INDIANAPOLIS — Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel got here to Indianapolis in July with a goal. He needed a way of what Lucas Oil Stadium was like earlier than making what he hoped can be a return journey in December.
On Saturday, he’ll be again on the identical turf.
Loads has modified for Gabriel and the Geese since they got here to city all these months in the past for his or her inaugural Massive Ten media day look. No. 1 Oregon sits atop the playoff seedings and stays the final unbeaten workforce in main school soccer, and Gabriel has a brand new title: Massive Ten Offensive Participant of the Yr.
It has been a dream season in each manner for the soon-to-be 24-year-old Gabriel, proper right down to main the Geese into the convention championship recreation in opposition to No. 3 Penn State.
“If we didn’t suppose we’d be there, I wouldn’t have attended,” Gabriel stated of media day. “However I simply felt actually good about it. I used to be glad we had been capable of go see (Lucas Oil), really feel it, odor it. It was a great expertise. Now that we’re going again with the entire squad, everybody’s excited.”
Profitable a convention title in his closing season — and Oregon’s first in its new league — can be the cherry on high for Gabriel now that each groups are digital locks to make the primary 12-team School Soccer Playoff. The winner will earn a first-round bye, whereas the loser in all probability will host a first-round recreation.
Whereas Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Massive Ten) was a preseason favourite to be again on the town this weekend, Penn State wasn’t imagined to make it after dropping to Ohio State.
However the Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1) rebounded by profitable their final 4 and obtained assist final weekend when Michigan upset the Buckeyes. It’s the primary time Penn State has reached a Massive Ten title recreation since beating Wisconsin in 2016 — and the Nittany Lions don’t intend to go house empty-handed this time both.
“Being from Pennsylvania, seeing that recreation from 2016, like I at all times imagined being in these sneakers, being in that second, attempting to win a Massive Ten championship,” operating again Nick Singleton stated. “Being in that second proper now feels good, however we’ve obtained to go on the market and win it.”
Gabriel concurred.
“While you stroll in that constructing, everybody is happy to do stuff and able to go,” he stated. “So it’s about execution, taking part in clear and being who we’re.”
Underneath stress?
Although Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and Gabriel are ranked seventh and eighth in FBS passing effectivity, each may very well be beneath severe stress Saturday.
Defensive ends Matayo Uiagalelei of Oregon and Abdul Carter of Penn State are two of the nation’s premier cross rushers. Uiagalelei is tied for ninth nationally with 10½ sacks, whereas Carter is tied for twelfth with 10. The Geese have one other fearsome cross rusher in defensive finish Jordan Burch (8½ sacks).
It is going to be a serious problem for each offensive strains, particularly if Oregon proper guard Marcus Harper II is out with a knee harm.
On the fly
Penn State actually isn’t complaining about taking part in for a trophy, but it surely scrambled the schedule.
It started with coach James Franklin calling an audible in Saturday’s postgame speech, saying Sunday’s scheduled time off had been scrapped so the Nittany Lions may begin cramming for Oregon. That was simply the beginning.
“It was going to be every week for relaxation and restoration, some strategic practices,” he stated Sunday. “However we at all times need to be ready for these totally different eventualities. So proper after the sport I instructed them, ‘We’re going to apply Sunday.’ Now it’s again to a traditional week”
Pleasant foes
Franklin will likely be chasing his one centesimal win in 11 seasons with this system. And he may very well be doing it with some acquainted faces round him.
Oregon particular groups coordinator and nickel backs coach Joe Lorig first labored with Franklin at Idaho State, after which Franklin employed Lorig in 2019. After three seasons, Lorig headed to the West Coast to work for an additional previous good friend, Oregon coach Dan Lanning.
Franklin doesn’t consider Lorig’s inside data will make a lot of a distinction on this recreation.
“The coordinators have all modified,” Franklin stated. “So we each in all probability have an analogous quantity of knowledge on one another.”
The sport additionally will likely be a homecoming of types for Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen and injured Oregon offensive lineman Matthew Bedford. Allen is an Indiana native who spent the earlier seven seasons as Indiana’s head coach. Bedford was a five-year starter for Allen’s Hoosiers.
And the Duzansky household is doubling up Saturday: Penn State lengthy snapper Tyler Duzansky and Oregon lengthy snapper Nick Duzansky are brothers.
No. 1 Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Massive Ten) vs. No. 3 Penn State (11-1, 8-1)
- Time/TV: 7 p.m. Saturday in Indianapolis, CBS-2.
- Line: Oregon by 3½.
- Collection: Penn State leads 3-1.
Details & figures
This would be the first assembly since Penn State accomplished its excellent 1994 season by profitable the Rose Bowl 38-20. … It additionally would be the first Massive Ten title recreation that doesn’t characteristic division champs. … This was Oregon’s first 12-0 common season since 2010 … Geese QB Dillon Gabriel will likely be making his 62nd profession begin, an FBS document. He leads the Massive Ten in passing yards (3,275), whereas WR Tez Johnson’s 9 TD catches rank third within the convention. … Penn State’s Tyler Warren broke the Massive Ten’s single-season document for receptions by a decent finish with 81.
