No. 3 Penn State football (11-2, 8-2 Big Ten) lost a heartbreaker against No. 1 Oregon (13-0, 10-0 Big Ten) 45-37 on Saturday evening at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Oregon was always a step ahead, but Penn State was never far behind. The Nittany Lions mounted a comeback attempt down two scores in the second half, but it fell agonizingly short with Drew Allar’s interception with less than two minutes left in regulation.

The Ducks won the Big Ten Championship, and the Nittany Lions await their College Football Playoff opponent.

How It Happened

Oregon began the game’s inaugural drive from its 16-yard line. Jordan James gained five yards, then four to bring up third down. He picked up seven yards, then got another four. Dillon Gabriel completed a screen pass to Tez Johnson for a 17-yard gain to reach Penn State’s 47-yard line. A facemask moved the Ducks to the 23-yard line two plays later, but Noah Whittington suffered a five-yard loss. Then, Gabriel fired a 28-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq, and Atticus Sappington’s extra point gave Oregon a 7-0 lead with 10:40 left in the first quarter.

Drew Allar completed a 4-yard pass to Nick Singleton, who gained a yard to bring up third down. Tyler Warren got involved with a 7-yard reception, then Singleton exploded for a 41-yard gain to reach Oregon’s 22-yard line. Kaytron Allen caught a 6-yard pass two plays later, but Allar’s incomplete pass brought up fourth down. Ryan Barker kicked a 33-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 7:30 remaining in the opening quarter.

Whittington exploded for a 26-yard run to reach Penn State’s 49-yard line. James’ two runs brought up 3rd-and-1, but Gabriel threw an incompletion. Oregon would’ve been stuffed had it not been for another facemask. Gabriel completed two more passes and Whittington had two runs to reach the 5-yard line. Sadiq caught another touchdown pass to give the Ducks a 14-3 lead with 3:21 to go in the first quarter.

Allar fired a 12-yard pass to Warren. Two incompletions and a false start later, he completed a 16-yard pass to Trey Wallace. He and Warren connected on a 28-yard gain, then Allar hit Singleton with a 22-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-10 with 1:24 left in the quarter.

Right back in it pic.twitter.com/m1IJzqa3vg

— Onward State (@OnwardState) December 8, 2024

Gabriel found Johnson for a 24-yard gain. Amin Vanover sacked him for a two-yard loss but recovered with a 31-yard pass to Johnson to reach Penn State’s seven-yard line. On 3rd-and-goal, Gabriel found Terrance Ferguson for a four-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-10 Ducks with 13:04 left in the second quarter.

After a Penn State three-and-out, Oregon regained possession at the 31-yard line. The Ducks faced 3rd-and-13 after an incompletion and tackle for loss, and punted after failing to convert.

From his own 11-yard line, Allar threw an interception. Dontae Manning returned it to the one-yard line, and James ran into the end zone on the first play of Oregon’s drive to make it 28-10 with 10:05 left in the quarter.

Allen rushed for three yards, and a pass interference call on third down moved the Nittany Lions to the 35-yard line. From there, Allen ripped a 24-yard run. He caught a 6-yard pass, and Singleton gained 17 yards on third down. Two plays later, Allar fired a 22-yard touchdown pass to Omari Evans to make it 28-17 with 6:49 left in the first half.

Speed kills pic.twitter.com/gVwEfpm8mP

— Onward State (@OnwardState) December 8, 2024

Oregon went three-and-out, and Penn State regained possession at the 36-yard line. Singleton ripped a 15-yard run, but the Nittany Lions faced 3rd-and-9 three plays later. Allar’s run made it 4th-and-1, and Allen picked up three yards to extend the drive. Warren caught a 19-yard pass, and Singleton had an eight-yard run to make it 3rd-and-2. Allen’s three-yard reception made it 1st-and-goal, and Allar scrambled into the end zone to make it 28-24 with 1:53 remaining in the half.

SO BACK 1⃣5⃣ pic.twitter.com/eP0B3zCbeD

— Onward State (@OnwardState) December 8, 2024

James had a seven-yard run, and Johnson had a 25-yard reception to reach the Nittany Lions’ 43-yard line. James combined for 13 yards over the next two plays, then Gabriel threw an incompletion. He recovered with an 11-yard scramble, but the drive stalled at the 14-yard line. Sappington kicked a 32-yard field goal to give Oregon a 31-27 lead to end the first half.

Singleton gained 6 yards to begin the second half. Allar completed a 3-yard pass to Khalil Dinkins, and Warren took a quarterback sneak for a first down. Allen ran 12 combined yards for a first down, then again for 10 yards. Allar hit Warren with a 14-yard completion, but Penn State faced 3rd-and-9 three plays later. Allar only gained four yards, and Barker missed a field goal.

James opened Oregon’s drive with an 11-yard run, then Traeshon Holden caught a 17-yard pass to reach Penn State’s 49-yard line. Gabriel fired a pass to Johnson on the run, who scored a 48-yard touchdown to make it 38-24 with 7:36 left in the third quarter.

Allar completed a 9-yard pass to Singleton under pressure. He combined for 8 yards over the next two plays, but an incompletion set up 3rd-and-5. Allar threw another incompletion to force a punt.

Johnson caught a 9-yard pass, then Whittington had a 15-yard run. The Ducks gained another first down but punted after two Whittington runs and a catch did not get enough yardage.

From his own 3-yard line, Allen’s 3-yard gain was enhanced by a Ducks personal foul. Allen got another handoff and ripped a 32-yard gain. Two plays later, he reached the 19-yard line with a 26-yard gain. Beau Pribula scrambled 18 yards, and Allen bulldozed into the end zone to make it 38-30 with the two-point conversion failing with 14:17 left in the fourth quarter.

Facing 3rd-and-6, Gabriel fired an 11-yard pass to James. On 3rd-and-9 three plays later, Johnson caught another pass to convert. Two more Duck gains brought up 3rd-and-2, but James was stuffed. Oregon remained on the field, and Ferguson caught a 20-yard pass. Two plays later, James scored to give the Ducks a 45-30 lead with 7:28 remaining in the quarter.

Allar dashed 22 yards. However, an incompletion and Pribula sack made it 3rd-and-16. Allar connected with Wallace on a 16-yard pass on third down, but an incompletion and no gain to Warren set up 3rd-and-10. Wallace converted again, and Allar scrambled to the 14-yard line. The drive stalled, and the offense remained on the field for fourth down. Allar fired a pass to Wallace under pressure, who caught it in the end zone to make it 45-37 with 3:41 left in regulation.

Whittington was stuffed on Oregon’s first play, then gained a yard. On 3rd-and-9, Gabriel threw an incompletion to force a punt.

From the 37-yard line, Singleton gained nine yards. Disaster struck, as Allar threw an interception to effectively end the game.

Takeaways

• Penn State simply lost to a better Oregon team. The Ducks were loaded with star power, especially Tez Johnson, who torched the Nittany Lions. It’s hard to consistently play from behind at all, let alone against the No. 1 team in America.
• Johnson was indeed a nightmare, as he had 181 yards and touchdown. The Nittany Lions had generally contained top playmakers this season, but he was impossible. It’s a good lesson ahead of the playoffs.
• Penalties were problematic. Penn State had five for 65 yards, which can cost games against top teams.
• Why did James Franklin go for two points early in the fourth quarter? Down by a touchdown, it wasn’t necessary at that point. It just digs a hole.

What’s Next

Penn State awaits its seeding and opponent, which will be announced on the College Football Playoff’s final rankings from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.