Oregon’s football team has completed an impressive unbeaten season, earning their place as the top seed in the College Football Playoff. The Ducks secured their spot with a thrilling 45-37 victory over Penn State, which was ranked third, in the Big Ten championship game.
The Ducks’ standout performer was wide receiver Tez Johnson, who had a spectacular game, catching 11 passes for 181 yards and scoring a touchdown. His touchdown, a 48-yard catch-and-run from quarterback Dillon Gabriel, helped Oregon extend their lead to 38-24 in the third quarter.
Though Penn State made a push to stay in the game by narrowing the deficit to eight points early in the fourth quarter, they couldn’t keep up with Oregon’s offensive momentum. A failed two-point conversion left the Nittany Lions struggling, and Oregon responded decisively with a lengthy touchdown drive finished off by running back Jordan James.
With 3:41 left in the game, Penn State managed to reduce the score gap again, but Oregon swiftly took control once more. The Ducks showcased their strong defense as Nikko Reed intercepted a pass to close out the game, sealing their triumph.
Oregon remains the only undefeated team in college football at the top level, having consistently held the number one ranking in the College Football Playoff rankings. Following the results of the SEC championship where Georgia triumphed over Texas, it’s confirmed that Oregon will head into the Playoff as the top seed, facing the winner of the upcoming matchup between the eighth and ninth seeds in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel also had an outstanding performance, completing 22 of 32 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns. While he faces tough competition for the Heisman Trophy from players like Travis Hunter of Colorado and Ashton Jeanty from Boise State, his performance solidified his candidacy for a finalist spot.
On the flip side, this defeat marks a significant setback for Penn State’s coach, James Franklin, who has now faced 19 losses in 22 games against top-ten ranked teams during his tenure.
Looking ahead, Penn State is almost guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff. However, their seeding remains uncertain. There is a possibility they might end up hosting a first-round game. The challenge will be determining if they rank above Notre Dame, who is sitting just below them in the standings with an 11-1 record. Should both teams avoid penalties for their narrow losses in conference championships, a seeding in the 5th or 6th position is likely for Penn State.
