Penn State Football: 3 Things Nittany Lions Must Do vs. Oregon to Avenge Big Ten Championship Loss
The highly anticipated Penn State Football Whiteout week is here.
Saturday night, Penn State will kick off its annual Whiteout game against the Oregon Ducks at 7:30 on NBC. The most recent matchup between the Nittany Lions and Ducks was last season in the Big Ten Championship game. Oregon outlasted Penn State in a 45-37 thriller.
With that recent loss in mind, here are three things Penn State must do to avenge their most recent loss to Oregon.
3 Penn State Football Keys to Knock Off Oregon
1. Get Pressure on Dante Moore
In the conference title game last December, Penn State struggled mightily to generate an effective pass rush against Oregon’s passing attack. In total, Penn State was only able to notch one sack in that game.
What is even more impressive, is that the Ducks were able to almost completely neutralize top 3 NFL Draft pick, Abdul Carter.
This year’s team doesn’t have Abdul Carter. But they do feature Dani Dennis-Sutton and his two extremely solid sidekicks, Chaz Coleman and Zuriah Fisher. One of, if not the most important matchups in this game will be between Oregon’s Tackles and Penn State’s Edge Rushers.
Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore has looked jaw-droppingly good so far this season.
However, he has not really had to face pressure. If Penn State wants to have any chance of winning the Whiteout, they must get after Dante Moore.
BUY PENN STATE VS. OREGON TICKETS
2. Start Fast
Frankly, what likely cost Penn State a Big Ten Championship was how slow it started against Oregon.
Penn State’s Tom Allen-led defense gave up 31 first-half points against an explosive Oregon offense in December.
With Jim Knowles now calling the defense, let’s just say if Oregon scores 31 first-half points on Saturday, the odds that Penn State comes away with a win are extremely low.
Penn State cannot afford to come out slow on defense, and plagued by turnovers and penalties on offense in the first half. Starting fast will be quintessential for the Nittany Lions on Saturday.
3. Win The Turnover Battle
Winning the turnover battle is every coach’s goal for every game.
However, in these evenly matched games, the importance of winning the turnover battle becomes even more necessary.
In the Big Ten Championship, Penn State was -2 in the turnover category. This also had a massive impact on Penn State falling to Oregon. Drew Allar threw two interceptions, while the defense failed to turn Dillon Gabriel or Oregon over.
On Saturday, Penn State must generate a turnover or two, while protecting the ball on offense. Being just +1 or even on turnovers will be a giant key to success for the Nittany Lions on Saturday.
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Purdy was born and raised in central Ohio and served for four years writing for his high school's newsletter. Currently studying Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, Ian has been a lifelong Nittany Lion fan.
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