Mason Wadleigh

As the clock ticked its final seconds of the Big 10 Championship, fans worldwide were disappointed, as Penn State had just lost the game against the number 1 ranked team in the nation, the University of Oregon. With a narrow final score of 45 – 37, Penn State dropped from 3rd rank in the AP Polls, and 6th Seed in College Football Playoffs. How did the game go? And what’s next for Penn State?

First Quarter 

Within the first quarter, the heat was already on for both teams. Early into the game, University of Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq received a 28-yard touchdown grab from his quarterback, Dillon Gabriel.

A few minutes later, Penn State’s kicker, Ryan Barker, kicked a 33-yard field goal.

With a little under three minutes and thirty seconds left in the quarter, Oregon’s QB lobbed a two-yard toss to Kenyon Sadiq for another touchdown. 

Finally, with a minute and a half left on the clock, Penn State put seven on the board with a 22-yard throw from Drew Allar to running-back Nicholas Singleton. 

As the quarter drained to 0:00, the score stood at 14-10, with Oregon holding a small lead. 

Second Quarter 

As the second quarter began, the score stayed very close. Two minutes in, Oregon scored a short, four-yard touchdown pass to Terrence Ferguson. 

Three minutes deeper into the quarter, Oregon scored again. This time, with a one-yard run through running back, Jordan James. It’s important to note that Atticus Sappington, the University of Oregon’s Kicker, played a phenomenal game. 

With under seven minutes left in the quarter, Penn State made a pushback, scoring seven with a 22-yard pass to Omari Evans. Minutes later, Drew Allar, Penn State’s quarterback ran one in himself for an additional seven points. 

Astonishingly, the final score of the half came from Oregon’s kicker, Atticus Sappington, who kicked a 32-yard field goal with seven seconds counting down. 

The final score of the quarter ended at 31 – 24, with Oregon still holding the lead. 

Third Quarter 

With a scary, yet overall uneventful quarter, there was only one scoring play in the whole 15 minutes. Oregon’s Tez Johnson brought in a 48-yard pass from Dillon Gabriel. 

The final score of the game at the end of the third quarter sat at 38 – 24, University of Oregon still coming out on top. 

Fourth (and Final) Quarter

As the time to play was coming to an end, Penn State needed an outstanding quarter to win the game, or at least tie it up. Early on, the Nittany Lions showed their hand by scoring a walk-on touchdown in less than a minute after the quarter started. After Kaytron Allen’s score, there was a failed two-point attempt. 

With seven-and-a-half minutes left, Oregon’s Jordan James carried the ball three yards for a quick seven points. 

In a last-ditch effort, with three minutes and 41 seconds remaining. Penn State’s Harrison Wallace III brought in a 14-yard pass to score the final points of the game. 

Heartbreakingly, the game wrapped up with a loss for Penn State, with a score of 45 – 37. 

By the Numbers

Penn State racked up a total of 518 yards. 226 of which passed, and the remaining 292 yards were all made up of rushing plays. The average yards-per-play summed up to 7.0. 

The University of Oregon shockingly put up lower numbers for most stat lines. They put up a total of 466 yards. 283 of said yards were strictly passing yards, while the remaining 183 yards were all rushing. Their average yards-per-play totaled up to 6.2. 

What’s Next for the Nittany Lions?

Despite the loss at Lucas Oil Stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the Lions, there is more football to be played. 

Penn State will meet against the Southern Methodist University Mustangs for the first round of College Football Playoffs. 

They meet on Saturday, December 21st, at Noon EST. They’re playing in the renowned Beaver Stadium, Penn State’s “Terror-dome” like arena. Winning against the Mustangs, who hold a record of 11-2, will send Penn State to square up against Boise State in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals, playing the “Fiesta Bowl” on New Year’s Eve.