Dillon Thieneman’s interception in double overtime sealed one of the biggest wins of the season as No. 6 Oregon outlasted No. 3 Penn State 30-24 on Saturday night at Beaver Stadium, handing the Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) their FBS-leading 23rd straight regular-season victory.
Jamari Johnson’s touchdown run in overtime matched Penn State’s opening score before Thieneman stepped in front of Drew Allar’s throw to end it, sending the Ducks pouring onto the field in celebration. Dierre Hill Jr. caught a touchdown pass, Jordan Davison added a rushing score, and Atticus Sappington kicked a pair of field goals to help Oregon improve to 12-0 in Big Ten regular-season play since joining the league.
The Ducks did it in front of 111,015 fans — a raucous White Out crowd that nearly willed Penn State to a comeback win in a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Championship Game.
Trailing 17-10, Penn State’s offense, which had managed just 189 yards to that point, came alive in the fourth quarter. Allar connected with Devonte Ross for a 35-yard touchdown strike with 5:47 left, cutting Oregon’s lead to 17-10.
After Oregon went three-and-out, Allar engineered a 62-yard drive, finding Ross again for a 7-yard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining to tie it 17-17 and force overtime.
In the first extra period, Kaytron Allen powered into the end zone to give Penn State the lead before Johnson responded with a Ducks touchdown. Allar’s second throw of the next overtime, however, was picked off by Thieneman, ending Penn State’s hopes and sending the Ducks home victorious.
Both defenses dominated early. Penn State held Oregon scoreless until Sappington’s 42-yard field goal with 3:42 left in the half tied it at 3-3. The Nittany Lions had taken a 3-0 lead on Ryan Barker’s 49-yard field goal earlier in the second quarter.
Oregon began to find rhythm in the third, capitalizing after a controversial overturned fumble. On the next play, Dante Moore fired an 8-yard touchdown to Hill, giving the Ducks their first lead, 10-7.
Early in the fourth, Davison capped a 10-play, 75-yard march by bursting through on fourth-and-1 for an 8-yard score, extending Oregon’s lead to 17-3 and silencing Beaver Stadium. Chants of “Fire Franklin!” rained down from the student section — until Allar and Ross reignited Penn State’s hopes.
The Ducks showed championship grit, overcoming one of college football’s toughest environments. Moore displayed poise in the pocket while the defense held Penn State’s running back duo of Allen and Nicholas Singleton to just 18 rushing yards in the first half.
Despite the late rally, the Nittany Lions’ offense sputtered for much of the night. James Franklin’s squad is now just 4-21 against AP Top 10 teams during his tenure — a troubling trend as they try to remain in the playoff picture.
Oregon: The Ducks get a bye week before hosting No. 11 Indiana (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) on Oct. 11 in another pivotal conference clash. Penn State: The Nittany Lions (4-1, 1-1) will look to regroup on the road against UCLA (0-4, 0-1) next Saturday.
