INDIANAPOLIS — Top-ranked Oregon managed to navigate all the potential pitfalls of a topsy-turvy college football season, even on a wild, wacky conference championship weekend.
It just took the Ducks a little longer than expected to keep their biggest goals intact.
Dillon Gabriel threw four touchdown passes, and a late interception helped Oregon outlast No. 3 Penn State 45-37 on Saturday night in the Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. The victory gives the Ducks (13-0) a first-round bye and almost certainly the top seed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff as they chase an elusive national championship.
“You live for these moments, you dream of these moments and you want to be in them,” Gabriel said after celebrating with his family. “I’m just smiling because we’re Big Ten champs.”
He has certainly taken full advantage of his opportunities since announcing he would transfer from Oklahoma to Oregon almost a full year ago. Gabriel and the Ducks certainly didn’t take the easy route to being the last unbeaten team in the Football Bowl Subdivision this year.