The 2024 Penn State Nittany Lions haven’t been like James Franklin’s other recent College Football Playoff contenders. While those teams were led by elite defenses, new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has brought Drew Allar and the offense to life while the other side of the ball has regressed with the change from former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz to new DC Tom Allen. That trend played out in the first half of the Big Ten Championship Game against Oregon.
Another Penn State game, another Defense doesn't the know the game started drive.
— Jamison 🐧 (@jtgensler) December 8, 2024
I miss Manny Diaz.
Tom Allen sucks.
Penn State allowed the No. 1 ranked Ducks to march down the field for touchdowns on their first three drives before finally getting a stop. Then, after an Allar interception that nearly went for a score, gave up another seven points to make Oregon’s lead 28-10. The deficit was eventually cut and the Nittany Lions went into the half trailing 31-24.
It may not have been as good as years past, but Allen’s defense has been better than it displayed against Oregon. Though, the reason for that could be that Allen’s defense hasn’t faced a unit like Oregon yet this season.
No defense has benefitted more from schedule disparity than this one, and we all knew it.
— Kevin Horne (@KevinHornePSU) December 8, 2024
Oregon was moving the ball down the field so quickly on its first two drives that Penn State linebacker Kobe King literally threw up on the field before giving up another score.
Penn State’s Defense is not loving this hurry up Offense from Oregon
— LandonTengwall (@landon_tengwall) December 8, 2024
pic.twitter.com/koC8xl6JZl
Penn State is the No. 3 team in the country and ranks fourth in the country in total defense. However, the Nittany Lions have only played two teams currently ranked in the College Football Playoff committee’s top 25, Ohio State and Illinois.
The defense is just completely ineffective against their offense in every facet of the game
— Barstool Penn State (@PSUBarstool) December 8, 2024
Adjustments need to be made ASAP
In the first half, Oregon managed 254 total yards, which is fewer than Penn State’s 283, and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel is 12/19 passing after a 9/11 start. Gabriel ended the half with 157 yards and three touchdowns.
Whatever Penn State’s defensive game plan was for this game…it’s time to throw it in the trash. The defense simply looks like they were supposed to be off today instead of playing.
— Matt Michelone (@MattMichelone) December 8, 2024
Penn State defense: pic.twitter.com/cWdPr5sZXx
— Kirbs (@KirbsGoBlue) December 8, 2024
However, despite the awful half from Allen’s unit, Kotelnicki has kept the Nittany Lions in the game with a stellar offensive performance which has Oregon fans just as stressed about getting a stop with the game on the line.
Worst the defense has looked in a while
— Oregon Updates (@oregon__updates) December 8, 2024