Overview

• Kickoff is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC at Beaver Stadium during Penn State’s full-stadium White Out.
• Penn State hired former Ohio State coordinator Jim Knowles on a top-of-market deal, and the Nittany Lions enter with elite early defensive metrics, including a top national scoring defense.
• Oregon’s offense has surged behind quarterback Dante Moore, who has 11 touchdowns to one interception, with the Ducks averaging more than 50 points per game.
• James Franklin urged fans to create an unprecedented noise advantage, while Dan Lanning said Oregon practiced with simulated crowd noise and without in-helmet communication to prepare.
• The matchup reprises last year’s Big Ten title game that Oregon won 45–37, when Penn State still rushed for 297 yards, and it comes with scrutiny of Franklin’s 4–20 mark versus top-10 opponents.