INDIANAPOLIS — In a high-octane display of offensive prowess during the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday night, Oregon and Penn State collectively racked up an impressive tally of seven touchdowns, amassing 537 yards, 28 first downs, and a total of 55 points in just the first half.
At halftime, the Ducks held a narrow lead of 31-24 and established a new record for first-half scoring in the title game, surpassing the previous record of 52 points set by Nebraska and Wisconsin in 2012.
Dillon Gabriel, the quarterback for Oregon, showcased his skills by throwing for 157 yards and three touchdowns by the time the halftime whistle blew. On the other side, Penn State’s signal-caller, Drew Allar, contributed with 154 passing yards and two touchdown throws.
Both teams wasted no time in surpassing the anticipated total of 51 points for the entire game, reaching that figure in a mere 28 minutes of play.
Despite the explosive offensive display, the teams still managed to execute three punts between them, with Oregon’s defense making its mark by forcing a crucial turnover—Dontae Manning intercepted Allar and returned the ball to the one-yard line, paving the way for a touchdown that extended Oregon’s lead to 28-10 early in the second quarter.
However, this first half will likely be remembered more for the lack of defensive standouts. This fact was particularly highlighted when Penn State linebacker, Kobe King, visibly exhausted, leaned over and threw up in his end zone while Oregon was driving for another touchdown in the first quarter.
