Nittany Lions Host Ducks in Pivotal 'White Out' Clash (Game Preview)

No. 6 Oregon (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) at No. 3 Penn State (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, September 27

Time (EST): 7:30 PM

Location: West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium (University Park, PA)

• Average Home Attendance (2025): 106,749.67

• Highest Home Attendance (2025): 109,516 (September 13, vs. Villanova)

• Highest Home Attendance (all-time): 111,030 (November 2, 2024, vs. No. 4 Ohio State)

• Capacity: 106,572

Game Theme: White Out

Coverage

• TV: NBC [cable] & Peacock [streaming] (Noah Eagle & Todd Blackledge)

• Radio (Broadcasters)

  • Neutral: CommRadio (Isaac Hallock & Matthew Becker)

  • Oregon: Oregon Sports Network (Jerry Allen & Mike Jorgensen)

  • Penn State: Penn State Sports Network (Steve Jones & Jack Ham)

• Live Stats: ESPN GameCast (fan-focused) & StatBroadcast (enhanced)

Storylines

Tale of the Tape: Getting Over the ‘Big Game’ Hump

When it comes to playing Top 10 teams, Penn State head coach James Franklin now has a 4-20 record in those games. The stage is set, and in this rematch of last year’s Big Ten Championship, all eyes are on Happy Valley.

Ducks Prepare for Loud Environment

The element of crowd noise is something that must be taken into account every week for any team going on the road. For Oregon, cutting in-helmet communications to get accustomed to the ‘White Out’ is a practice they’ve adopted during the week. (Source: Duck Territory on 247Sports)

Allen, Singleton Chasing Down History

The senior running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton are moving closer to the top of the Penn State rushing record book. Allen currently needs 78 yards to overtake DJ Dozier at seventh on the ground, while Singleton needs two touchdowns to reach second over Lydell Mitchell. (Source: College Football at Sports-Reference.com)

The Head-to-Head History of Oregon-Penn State (Source: Winsipedia)

Penn State is 3-2 against Oregon all-time. Their last meeting was on December 7, 2024, when Oregon beat Penn State 45-37 in the Big Ten Championship.

Penn State is 0-1 against Oregon at home all-time, with their lone home meeting being on October 3, 1964 when the Ducks defeated the Nittany Lions 22-14.

Oregon has won the last one head-to-head meetings dating back to 2024. Penn State last beat Oregon on January 2, 1995, when the Nittany Lions won, 38-20 in the Rose Bowl.

No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Penn State: By The Numbers

*Turnovers include failed 4th-down conversion attempts.

No. 6 Oregon	Offense	No. 3 Penn State
50.8	Points Per Game	44.0
268.5	Pass Yards Per Game	243.7
255.2	Rush Yards Per Game	193.7
58.14%	3rd Down %	38.89%
3 (0.75)	Turnovers (per game)	4 (1.33)

*Takeaways include opponents’ failed 4th-down conversion attempts.

No. 6 Oregon	Defense	No. 3 Penn State
9.3	Points Allowed PG	5.7
120.0	Pass Yards Allowed PG	123.3
108.8	Rush Yards Allowed PG	100.7
27.45%	Opponent 3rd Down %	34.78%
7 (1.75)	Takeaways (per game)	10 (3.33)

Players To Watch on Offense

No. 6 Oregon (Spread Option Offense)

• QB Dante Moore, R-So.

  • No. 2 QB in the Class of 2023 rankings (On3)

  • 2023: UCLA

  • 2024-present: Oregon (redshirted in 2024)

  • Overall (4 games)

    • Passing: 71-for-95, 962 yds, 11 TD, 1 INT

    • Rushing: 14 car, 87 yds, 0 TD

  • Conference (1 game)

    • Passing: 16-for-20, 178 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT

    • Rushing: 2 car, 5 yds, 0 TD

  • Career at Night (6 games)

    • Passing: 53-for-96, 621 yds, 4 TD, 6 INT

    • Rushing: 25 car, -4 yds, 0 TD (11 sacks)

• RB Jayden Limar, Jr.

  • Overall (4 games): 32 car, 215 yds, 3 TD

  • Conference (1 game): 11 car, 38 yds, 1 TD

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (1 game): 2 car, 4 yds, 0 TD

• WR Malik Benson, Sr.

  • 2021-22: Hutchinson CC (junior college)

  • 2023: Alabama

  • 2024: Florida State

  • *’Career at Night’ only includes FBS games (2023-present).

  • Overall (4 games): 14 rec, 201 yds, 2 TD

  • Career at Night (11 games): 18 rec, 184 yds, 1 TD

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (2 games): 3 rec, 21 yds, 1 TD

No. 2 Penn State (Spread Offense)

• QB Drew Allar, Sr.

  • Overall (3 games)

    • Passing: 57-for-88, 626 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT

    • Rushing: 10 car, 27 yds, 0 TD

  • Career in ‘White Out’ Games (4 games)

    • Passing: 59-for-89, 522 yds, 5 TD, 0 INT

    • Rushing: 18 car, 44 yds, 0 TD

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (7 games)

    • Passing: 90-for-182, 976 yds, 8 TD, 4 INT

    • Rushing: 51 car, 121 yds, 2 TD

• RB Kaytron Allen, Sr.

  • Overall (3 games): 34 car, 273 yds, 3 TD

  • Career in ‘White Out’ Games (4 games): 67 car, 317 yds, 3 TD

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (8 games): 112 car, 594 yds, 4 TD

• WR Trebor Pena, R-Sr.+

  • 2020-24: Syracuse

  • Overall (3 games): 13 rec, 166 yds, 1 TD

  • Career at Night (12 games): 48 rec, 568 yds, 3 TD

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (2 games): 10 rec, 142 yds, 1 TD

Players To Watch on Defense

No. 6 Oregon (4-2-5 Defense)

• DE Matayo Uiagalelei, Jr.

  • *DE designation according to Ourlads.

  • 2024 All-Big Ten First Team (media)

  • Overall (4 games): 7 tot, 3 TFL, 3 sacks

  • Career at Night (10 games): 20 tot, 5.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (4 games): 7 tot, 2 TFL, 1 sacks

• OLB Teitum Tuioti, Jr.

  • Overall (4 games): 18 tot, 4.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks

  • Career at Night (12 games): 49 tot, 4 TFL, 3 sacks

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (5 games): 14 tot, 1 TFL, 0 sacks

• FS Dillon Thieneman, Jr.

  • 2023-24: Purdue

  • Third Team AP All-American in 2024

  • Overall (4 games): 16 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD

  • Career at Night (8 games): 72 tot, 1 INT, 4 PD

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (6 games): 48 tot, 0 INT, 3 PD

No. 2 Penn State (4-2-5 Defense)

• DE Dani Denis-Sutton, Sr.

  • Overall (3 games): 9 tot, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks

  • Career in ‘White Out’ Games (4 games): 7 tot, 1.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (8 games): 22 tot, 7 TFL, 4 sacks

• LB Tony Rojas, Jr.

  • Overall (3 games): 18 tot, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks

  • Career in ‘White Out’ Games (4 games): 3 tot, 1 TFL, 0 sacks

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (6 games): 16 tot, 0.5 TFL, 0 sacks

• FS Zakee Wheatley, R-Sr.

  • Overall (3 games): 8 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD

  • Career in ‘White Out’ Games (4 games): 16 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD

  • Career vs Top 10 Teams (8 games): 46 tot, 2 INT, 2 PD

Quick Picks: Expert Analysis

Bryan: The first ‘real test’ for both makes this a tough game to forecast, and it could go either way. Situational playcalling won’t have to play a big role as the Jim Knowles-led Nittany Lion defense helps carry the blue and white to victory. No. 3 Penn State 22, No. 6 Oregon 16.