CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS vs OREGON DUCKS
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads, 3-1
In Eugene: 0-0
In State College: Oregon leads, 1-0
Neutral Site Penn State leads, 3-0
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS NOTES
• OPENING KICK:
No. 4 Penn State takes on No. 1 Oregon in the 2024 Discover Big Ten Championship Game in Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, December 7. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on CBS. • SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets Oregon for the fifth time in program history. The Nittany Lions own a 3-1 advantage in the series. The last matchup was the 1995 Rose Bowl with Penn State earning a 38-20 win to conclude a 12-0 season. Ki-Jana Carter rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns, while Brian Milne and Jon Witman each scored once on the ground.
• 11-WIN SEASON:
Penn State reached 11 wins in a season for the 20th time in program history and 11 regular season wins for the seventh time. The Nittany Lions won 11 games in a season for the fifth time under James Franklin (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024). Penn State is one of six FBS programs with 11 wins in at least five of the last nine seasons. Penn State has won 32 games over the last three seasons (2022, 2023, 2024), marking the fourth time in program history that Penn State has won 32 or more games over a three-season span, joining 1971-73 (33), 1972-74 (32) and 1994-96 (32).
• WARREN KEEPS BREAKING RECORDS:
Tyler Warren broke three more tight end records in Penn State’s win over Maryland. Warren broke a tie with Wisconsin’s Travis Beckum (75; 2007) for the Big Ten tight end season receptions record and has 81 receptions this year. On a 7-yard touchdown catch, Warren hauled in his 17th career touchdown reception, breaking a tie with Pat Freiermuth (16; 2018-20) for the PSU tight end career touchdown receptions record. In the third quarter, Warren set the PSU tight end career receptions record, previously held by Mike Gesicki (129; 2014-17), and now owns 130 career receptions. He also holds PSU tight end records for career receiving yards (1,584), career 100-yard receiving games (5), season receptions (81) and season receiving yards (978).
• THE OPPOSITION:
No. 1 Oregon finished the regular season with a 12-0 record, including a 9-0 mark in Big Ten play. Oregon concluded the regular season with a 49-21 win over Washington. Dillon Gabriel threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, while scoring on a 4-yard run. Oregon scored five touchdowns on the ground. On defense, the Ducks tallied 16 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
PENN STATE SEEKS 5TH B1G TITLE
• Penn State is making its second appearance in the Big Ten Championship game after winning it in 2016. • Finishing with an 8-1 record in Big Ten play during the regular season, Penn State clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game with a combination of its 44-7 win over Maryland and Michigan’s 13-10 win over Ohio State. • This is the first Big Ten Championship Game that will not feature division champions after the conference eliminated divisions prior to the 2024 season. • Penn State has won four previous Big Ten titles, including 1994, 2005, 2008 and 2016.
TOP 5 MATCHUPS
• Penn State is 4-8 all-time in regular season matchups where both teams are ranked in the Top 5 of the AP Poll. • The Nittany Lions have played in six more matchups in bowl games and Penn State is 2-3-1 in those games. • Penn State is 17-61-1 all-time against Top 5 teams, including a 15-56 record in regular season matchups. • When ranked among the Top 5, Penn State has an all-time record of 105-24-1.
OREGON DUCKS NOTES
SCOUTING THE DUCKS
• Oregon is 12-0 overall and 9-0 in the Big Ten. • The Ducks have been ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for each of the last seven weeks. • Oregon is coming off a 49-21 win over Washington. • QB Dillon Gabriel threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a rushing touchdown. • Oregon rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns. • On defense, Oregon tallied 16 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. • The Ducks rank third in the Big Ten in scoring offense (35.2), first in total offense (448.5), second in pass offense (277.6) and fifth in rushing offense (170.9). • Gabriel leads the Big Ten with 3,275 passing yards and ranks second in passing yards per game (272.9) and third in passing touchdowns (24). • RB Jordan James has 1,166 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, while WR Tez Johnson is third in the Big Ten with nine touchdown receptions. • On defense, the Ducks are fourth in the conference in scoring defense (16.2), fourth in total defense (283.8), fourth in pass defense (171.5) and seventh in rush defense (112.3). • Oregon boasts a strong defensive end duo, including Matayo Uiagalelei (12.5 TFL, 10.5 SK) and Jordan Burch (11.0 TFL, 8.5 SK). • LB Bryce Boettcher leads the Ducks with 80 tackles, while DB Tysheem Johnson paces the squad with three interceptions. • Noah Whittington is averaging 31.0 yards per kick return, while Tez Johnson is 10th in the country with a 11.9 punt return average.
CHAMPIONSHIP OPPORTUNITY
After going undefeated in the regular season and 9-0 in conference play, No. 1 Oregon will have a chance to capture the Big Ten title in its first year in the league as the Ducks head to Indianapolis to face Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. This will be Oregon’s seventh all-time appearance in a conference championship game, and fifth since 2019. Saturday will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the Ducks and Nittany Lions, and first since the 1995 Rose Bowl.
12-0
The Ducks completed an undefeated, 12-0 regular season for the second time in program history with last week’s dominant win over Washington, joining the 2010 team as the only Oregon squads to accomplish that feat. Oregon is the only FBS team to go undefeated in the regular season, and one of just four to go unbeaten in conference play. The Ducks went 9-0 in conference play for the second time in program history, joining that 2010 team that went on to play for the national championship. Oregon has now won 13 straight games dating back to last season, carrying the nation’s longest active winning streak into the postseason. It is the second year in a row and seventh time in program history that Oregon has reached 12 wins in a season.
A WIN WOULD…
Capture the Big Ten Championship in Oregon’s first year in the conference. Secure a first-round bye for the Ducks in the College Football Playoff. Make Oregon 13-0 for the first time in program history. Match the Oregon single-season record for wins with 13, tying the 2014 team. Be UO’s 14th straight win dating back to last season, the longest active winning streak in the nation.
2024 SEASON
No. 2 in the nation with a 73.5 completion percentage; one of only eight QBs above 70.0 percent. No. 8 nationally in passer rating (165.06), No. 11 in completions (275), No. 13 in passing yards per game (272.9) and tied for No. 18 in passing touchdowns (24). » Also has seven rushing touchdowns, including one in five of his last eight games. Tied for No. 12 nationally in total touchdowns (31) and No. 14 in total yards per game (287.5). Has posted four of the top 11 completion-percentage performances in UO single-game history, including an 85.7 percentage (18-of-21) in Week 2 vs. Boise State that is No. 2 in program single-game history. Multiple touchdown passes in 10 games and two 300-yard performances (380 vs. Idaho, 341 vs. Ohio State). Career-high 41 completions in opener vs. Idaho, tied for the most ever in a game by a Duck and tied for the most by any FBS quarterback in a game so far in 2024 (Spencer Petras, Utah State).
