Big Ten Championship Game: Penn State Football’s 4 Keys to Beating Oregon
Penn State Football will take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2016 on Saturday. night.
After the Big Ten removed divisions and expanded to 18 teams, the Nittany Lions find themselves facing one of the four new Big Ten teams, the No. ranked Oregon Ducks.
The top-ranked Ducks are favored by three points over the Nittany Lions in Saturday’s Big Ten championship game. If Penn State is to upset the Ducks on Saturday, here are four keys to victory.
Penn State Football’s Keys to Winning The Big Ten Championship
Establish the Running Game
The first key for the Nittany Lions against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday is to establish the running game.
Penn State’s running game has been hot or cold with Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton this season, thriving in some matchups while disappearing in others.
In three of the Nittany Lions’ last four matchups, however, the Nittany Lions have surpassed 200 yards on the ground. Establishing the running game will be key for the Nittany Lions to stay ahead of the sticks and sustain drives against a stout Oregon defense. Oregon ranks 7th in the Big Ten in rushing defense, giving up 112.4 yards per game on the ground.
Penn State will need to take advantage of the running game to open things up downfield in the passing game against Oregon, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten against the pass.
Get Penn State QB Drew Allar in a Rhythm
Drew Allar and Penn State’s offense have started slow in a number of games this season.
Against Maryland last Saturday, the Nittany Lions did not find the endzone until the Nittany Lions’ fifth drive of the day, after two three-and-outs, a fumble, and a field goal after a drive of zero yards.
The Nittany Lions will need to start a lot faster not to find themselves in a deep hole against a formidable Oregon offense Saturday. One key to starting faster is to get starting quarterback Drew Allar in a rhythm early in the game with quick easy completions.
Allar has been much improved this season, raising his completion percentage by over 11 points from a year ago. If Allar is able to get into a rhythm with Penn State’s wide receivers and tight end Tyler Warren early, it will go a long way to helping the Nittany Lions sustain longer scoring drives early in this matchup.
Pressure Dillion Gabriel
Oregon’s offensive line is up for the Joe Moore Award this season for the top offensive line in the nation.
Oregon has allowed only 12 sacks on the season and only 43 tackles for a loss on the season, both ranking in the top 15 in college football. The Nittany Lions defensive line is tough on the other side of the ball, especially with Big Ten defensive player of the year Abdul Carter coming off the edge.
With Ducks quarterback Dillion Gabriel ranking second in passing yards per game and completion percentage in the Big Ten this season, the Nittany Lions will need to get pressure on Garbiel to help out Penn State’s secondary to avoid Oregon marching down the field Saturday.
If Penn State is able to force Gabriel to make quicker throws, the Penn State secondary could take advantage by possibly creating a momentum-shifting turnover.
No Turnovers
Turnovers could be the deciding factor in the Big Ten championship game this weekend.
Both teams are positive in the turnover battle this season (Oregon +5, Penn State +6), neither turning the ball over frequently. A key turnover by either side could be fatal to the odds of winning for either team on Saturday.
Last Saturday, Singleton fumbled on the opening play from scrimmage to give Maryland the ball in great field position. The Terrapins took advantage scoring the opening touchdown on the next play and taking the lead less than 15 seconds into the matchup. The Nittany Lions will need to avoid turnovers like that Saturday if the Nittany Lions want to escape with a win.
Penn State Football has a massive opportunity in front of them to secure a top seed in the playoff and a coveted first-round bye with a win Saturday. Knocking off the Oregon Ducks is a tall task, but a victory starts with these four keys in the matchup.
MORE: Early Thoughts on Penn State vs. Oregon Matchup
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