By Cort Street | @cort_street
Sports Capital Journalism Program
INDIANAPOLIS – Something felt different as the triumphant No. 1 Oregon Ducks took the stage to celebrate a momentous 45-37 Big Ten Championship victory over the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions.
The home sideline at Lucas Oil Stadium had been worn by the calm, confident pacing of Ducks’ head coach Dan Lanning – a coach that had brought a new identity of physicality and toughness to a program known for its flash and extravagance.
The field had been frayed by the cleats of Tez Johnson, the speedy senior wide receiver who had been knocked for his 5-foot-10 frame, but had proven himself as a key piece of the Ducks’ offensive attack in an unforgettable performance on a record-setting night.
Big Ten history had been rewritten by the 13-0 Oregon Ducks – a team that was considered a conference outsider at the beginning of the year; a team that went undefeated by adapting to the physicality of the new league it had joined; and a team that rekindled the speed and explosiveness that had defined the Ducks for decades to overcome adversity and become conference champions. The Ducks equaled their 2014 school record for victories in a season and extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 14 games.
“You live for these moments,” said Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the veteran leader of the offense. “In a lifetime of being a kid and throwing in the front yard or in the street, you dream of these moments and want to be in them.”
Throughout the night, there was never a moment that felt too big for the sixth-year transfer quarterback. Gabriel finished the game with 22-for-32 passing for 283 yards and four touchdowns, but his performance will be most remembered for his clutch play in the pivotal moments of the game.
On Oregon’s final touchdown drive, Gabriel was the symbol of poise under pressure. He sat in the pocket and converted three third and fourth-down plays to keep the scoring drive alive and maintain the Ducks’ crucial offensive momentum. Later, facing a third-and-1 and needing a conversion to ice the game, there was no question whose number would be called. Gabriel patiently sorted through traffic and found a hole in the defense for a 7-yard rush that sealed the Ducks’ victory with 1:13 to play.
No summary of Oregon’s historic offensive performance would be complete, of course, without mention of the championship’s most valuable player: Tez Johnson.
“He’s special,” Gabriel said of his teammate. “He knows it. I think when you’re around a talented individual, you appreciate it because just the person he is, he’s electric, and when he gets the ball in his hands, he’s going to make a play.”
Johnson finished the night with a record 181 yards receiving on 11 catches, second most in the history of the game. Johnson’s 48-yard touchdown reception gave the Ducks a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter. Like Gabriel, Johnson continually provided dazzling plays in pivotal moments throughout the game to carry his team through adversity.
The Ducks’ takeover of the Big Ten was not the only factor that contributed to a perceptible difference in the postgame environment of the conference championship. As a result of the sweeping changes that have altered the college football landscape, both teams displayed positive, forward-facing outlooks that sharply contrasted conference championship teams of the past.
“You have to understand that this is new college football,” Penn State head coach James Franklin asserted after the loss. “And there’s a 12-team playoff, and our season has just begun.”
Linebacker Dominic DeLuca echoed his coach’s thoughts. “We can go back and look at ourselves tomorrow, see where we need to improve, just go from there. I mean, it’s still a long season ahead of us, it’s win or go home and we’ll fight to win.”
Franklin has frequently been criticized for his poor performance against the top teams in the nation. The loss to Oregon added to his 1-14 record against top five teams and will do little to silence the criticisms of his coaching. But the Nittany Lions, 11-2, displayed a tenacity and resilience late in the game that they have often lacked on the biggest stage, and the 12-team playoff will give Penn State a chance to prove themselves in the national spotlight once again.
“I’m proud of our guys,” voiced Franklin. “We played the number one team in the country and had a chance to win the game at the end.”
Penn State’s rushing attack highlighted one of the team’s best offensive outputs of the season. Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton combined for 227 yards rushing on just 24 carries, and quarterback Drew Allar added 54 yards. The Lions gained 292 of their 518 total yards on the ground. Dynamic tight end Tyler Warren also enjoyed plenty of success in the contest, hauling in seven passes for 84 yards in a productive performance.
The explosive day for the Penn State offense drew attention to a rather concerning defensive performance from Oregon. While the unbeaten team was happy to soak in the win for the moment, several Ducks players – like the Nittany Lions – highlighted the fact that there were still greater goals to be accomplished in the 2024 season.
“This next 48 hours is gonna be celebration, but you know, after the 48 hours, we’re back to work,” emphasized senior linebacker Jeffrey Bassa.
With their conference championship win, the Ducks have most likely locked up the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, an honor that will grant them an advantageous first round bye. While many coaches would be tempted to look ahead at potential matchups and locations, Lanning refused to break away from his process.
“I’m worried about tomorrow, I’m worried about the next day, the next play,” Lanning stressed. “I’m thinking right now, how can we improve and get better. And there’s a lot more we can grow from in that game in all phases… I think when you focus on the process, the rest takes care of itself.”
So far, Lanning’s strategy has led Oregon to an unbeaten season and a conference championship victory. But, as Franklin declared, a new season has just begun, and Lanning knows that his team will be stepping into the unknown and facing their most pivotal challenges yet as they strive to achieve their ultimate goal of a national championship.
In an historic season marked by its differences and unknowns, one thing appears certain: the Ducks will be ready.
