The Oregon Ducks traveled to State College, Pennsylvania on Saturday to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in a battle of two of the nation’s top teams. The Ducks, ranked No. 1 in the country, were looking to make a statement against the No. 3 Nittany Lions, and they did just that, coming away with a 31-20 victory.
The win was a big one for Oregon, as it marked the Ducks’ first victory over a top-5 opponent since 2011. It was also a statement win for Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, who threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 53 yards.
“I’m so proud of our team,” Nix said after the game. “We came out here and executed our game plan, and it paid off. We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we were ready for the challenge.”
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading scores throughout the first half. Oregon took a 14-10 lead into halftime, but Penn State came out strong in the second half, scoring 10 unanswered points to take a 20-14 lead.
However, the Ducks were not to be denied. They scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including a 5-yard touchdown run by Nix, to take a 31-20 lead. Penn State had one final chance to score, but Oregon’s defense came up big, intercepting a pass from Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to seal the win.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but our defense came up big when it mattered most,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said. “We’re proud of our team’s effort, and we’re excited to get back to work this week.”
The loss was a tough one for Penn State, which was looking to make a statement of its own against one of the nation’s top teams. Despite the loss, Penn State head coach James Franklin was proud of his team’s effort.
“I’m proud of our team’s fight,” Franklin said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, and we gave it our all. We just came up a little short.”
The win improves Oregon’s record to 4-0 on the season, while Penn State falls to 3-1. The Ducks will look to keep their winning streak alive next week when they travel to take on the Stanford Cardinal, while Penn State will look to bounce back against the Northwestern Wildcats.
As for the national reaction to the game, many were impressed by Oregon’s performance. “Oregon made a statement today,” said ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. “They went on the road and beat a top-5 team, and that’s no easy feat. They’re definitely one of the top teams in the country.”
Others were impressed by Nix’s performance, which included several big plays down the stretch. “Bo Nix was incredible today,” said Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt. “He made plays with his arm and his legs, and he led his team to a big win. He’s definitely one of the top quarterbacks in the country.”
The win also had implications for the College Football Playoff, as Oregon solidified its position as one of the top teams in the country. “Oregon is definitely in the mix for the playoff,” said CBS Sports analyst Gary Danielson. “They’ve got a big win on the road, and they’ve got a strong schedule ahead of them. They’re definitely one of the top teams in the country.”
Overall, the game was a big win for Oregon, and it sets the Ducks up for a big stretch run. They’ll look to keep their winning streak alive next week against Stanford, and they’ll be looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.
