Ducks dominate their first year in the Big Ten
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Out of the four Pac-12 teams that joined the Big Ten this season, Oregon has been the exception more so than the rule. Washington and USC finished tied for ninth in the conference, while UCLA is not even bowl-eligible.
But the Ducks have run roughshod over their schedule and have only had a couple close calls in losing a game. Other than winning by a point in a home game with Ohio State, and getting close wins over Boise State and Wisconsin, Oregon has been dominant in earning its No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoffs.
"You have to wake up as hungry today as you were yesterday to get (to this point)," Oregon coach Dan Lanning said at the Big Ten press conference on Sunday. "If anything, I think that's what I learned about our team. We have a hungry team that's infatuated with improvement. They want to put their best foot forward every single day."
Lanning, a third-year coach for the Ducks at just 38 years old, will lead his team in the Big Ten championship in its first year in the expanded conference. The last time the two teams faced each other was the well-known 1995 Rose Bowl, which the Nittany Lions won, 38-20.
"They have their own unique identity," Lanning said. "There's some stuff that carries over, but I wouldn't compare them to anybody we've played so far. They play a physical brand of football. I think Coach (James) Franklin does a great job in all three phases."
The Tyler Warren problem
No team has been able to find a way to stop PSU tight end Tyler Warren so far this season. Franklin has repeatedly been lobbying to get Warren to the Heisman ceremony in New York, and has considered him a shoe-in for the Mackey Award for the nation's best tight end.
Lanning said he hadn't watched a lot of film as of Sunday, but had seen a lot on Warren throughout the season in crossovers.
"He's obviously an elite player and a matchup issue," Lanning said. "I think they do as good a job as anyone with their personnel. Their scheme is difficult to plan for offensively. It's a challenge for us and our defensive staff."
Preparing for Kotelnicki
Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is scheduled to interview for the West Virginia head coaching job soon, and he will likely get more interviews soon.
Kotelnicki has earned a reputation of being one of the most creative offensive minds in college football.
Lanning said he has a habit of studying explosive plays throughout the nation, and Kotelnicki-led offenses often show up on his radar.
"I've followed Andy for a while," Lanning said. "You see unique formations pop up, whether it's his time at Kansas or his time now at Penn State, you see unique ways to use personnel. He consistently creates explosive plays."
The positives of a title game
There has been plenty of discussion recently of the disadvantages of playing in a conference championship game. Most of the college football world will be watching this week rather than playing, and some will be preparing for a College Football Playoff appearance.
But Lanning said in the Ducks' case that the pros outweigh the cons in playing in the Big Ten championship.
"It's an opportunity to play for a championship in one of the toughest leagues in college football," Lanning said. "You only get so many opportunities to play games. I value every one of those for our players.
"There will be some teams that get to relax and watch a little ball this week, but we don't mind being active and getting an opportunity to compete for a championship."