Whether it has been Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel or Dante Moore at quarterback, Oregon’s offense has been nearly unstoppable.
Since Dan Lanning became head coach in 2022, only six opponents have held the Ducks to less than 30 points in 45 games.
Slowing Oregon (1-0 Big Ten, 4-0) will be a chore for Penn State (0-0, 3-0) when the two teams meet Saturday night at 7:30 (TV-NBC) at Beaver Stadium.
“They’re a great team,” Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton said. “They’re going to find ways to make plays. They have players everywhere: O-line, running back, receiver, option quarterback.
“They’re explosive. We take it as a challenge. They have pieces everywhere. We have to come with our A game.”
These Ducks averaged 50.8 points and 523.8 yards per game against their first four opponents: Montana State, Oklahoma State, Northwestern and Oregon State.
Moore, a transfer from UCLA who was recruited by Penn State, has completed 74.7% of his passes for 962 yards and 11 touchdowns with one interception in his first season as the starter.
“Dante’s a throw-first guy,” Lions coach James Franklin said. “He’s very accurate. He can extend plays. He has a ton of playmakers around him. Their offense is still very similar to what it was with (Dillon) Gabriel.”
Last season, Gabriel led Oregon to a 45-37 win over Penn State in the Big Ten title game by completing 22-of-32 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns. The Ducks built a 28-10 lead early in the second quarter that night and forced the Lions to play catch-up the rest of the night.
“We didn’t have enough tools in our tool belt,” Franklin said. “We were a man coverage team a majority of the time. Sometimes they were able to get matchups that were in their favor.
“Being able to play man is definitely one of our weapons. Also being able to have zones and a lot of those different things we’re now doing more is of value.”
New Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles coached twice against Oregon last season when he was at Ohio State.
The Ducks rolled up 496 yards in a 32-31 win over the Buckeyes in October in Eugene, Ore. It was a different story in January in the Rose Bowl, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, where Ohio State held Oregon to 276 yards in a 41-21 rout.
“They’re a really good offense,” Knowles said. “They challenge you formationally with all the different things they do. We just have to make sure we have guys in the right places.
“A lot of times against these teams that do so much and are talented, if you’re not in the right place you don’t have a chance. So my job is to get them in the right place.”
Penn State held Nevada, Florida International and Villanova to a total of 17 points, including two touchdowns against reserves in the final minute.
The Lions, though, haven’t come close to facing an offense as powerful as Oregon. Their top three running backs are averaging at least 6.7 yards per rush. Their top three wide receivers and tight end Kenyon Saddiq, who caught two TD passes against Penn State last year, have combined for 10 TD receptions.
“When you have multiple wide receivers who can go the distance, it changes how defensive coordinators approach the game,” Franklin said. “It’s the same thing at tight end, running back and quarterback. When you have multiple weapons, it becomes very difficult.”
Rich Scarcella’s pick
Penn State 28, Oregon 24
This will be the first test for both Big Ten contenders. The Ducks, as usual, have a high-powered offense. They added bulk to improve their run defense. The Nittany Lions haven’t clicked on offense yet and will need to finish drives. They have two advantages: defensive coordinator Jim Knowles knows what it takes to stop Oregon’s offense and the White Out.
Source: Berkshire mont
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