Oregon blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead, but it was the sixth-ranked Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) who got the last laugh in State College on Saturday night.
After scoring on the first play of its own possession in the second overtime period, Oregon intercepted Penn State quarterback Drew Allar on the first play of the Nittany Lions’ second possession to officially end the game and win 30-24.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore found Gary Bryant Jr. for a 25-yard score to begin the second overtime period. The Ducks failed to convert the 2-point play, leaving the door open for No. 3 Penn State (3-1, 0-1) to steal a win, but safety Dillon Thieneman slammed that door shut on the very next play from scrimmage.
Thieneman rose up and plucked an Allar pass out of the air to cap things off.
The takeaway from Thieneman was the only turnover by either team in the game.
An 8-yard run from Jordon Davison with 12:25 to play in the fourth quarter gave Oregon a 17-3 lead. At that point, it looked like Oregon was on its way to a statement victory in Happy Valley. But Penn State went on to score 21 unanswered points.
The Nittany Lions scored in a flash with a 4-play, 75-yard touchdown strike to get within one possession with 10:30 to play. They forced an Oregon punt and then embarked on a 15-play, 62-yard touchdown march that took 6:37 off the clock and tied the game with 30 seconds remaining.
Both sides traded touchdowns in the opening overtime period.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
