Oregon Ducks’ Dan Lanning reacts to Penn State’s win and College Football Playoff standings

The Oregon Ducks defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions for the Big Ten championship Saturday night in Indianapolis.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning spoke on the court to CBS’ Jenny Dell moments after the Ducks’ victory.

“I am so proud of our team. We had times where our defense supported the offense. Tonight the offense backed up the defense,” Lanning said. “To finish like that, with that physicality, that’s what I like to see.”

On Sunday, the Ducks officially received the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Oregon awaits the winner of No. 8 Ohio State and No. 9 Tennessee. Many have suggested that the top overall seed would have a tougher path to the championship, but Lanning is keeping his team focused.

“In our world, we always talk about red light, green light,” Lanning said on ESPN’s College Football Payoff Selection Show. “Focus on the things you can control, right? That’s what we’re going to focus on. And winning a national championship isn’t supposed to be easy. You can ask coach Nick Saban. “It’s not supposed to be easy. So if our path is a little more difficult, good for us if we take care of our business.”

The Ducks offense got off to a hot start and scored touchdowns on its first three drives. Oregon took a 31-24 halftime lead. The Nittany Lions rallied in the second half and had a chance to tie the game on their final drive in the final moments.

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was intercepted by Ducks defensive back Nikko Reed and Oregon was able to run out the clock to secure the 45-37 Big Ten Championship victory.

Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel and wide receiver Tez Johnson each led the way for Oregon.

Dan Lanning: “I’m so proud of our team”

In their first year as a member of the conference, the Oregon Ducks won the Big Ten championship. A year after losing the Pac-12 championship to rival Washington, Oregon is conference champion and will advance to the College Football Playoff at 13-0.

How did Lanning and company win the Big Ten in their first year?

“We focused on the next play. We focused on the next moment, the next day,” Lanning said. We came to work every time and we did it tonight.

Penn State entered the game ranked third in the country and with an 11-1 record. The Nittany Lions showed some fight, but No. 1 Oregon was able to hold them off.

“It was a back and forth battle. That’s a good team there,” Lanning said. “It’s hard to prepare, but our guys had just enough.”

Next stop, Rose Bowl

The Oregon Ducks will be No. 1 in the final college football rankings on Sunday morning. The Ducks finished the year 13-0 and as Big Ten champions. They earned a first-round bye and will await the winner in the 8-9 game. The site of Oregon’s next game has not yet been officially determined, but there’s a good chance it will be at Rose Bowl.

The Rose Bowl is slated as the venue for a College Football Playoff quarterfinal and with Oregon as the No. 1 seed and on the West Coast, they should be the team to play there.

Oregon has won the last three Rose Bowl games they have played in 2012, 2015 and 2020.

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