When the Penn State offense could just muster up 13 points at home against Ohio State, it was thought their hopes of reaching the Big Ten Championship Game went down the drain.
But the Nittany Lions bounced back, didn’t lose again, and find themselves back in Indianapolis to face the Ducks for the conference title on Saturday (5 pm PST, CBS) thanks to the Buckeyes faltering against Michigan. The winner will most likely have the 1-seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff.
Oregon will bring in a stingy defense that will look to stop a much-improved quarterback in Drew Allar and one of the best tight ends in the country in Tyler Warren.
Allar improved his completion percentage to 71 after making just 60 percent of his throws last season. Under the instruction of new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Allar is more poised in the pocket and runs only when he has to. He averages 223 yards a game and 2,668 yards total to go along with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Penn State’s run game hasn’t been all that it hoped it would be this season, but tailback Nick Singleton seems to be as healthy has he has been all season and is ready to face Oregon. He averages nearly 70 yards a game and has seven touchdowns.
Warren is one of the top tight ends in the country with his 81 receptions, 978 yards, and six touchdowns. He was named to the First-Team All-Big Ten squad this week. The next highest reception total is Harrison Wallace’s 35 catches.
Penn State also has a formidable offensive line to contend with starting with 6-foot-4, 348-pounder Olaivavega Ioane from Graham, Wash. Nolan Rucci (6-8, 305 pounds) and Drew Shelton (6-5, 307) are alongside Sam Wormley (6-3, 327 pounds) and Nick Dawkins (6-4, 298 pounds).
