No. 3 Penn State looks to deliver a little payback in a loud atmosphere when it entertains No. 6 Oregon on Saturday night in a Big Ten showdown in University Park, Pa.
The Ducks defeated the Nittany Lions in last season’s Big Ten championship game, a loss that still smarts for Penn State. The hurt was so deep that Saturday’s contest has been designated as this season’s famed White Out game, where all the Nittany Lions’ fans dress in white.
“Obviously we need this place rocking,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “Need to have a distinct home-field advantage. We always do, but I’m expecting this to be an environment like no one has ever seen.”
Approximately 110,000 fans are expected to attend as the Nittany Lions (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) strive to be unpleasant hosts to the Ducks (4-0, 1-0).
It will certainly be a raucous atmosphere for Oregon to solve.
“It’s gonna be a great game,” Oregon standout quarterback Dante Moore said. “It’s gonna be a great environment, a hostile environment.”
Moore is the replacement for Dillon Gabriel, who guided the Ducks to the win in last season’s conference title game.
Moore took a few visits to Penn State when he was in high school before choosing UCLA. He left the Bruins after one season, redshirted last season for the Ducks and has stood out early this season with 962 yards and 11 touchdowns against one interception.
“I think he’s one of the calmest, if not the calmest quarterback I’ve ever played with,” Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq said of Moore. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him panic. No, he just does a great job of keeping the vibe and that energy in the huddle very just where it needs to be.”
Sadiq caught two touchdown passes in the Big Ten title game and has scored in three of Oregon’s first four games this season.
Last weekend, Moore established career highs of 305 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-7 rout of visiting Oregon State.
Oregon has outscored its first four opponents 203-37. The Ducks ranks seventh in scoring offense (50.8 points per game) and 12th in total offense (523.8 yards per game).
Penn State is excelling on defense as it ranks third in scoring defense (5.7) and is tied for ninth in total defense (224.0). Star linebacker Dani Dennis-Sutton has 4.5 tackles for loss (including two sacks) and has forced two fumbles.
Of course, the offense is prolific as well with quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen leading the charge.
In last year’s meeting, Allar passed for 226 yards and three touchdowns and added 54 yards and a score on the ground. Singleton had 148 scrimmage yards (105 rushing, 43 receiving) with a touchdown catch and Allen rushed for 124 yards and a score.
Overall, Penn State racked up 297 rushing yards against the Ducks.
“Those guys are really good at sticking their foot in the ground and getting vertical,” Lanning said of the backs. “They’re both different runners. (Singleton) hits it and builds the speed quick. (Allen), he’s playing as good as anybody right now. He’s got great vision, he’s got good patience and he’s able to get vertical as well.”
This season, Allar has passed for 626 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, while Allen has rushed for 273 yards and three scores and Singleton has 179 yards and five scores.
Penn State will be relying on more than its run game. It is definitely counting on the atmosphere being a difference-maker.
“It’s going to be extra loud obviously on Saturday, but I don’t think it’s anything we’re not prepared for,” Dennis-Sutton said. “We’ve been practicing for it for the past two to three months since training camp.”
Oregon running back Noah Whittington is expected back after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury. He had 82 rushing yards against Penn State in the Big Ten title matchup.
