The top-ranked Ducks held on for a 45-37 win in a back-and-forth shootout against No. 3 Penn State to win the Big Ten championship and move to 13-0 while securing the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Penn State out-gained Oregon 518-466, but two costly turnovers proved to be enough for Oregon to hold on for the win. Drew Allar threw two interceptions — one led to a touchdown for the Ducks in the first half, and the other was thrown with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. Both teams were perfect in the red zone, scoring on all nine combined possessions.

Tez Johnson caught 11 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown for the Ducks. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen both eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the Nittany Lions, who finished with 292 rushing on the ground.

Allar was 20 of 39 passing for 226 yards and three touchdowns, but the two interceptions proved costly. He also ran for 54 yards and a score on five carries.

Next up for Oregon is the CFP quarterfinals on Dec. 30 or Dec. 31. Penn State will likely host a first-round game.

CBS Sports was here throughout the night with updates, analysis and highlights. Read on below for takeaways from the game.

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What will Penn State's seeding be in the CFP?

Eight days ago, Penn State was destined to be no better than the No. 5 seed in the College Football Playoff. Then Ohio State lost to Michigan, sending Penn State to the Big Ten Championship Game to play for a title and No. 1 seed in the field.

Should Penn State's seeding improve for playing — and losing — in the Big Ten Championship Game? After all, Notre Dame sat at home as an independent and Texas lost to a lower-ranked Georgia team in the first overtime game in SEC Championship Game history.

Penn State should fall no further than No. 7 in the field, which could set up a 7-10 matchup with Big Ten foe Indiana, but the Big Ten is sure to push the committee to keep Penn State as the No. 5 seed above Notre Dame and Texas.

The difference between a No. 5 seed and No. 7 seed is huge. The Nittany Lions could host Clemson, the ACC champion, as the fifth seed, or they could host Indiana as the seventh seed. The biggest difference is the potential quarterfinal matchup, with the No. 7 seed potentially playing No. 2 Georgia and the No. 5 seed likely playing Boise State or Arizona State.

Who would you rather play?

Selection Sunday will be interesting for the Nittany Lions.

Oregon makes history — and so does the Pac-12

Oregon didn't just shake up the Big Ten in its first season as a new member, it claimed it as its own.

The Ducks head into the College Football Playoff with an unblemished 13-0 record, the best mark in school history, and knocked off the conference's three blue bloods — Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State — to lock off the No. 1 seed in the upcoming playoff.

Conference realignment afforded us five potential first-timers claiming conference championships this weekend, and while Army and Arizona State followed hrough as newbies, the biggest move was made by the Ducks. Oregon carried the Pac-12's banner, and all of the criticism as being too soft as a West Coast team, and delivered the rough-and-rugged Big Ten a dose of their own hard-nosed attack.

The Ducks went punch for punch with heavyweight Ohio State and knocked out the Buckeyes. They drilled Michigan. And on Saturday night they outlasted Penn State, which they led by double digits for most of the night.

While fans celebrate conference titles and playoff berths, pour one out for the Pac-12. The Conference of Champions produced two title winners this season in the Big 12 (Arizona State) and Big Ten (Oregon).

Turns out the Pac-12 wasn't all that bad.

Penn State's comeback attempt falls short again and again

Penn State is not built to play catch-up on the football field. When the Nittany Lions were forced to do so against Oregon, they got frustratingly close to breaking through and taking control, but fell short time and time again as the Ducks' wingspan proved to be just long enough to hold on for a 45-37 win in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Oregon built an 18-point lead, but Penn State pulled within a score three times. Oregon countered the Nittany Lions with another score or turnover every time.

Penn State out-gained Oregon 518-466, but two interceptions by Drew Allar were too much to overcome. Allar's first interception in his own red zone was returned to the 1-yard line and resulted in an Oregon touchdown. The second one was a 50-50 ball down the right sideline with less than two minutes remaining, allowing Oregon to sit on the ball to melt the clock and secure the win.

Penn State had an incredible 16 explosive plays for 341 yards on runs of 10-plus yards and passes of 15-plus yards.

Again, it wasn't enough in the second-highest scoring Big Ten title game in history.

Oregon picks off Drew Allar

Late 4Q: Oregon 45, Penn State 37

Welp, Drew Allar did everything he could to pull Penn State back in the game, but he buried the Nittany Lions with two costly mistakes. His second interception with 1:54 remaining may have just sealed Oregon's 45-37 win.

Allar went deep down the right sideline on a 50-50 ball, but he was off target and Oregon's Nikko Reed was there for the over-the-shoulder interception at the Ducks' 16-yard line.

Penn State gets the stop

Oregon 45, Penn State 37

Penn State got the three-and-out It needed but a great punt return was called back after officials ruled the Nittany Lions called a fair catch. Even so, the Nittany Lions have solid field position just inside their own 40-yard line with less than three minutes remaining. Oregon leads 45-37 with two minutes remaining. Get ready for a dramatic finish.

Drama in Indy

Late 4Q: Oregon 45, Penn State 37

What a play by Drew Allar to pull Penn State within a touchdown — again. The Nittany Lions quarterback threw a beautiful side-arm pass between two defenders in the end zone, with Oregon defender Matayo Uiagalelei ripping at his undershirt as he contorted his body just enough to fire the pass.

There's 3:41 remaining in the game. Allar is 20 of 38 passing for 226 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, which has been the difference in the game. That interception, which was returned to the 1-yard line, led to an Oregon touchdown in the first half.

Penn State needs a stop.

Explosives have defined the Big Ten championship

Oregon and Penn State have combined for 29 explosive plays (15 by Penn State) midway through the fourth quarter in an unexpected shootout in Indianapolis.

Explosive plays are defined by runs of 10-plus yards and passes of 15-plus yards. Those 29 plays have accounted for an incredible 629 combined yards.

Oregon leads Penn State 45-30 with 6:55 remaining.

Did Oregon just land the knockout punch?

Mid 4Q: Oregon 45, Penn State 30

Oregon kept its offense on the field for fourth-and-2, and Dillon Gabriel delivered a beautiful dart down the middle to tight end Terrance Ferguson to keep a crucial drive alive that may have led to the game-deciding touchdown with 7:31 remaining.

Ferguson caught a 20-yard pass to pick up a first down at Penn State's 22-yard line to keep the drive alive. Jordan James capped it with a three-yard touchdown run up the middle.

The Ducks have managed to respond time and time again when Penn State pulls within striking distance. This certainly seems to be the final body blow.

Gabriel is 22 of 31 passing for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Tez Johnson has 11 catches for 181 yards, including a 16-yarder on third-and-9 earlier in the possession.

Penn State pulls within a score

Early 4Q: Penn State 38, Penn State 30

Back and forth we go. Penn State is within a touchdown again thanks to its powerful and explosive rushing attack led by Kaytron Allen, and some misdirection and creative scheming by offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.

Backup quarterback Beau Pribula came into the game and rushed around the left side for an 18-yard gain to the 1-yard line to set up Allen for a touchdown run with 14:17 remaining in regulation. Penn State's Philly Special didn't result in a 2-point conversion, so the Nittany Lions are down eight instead of six.

Allen has pushed his total to 124 yards on 14 carries.

Penn State's six-play, 97-yard drive with 82 yards coming on the ground and 15 via a big personal foul penalty on the Ducks with the Nittany Lions back up to their own 3-yard line.

Penn State still has life

End 3Q: No. 1 Oregon 38, No. 3 Penn State 24

Penn State can't be stopped on the ground, and the Nittany Lions are in business heading into the fourth quarter. Kaytron Allen has busted off runs of 32 and 26 yards on the latest drive to place the Nittany Lions on Oregon's 19-yard line heading into the fourth quarter.

This is quite the performance for Allen, who is up to 123 yards rushing after picking up only 64 combined yards in the previous three games.

Penn State is up to 235 yards rushing and is averaging 8.4 yards per carry. If Penn State can convert and score a touchdown on this possession, there's hope yet for the Nittany Lions to win this game by sticking to the ground game rather than counting on Drew Allar to deliver through the air.

Penn State gets a stop, but Nittany Lions need to score

Penn State forced a much-needed punt to get the ball back with a 14-point deficit with 1:40 remaining in the third quarter. Penn State is out-rushing Oregon 172-144, and Drew Allar has been impressive with 180 yards and two touchdowns, but the margin for error is small and the Nittany Lions need to put together a touchdown drive.

Penn State's Kaytron Allen returns

Penn State running back Kaytron Allen has returned to the game after a brief visit to the injury tent. Allen was apparently injured on the Nittany Lions' first possession of the second half. He returned for the final third-down play on Penn State's second drive, which ended with a punt to Oregon with the Ducks ahead 38-24 with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter.

Allen has 60 yards on nine carries.

Oregon makes Penn State pay

Mid 3Q: Oregon 38, Penn State 24

Tez Johnson is super slippery, and the Ducks are paddling quickly across the water again after Penn State pulled within a score. The star receiver has been unstoppable most of the night, sliding out of tackles and shifting his hips and maintaining his high-end speed to propel Oregon's offense. His latest catch and run resulted in a 48-yard touchdown and pushed the Ducks ahead by two touchdowns with 7:26 remaining.

That was quite the response by Oregon, which had sputtered offensively after grabbing a 28-10 lead. Penn State had an opportunity to tie the game, or pull within four, but its long opening possession ended with a missed field goal.

Johnson is up to 153 yards and a touchdown on seven catches (eight targets).

The Ducks' scoring drive was its quickest yet: 77 yards on only five plays.

Penn State drive comes up empty

Early 3Q: Oregon 31, Penn State 24

An impressive opening drive for Penn State results in zero points as Ryan Barker misses a 40-yard field goal. That's gotta be disappointing for the Nittany Lions, who have been seemingly doing everything right since falling behind 28-10.

Penn State drove 57 yards on 11 plays to open the second half, with Drew Allar continuing to show some tremendous poise in the pocket and touch on the ball. Running back Kaytron Allen headed to the injury tent after that drive as well. We'll keep our eyes on the Penn State star's status.

Halftime: Oregon 31, Penn State 24

Penn State climbs back to get within striking distance

We expected a defensive slugfest, with the victor perhaps finding a way to hit 30 points. Instead, we've gotten a showcase for the offenses with a record-setting first half at the Big Ten Championship.

Oregon and Penn State combined for 537 yards, and the Nittany Lions led the way with 283 yards but enter halftime trailing 31-24 thanks, in part, to an interception that was returned 24 yards to the 1-yard line to set up a short touchdown for the Ducks. The 55 combined points are the most ever in the first half of a Big Ten Championship.

Penn State superstar Nick Singleton has rushed for 86 yards to lead all runners; Oregon's Jordan James has 53 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

Dillon Gabriel is 11 of 18 passing for 153 yards and three touchdowns, but he struggled after a hot start, as five of his last eight pass attempts fell incomplete. Penn State forced Oregon to punt on back-to-back possessions and Drew Allar led the Nittany Lions to a pair of touchdowns on consecutive possessions to climb out of an 18-point hole.

Oregon tacks on a field goal

Late 2Q: Oregon 31, Penn State 24

Dillon Gabriel hit Tez Johnson for a 25-yard gain, Jordan James picked up a first down and Gabriel scrambled 11 yards to put the Ducks in field-goal position with 40 seconds remaining. The offense stalled, however, and Atticus Sappington booted a 32-yard field goal to stretch the lead back to a touchdown.

Penn State's defense has settled down after falling behind 28-10.

And just like that it's a one-possession game

Late 2Q: Oregon 28, Penn State 24

Penn State has plenty of fight. The Nittany Lions have stormed back from an 18-point deficit with a pair of touchdowns to cut make this a one-score game with 1:53 remaining in the first half.

You wanted points? Did you expect points? Well, you're getting 'em. The teams have combined for 52 points in the first half, matching the betting total for the game in Las Vegas. We've already tied the record for most points in the first half of a Big Ten Championship (2012).

Drew Allar hit on a pair of throws on the last scoring drive, but it was his legs that did the most damage with an 8-yard gain and a 7-yard touchdown run up the gut. Allar hasn't been stellar but he's battling. After nearly throwing a Pick 6, which Oregon turned into a touchdown anyway on a 1-yard touchdown run, he has responded with back-to-back touchdown drives. The Penn State defense has also forced back-to-back three-and-outs.

The Nittany Lions have the momentum, just when it seemed the Ducks had tugged it away.

Penn State answers, cuts into Oregon's lead

Mid 2Q: Oregon 28, Penn State 17

Penn State receiver Omari Evans ran wide open to the back of the end zone for a 22-yard pass from Drew Allar to cut the lead to 28-17. Penn State needed that in a big way after falling behind 18 points on an interception by Allar on the previous possession. Kaytron Allen broke through for a 24-yard run and Nick Singleton added a 17-yard gain to highlight the drive.

Penn State has 224 yards of offense compared to Oregon' 193 yards, but the difference is the aforementioned interception and Oregon's offense maintaining long possessions.

Oregon squashes Penn State's momentum

Early 2Q: Oregon 28, Penn State 10

Dontae Manning picked off a pass by undercutting a route with two receivers crossing from right to left across the middle of the field, and returned it 24 yards to Penn State's 1-yard line. Jordan James ran over the left side to cap the gigantic pendulum swing with a 1-yard touchdown.

Just moments after the Nittany Lions had forced the Ducks to punt for the first time tonight, the Ducks' defense responded to help push the lead out to three touchdowns early in the second quarter. Wow.

Finally, a stop

Penn State's defense successfully forced a punt after allowing touchdowns on Oregon's first three possessions. The Nittany Lions desperately needed that in a game that was inching closely to getting out of hand early. Zion Tracy called for a fair catch at the 11-yard line after the 55-yard punt by Ross James.

Oregon has outgained Penn State 192-153. Penn State has had success but just needs to sustain drives.

Ducks' offense flying high

Early 2Q: Oregon 21, Penn State 10

Another possession, another touchdown for Oregon. The Ducks are perfect tonight, scoring on their first three possessions.

Tez Johnson was the star of the drive with two big catches, slipping out of a couple of would-be tacklers, to help push the tempo with chunk plays. He's already up to four catches for 79 yards. He caught passes of 24 and 31 yards on the drive. Gabriel capped it with a quick four-yard strike to Terrance Ferguson on a quick flick of the wrist.

Oregon is quickly creeping up on 200 yards of offense (189 yards) against one of the nation's best defenses.

Penn State strikes back in the passing game

Late 1Q: Oregon 14, Penn State 10

It's a big night for passing plays out of the backfield. Nick Singleton snuck out of the backfield, got a fantastic matchup against an Oregon linebacker and slipped wide open in the middle of the field for a 22-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar. The drive included a couple of fantastic catches by tight end Tyler Warren, who is up to 48 yards through two possessions.

The seven-play, 75-yard drive is a great response with Oregon in position to take control of the game.

Late 1Q: Oregon 14, Penn State 3

Oregon has come to play smash mouth football in the trenches. Jordan James is picking up tough yards between the tackles, Noah Whittington is speeding on the outside and Dillon Gabriel is hitting short throws as they dissect the Nittany Lions' top-5 defense. It's a thing of beauty, balance and brute force. Kenyon Sadiq scored his second touchdown as he bled out of the backfield for a wide-open, two-yard pass on a fake pitch to the left by Dillon Gabriel.

The drive was kept alive thanks to a costly facemark penalty on Tony Rojas on a fourth-and-1 run attempt by Jordan James, who may have been short of the first-down marker.

The Ducks are downright balanced on offense, rushing for 66 yards and passing for 63 on their first two possessions.

Mid 1Q: Oregon 7, Penn State 3

Penn State capitalized on an explosive 41-yard run from Nick Singleton and kicked a 33-yard field goal on its first possession to cut into Oregon's lead. Drew Allar connected on 3 of 5 passes, but was flushed out of the pocket in the red zone and was unable to capitalize on great field position set up by the rushing attack.

Early 1Q: Oregon 7, Penn State 0

Wheel routes always win. Kenyon Sadiq snuck out of the backfield, made an easy catch and hurdled a tackler to score on a 28-yard pass from Dillon Gabriel to cap the Ducks' opening possession with a touchdown. Oregon marched 84 yards on nine plays. Jordan James ran for 20 yards on four carries and Gabriel completed all three passes for 48 yards. Oregon was also helped by a facemark penalty that pushed the Ducks 15 yards closer to the end zone.

Not a great start for Penn State's defense. Let's see what offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has up his sleeve.

Oregon offensive lineman returns

Oregon offensive guard Marcus Harper II Is warming up and will be available tonight. He has missed the last three games. Harper has started two games at left guard while also playing right guard In seven games this season.

Tyler Warren set to break another record

Do-everything tight end Tyler Warren can break the single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end today with just five more receiving yards. He's caught 81 passes for 978 yards and six touchdowns this season. He's already set the Big TEn's single-season record for receptions by a tight end (81).

Incredibly, Warren is the only player in the FBS with 900 receiving yards and more than 100 yards rushing.

The hot coach vs. the coach trying to get over the hump

Dan Lanning and James Franklin have won a bunch of games, but both are trying to break through with a long-awaited championship tonight.

Dan Lanning's career is off to a blistering start with a 34-5 leading the Ducks but he has yet to win a conference title. He can become just the fifth FBS coach in the last 50 years with 35 wins in his first three seasons with a victory today. Franklin has led Penn State to multiple 10-win seasons, but hasn't won the Big Ten title since 2016 and is set to enter the CFP for the first time in his career. His Nittany Lions would have been in the CFP in six of the last seven years if it was a 12-team field instead of a four-team format.

What's holding Penn State back? Franklin is 1-13 against top 5 teams leading the Nittany Lions and enters today on an 11-game losing streak against those opponents. He's also 0-11 against top 5 teams when Penn State is also ranked, the most losses by any head coach without a win in FBS history.

Meanwhile, Oregon is trying to win at the Big Ten title in its first season in the conference. A win would allow Lanning to surpass Chip Kelly with the most wins in a coach's first three seasons leading the Ducks. The Ducks' 34-5 record over the last three seasons is the second-best mark in the FBS.

Big Ten Championship prediction

I've seen plenty of surprise from fans and media alike that Oregon is only a 3.5-point favorite in the game, but the spread makes sense to me. There's far too much attention paid to Penn State's inability to beat Ohio State and it overshadows the fact the Nittany Lions are a genuinely good team! But if I'm taking a side in this game, I'm going with the Ducks. While both teams are evenly-matched across the board, there's one spot that Oregon has a big advantage: at receiver. Penn State's entire passing attack is built through Tyler Warren, and he's awesome, but what if Oregon takes him away? What's the counter? Oregon has plenty of options, and it should be enough to make the difference. Pick: Oregon -3.5

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