Penn State takes its shot at No. 1 Oregon
Associated Press
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel came to Indianapolis in July with a purpose. He wanted a sense of what Lucas Oil Stadium was like before making what he hoped would be a return trip in December.
On Saturday, he’ll be back on the same turf.
Plenty has changed for Gabriel and the Ducks since they came to town all those months ago for their inaugural Big Ten media day appearance. No. 1 Oregon sits atop the playoff seedings, remains the last unbeaten team in major college football and Gabriel has a new title — Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
It’s been a dream season in every way for the soon-to-be 24-year-old Gabriel, right down to leading the Ducks into the conference championship game he’s been expecting.
“If we didn’t think we’d be there, I wouldn’t have attended,” Gabriel said. “I was glad we were able to go see it (Lucas Oil), feel it, smell it. It was a good experience. Now we’re going back with the whole squad.”
Winning a conference title in his final season — and Oregon’s first season in its new league — would be the cherry on top for Gabriel now that both teams are virtual locks to make the first 12-team College Football Playoff.
The winner likely earns a first-round bye, while the loser probably hosts a first-round game. There is big money at stake: The Big Ten stands to get $4 million for each school that makes the CFP and the payouts escalate beginning with the semifinals to $6 million per school; a conference whose school makes a run from the first round to the title game gets $20 million. The CFP also provides millions to cover expenses.
While Oregon (9-0 Big Ten, 12-0 overall No. 1 CFP) was a preseason favorite to be back in town this weekend, No. 3 Penn State wasn’t supposed to make it after losing to then-No. 4 Ohio State.
But the Nittany Lions (8-1, 11-1, No. 3 CFP) rebounded by winning their last four and got help last weekend when Michigan upset the Buckeyes. It’s the first time Penn State has reached a Big Ten championship title game since 2016 — and they don’t intend to go home empty-handed.
“Being from Pennsylvania, seeing that game from 2016, like I always imagined being in these shoes, being in that moment, trying to win a Big Ten championship,” running back Nick Singleton said. “Being in that moment right now feels good, but we’ve got to go out there and win it.”
Though Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and Gabriel are ranked seventh and eighth in FBS passing efficiency this season, both could be under serious pressure Saturday.
Defensive ends Matayo Uiagalelei of Oregon and Abdul Carter of Penn State are two of the nation’s premier pass rushers. Uiagalelei is tied for ninth nationally with 10 1/2 sacks while Carter is tied for 12th with 10. The Ducks also have another fearsome pass rusher in defensive end Jordan Burch (8 1/2).
Penn State certainly isn’t complaining about playing for a trophy, but it scrambled the schedule.
It began with coach James Franklin calling an audible in last Saturday’s postgame speech, announcing Sunday’s scheduled off-day had been scrapped so they could start cramming for Oregon. That was just the start.
“It was going to be a week for rest and recovery, some strategic practices,” he said Sunday. “But we always have to be prepared for these different scenarios. So right after the game I told them, ‘We’re going to practice Sunday.’ Now it’s back to a normal week”
Franklin will be chasing his 100th win in his 11 seasons with the program.