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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel came to Indianapolis in July with a purpose. He wanted to get an idea of ​​what Lucas Oil Stadium looked like before making what he hoped would be a return trip in December.

He returns to the same grounds on Saturday.

A lot has changed for Gabriel and the Ducks since they came to town for their first Big Ten media day appearance all those months ago. No. 1 Oregon sits atop the playoffs, remains the last undefeated team in major college football, and Gabriel has a new title – Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

It’s been a dream season in every way for the soon-to-be 24-year-old Gabriel, right down to leading the Ducks to the conference championship game he expected.

“If we didn’t think we were going to be there, I wouldn’t have been there,” Gabriel said. “But I just felt really good about it. I was happy that we could see it (Lucas Oil), feel it, smell it. It was a good experience. Now that we are returning with the whole team, everyone is enthusiastic.”

Winning a conference title in his senior season – and Oregon’s first season in the new league – would be the icing on the cake for Gabriel with both teams in a virtual lock to make the first 12-team College Football Playoff.

The winner will likely earn a first-round bye, while the loser will likely host a first-round match. There’s a lot of money at stake: The Big Ten will get $4 million for each school that makes the CFP, and the payouts will escalate, starting with the semifinals, to $6 million per school; a conference whose school makes a run from the first round to the title game gets $20 million. The CFP is also providing millions to cover costs.

While Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) was a preseason favorite to be back in town this weekend, No. 3 Penn State wasn’t supposed to make it after a loss against then No. 3. 4 Ohio State.

But the Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1, No. 3 CFP) rebounded to win their last four and got help last weekend when Michigan upset the Buckeyes. It’s Penn State’s first Big Ten championship run since beating Wisconsin in 2016 – and they don’t plan on going home empty-handed this time either.

“Being from Pennsylvania and seeing that 2016 game, I always imagined myself being in these shoes, at that moment, trying to win a Big Ten championship,” running back Nick Singleton said. “It feels good to be in that moment right now, but we have to go out and win it.”

Gabirel agreed.

“When you walk into that building, everyone is excited to do things and ready to go,” he said. “So it’s about execution, playing clean and being who we are.”

Under pressure?

Although Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and Gabriel rank seventh and eighth in FBS efficiency this season, both could be under serious pressure on Saturday.

Defensive ends Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei and Abdul Carter from Penn State are two of the best pass rushers in the country. Uiagalelei ranks ninth nationally with 10 1/2 sacks, while Carter ranks 12th with 10. The Ducks also have another fearsome pass rusher in defensive end Jordan Burch (8 1/2).

It will be a big challenge for both offensive lines, especially if Oregon right guard Marcus Harper II is out (knee).

En route

Penn State certainly isn’t complaining about playing for a trophy, but it threw the schedule into disarray.

It started when coach James Franklin made an audible noise in last Saturday’s postgame speech announcing that Sunday’s scheduled day off had been scrapped so they could start cramming for Oregon. That was just the beginning.

“It would be a week of rest and recovery, some strategic exercises,” he said on Sunday. “But we must always be prepared for these different scenarios. So right after the game I told them, ‘We’re going to practice on Sunday.’ Now it’s a normal week again”

Friendly enemies

Franklin will be chasing his 100th win in his 11 seasons with the program. And he could do it with some familiar faces around him.

Oregon Special Teams coordinator and nickel back coach Joe Lorig first worked with Franklin at Idaho State and then Franklin hired Lorig in 2019. However, after three seasons, Lorig headed to the West Coast, where he chose to work for another old friend, Oregon coach Dan. Lanning.

Franklin doesn’t believe Lorig’s prior knowledge will make much of a difference in this game.

“The coordinators have all changed,” Franklin said. “So I think we both probably have a similar amount of information about each other.”

The game will also be a homecoming of sorts for Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen and injured Oregon offensive lineman Matthew Bedford. Allen is originally from Indiana and was Indiana’s head coach for the past seven seasons. Bedford was also a five-year starter for Allen’s Hoosiers.

And the Duzansky family doubles down Saturday: Penn State long snapper Tyler Duzansky and Oregon long snapper Nick Duzansky are brothers.

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