Which burns brighter, Oregon's flash or the Penn State whiteout?
Sept. 27: Oregon at Penn State on NBC
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STATE COLLEGE â When the Beaver Stadium lights flicker on and the Penn State whiteout noise engulfs University Park, this will already feel like a defining moment. Not just for Penn State or Oregon individually, but for the trajectory of the Big Ten race in 2025.
Letâs be real: Fans on both sides should buckle up. The national analysts are split in their picks, roughly half taking Oregon and half taking Penn State. For what itâs worth, the midweek Vegas line was Penn State by a field goal.
Penn State fans: Youâve earned the right to believe. Youâve seen the early promise of QB1 Drew Allar staying for another shot at the big prizes. The returning skill players and pass rushers.
And you still taste that December disappointment of the 2024 Big Ten title game when Oregonâs 45â37 win took what mightâve been your moment.
This isnât just another September Saturday. This is a shot at redemption, served up in a nationally televised Beaver Stadium whiteout. This could be the night Head Coach James Franklin finally wins a big one and returns Penn State to the top shelf of elite college football.
Oregon fans: Youâre riding into this 2025 Big Ten race with swagger. You watched your team rip through early foes, imposing that Oregon identity of speed, explosiveness, balanced offense, and dynamic defense. You believe your program can be even more than defending Big Ten champ.
The national consensus is that the team to leave University Park with a win on Saturday night is a contender for all of college footballâs biggest prizes.
But swagger doesnât win the game. Grit does. Execution does. Saturday, weâll see just how much Oregon has of all three.
vs PENN STATE, FANS WEAR GREEN
Keys for Penn State
Defense owns the box. Oregonâs offense is built on speed and space. If the Nittany Lionsâ defensive front can disrupt timing, get penetration in the A-gaps and flush Dante Moore, it forces the Ducks out of rhythm. Oregonâs O-Line hasnât yet faced a defense as stout as Penn State.
Force turnovers & negative plays. Oregon will try to flip the field with chunk plays. If Penn Stateâs secondary can bait Moore or force errant throws, Will Steinâs Oregon offenses have historically struggled in old-school grinder games and recovering when theyâre behind the chains.
Convert in the red zone. You have the weapons. The backs, receivers, and scheme. But you canât settle for field goals against Oregonâs skill-position talent. Finish possessions.
Slow tempo, control clock. Keep Oregonâs offense off the field. If Penn State sustains drives, chews clock, mixes in play action, it can take the upper hand against a young Ducks squad with literally five returning starters whoâve ever seen adversity against a Top 5 caliber opponent. And that was the blowout loss to Ohio State back in January.
Keys for Oregon
Exploit space and motion. Oregonâs formula is stretching defenses horizontally, forcing coverage sideline to sideline, then attacking running lanes and the vertical pass. Make Penn State cover grass, then âhit âem where they ainât.â
Running game production. The Ducksâ ground game will be mission-critical to keep the Penn State front from hounding QB1 Dante Moore. If this rematch finishes similar to Decemberâs conference title game (a one-score win by Oregon), the Ducksâ seven-deep rotation at RB may be on the spot to run out the clock and protect a late lead.
Third-down efficiency. Penn State wants Oregonâs offense on the sideline for as many minutes as possible. Convert third downs, stay ahead of the chains, and keep Dante Moore upright and on the field.
Pressure Allar all night. Make Penn Stateâs passing game unviable. Keep PSU QB Allar uncomfortable in collapsing pockets and force him to move. Mobility is definitely not his strength. If you can get Allar off rhythm, his mistakes could decide the game in Oregonâs favor.
Ignore the noise. Hostile environment, whiteout night, itâs all a manufactured distraction. Ducks have to play with composure. Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning has a solid history of turning road game adversity into Ducks energy.
The bottom line
For Penn State, beating a top-10 opponent in this setting isnât just another win. Itâs the signature moment many years overdue for Head Coach James Franklin.
Lose here, and the doubts solidify: Can this guy really beat elite teams anywhere, ever?
And frankly, with Oregonâs absolutely loaded roster and Lanningâs masterful motivation, Saturday could very easily go Oregonâs way if Penn State isnât perfect for four quarters.
For Oregon, a win here cements the Ducks as legit contenders for a return trip to the conference title game.
With another ranked opponent on tap for Oregon (upstart Indiana in Game 6), Penn State really has more to lose here, and Oregon has everything to gain.
Either way, this game will shape the Big Ten pecking order.
Ohio State is imposing, but the Buckeyes have a possible upset watch brewing vs. Washington on Saturday.
And from a national perspective, this Oregon-PSU whiteout will absolutely resurface in the November conversation as a playoff resume moment for somebody.
Meantime, this has all the makings of a game fans will remember for decades: The collision of No. 3 vs. No. 6 in a Beaver Stadium whiteout on national TV. Win or lose, this game will write a chapter in both programsâ stories.
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