In their inaugural Big Ten season, Lucas Oil Stadium roared with energy Dec. 7 as the Oregon Ducks defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 45-37, capturing the Big Ten Championship.
The title game featured high-stakes offensive displays, moments of staunch defense and a near-capacity crowd of 67,469 fans soaking in one of college football’s biggest spectacles.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning expressed his pride in the team following the win.
“The belief in our team throughout the game never wavered,” Lanning said. “Our guys love each other and worked their tails off tonight to come out on the other side of victory.”
All ducks early
Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns, added, “You live for these moments. This is why we work so hard.”
The game kicked off under the stadium lights, and Oregon wasted no time asserting itself. Gabriel connected with Kenyon Sadiq twice in the opening frame for touchdowns, giving the Ducks an early lead.
Penn State countered with a 33-yard field goal by Ryan Barker and a 22-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar to Nicholas Singleton, keeping the score tight at 14-10 by the quarter’s end.
The second quarter saw the scoreboard light up in the highest-scoring first half in Big Ten Championship Game history. Oregon extended its advantage with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Ferguson and a 1-yard rushing score by Jordan James. Penn State’s Omari Evans and Allar responded with critical scores, cutting the Ducks’ lead to 31-24 by halftime.
Oregon kicker Atticus Sappington added a 32-yard field goal as the clock expired, giving the Ducks a narrow seven-point advantage heading into the locker room.
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After halftime, the Ducks’ Tez Johnson took center stage. Early in the third frame, Johnson hauled in a 48-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel, showcasing the speed and skill that earned him the Grange-Griffin MVP honors.
2024 Big Ten Championship Game MVP Tez Johnson
“I told them, ‘This is the first game you all coming to; I’ll give you all a show. I promise you that,’” Johnson said. “For me, it was just, I don’t know if words can explain it, my mom, just seeing the tears in her eyes being able to watch me play on a stage like this … It’s something you dream about. And when that time happens and it’s being checked off your bucket list, you don’t take it for granted.”
Johnson finished the game with 11 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown, marking one of the finest performances in championship history.
Penn State narrowed the margin in the fourth quarter with a Kaytron Allen 1-yard rush and a 14-yard touchdown pass to Harrison Wallace III.
Despite the Nittany Lions’ determination, Oregon’s attack, capped by another Jordan James rushing touchdown, sealed the victory.
The Ducks’ defense held firm during Penn State’s final drive. Nikko Reed’s interception quelled any hopes of a Nittany Lions comeback.
Penn State head coach James Franklin expressed pride in his squad despite the loss.
“We played the number one team in the country and had a chance to win the game at the end,” Franklin said. He highlighted critical penalties and turnovers as key factors in the defeat. However, he emphasized his team’s determination as they prepare for the upcoming College Football Playoff.
Moving towards the College Football Playoffs
With the victory, Oregon improved to 13-0, matching a program record for wins in a season. The Ducks also secured the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoffs, which kick off on Dec. 20.
Their Big Ten Championship adds another chapter to a historic season, extending the nation’s longest active winning streak to 14 games.
For Penn State, the focus shifts to playoff preparations. Despite the setback, the Nittany Lions showcased their explosive offense, amassing 518 total yards, including over 100 yards rushing from Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton.
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more sports, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
