This year’s college football regular season was filled with ample chaos, and this unpredictability even reached the normally buttoned-up Big Ten. For an example, look no further than Saturday’s conference championship game.
Ohio State had its spot in Indianapolis all but guaranteed this season, but the Buckeyes’ slip-up against Michigan led to Penn State’s first trip to the Big Ten Championship Game since 2016. 11–1 Penn State largely took care of its business this year, but they’ll face off against an undefeated Oregon Ducks squad that’s more than capable of winning it all.
Will the Ducks lock down the top spot on next week’s playoff rankings? Could Penn State pull the win and break James Franklin’s top-five curse? Here’s everything you need to know about watching the 2024 Big Ten Football Championship Game between Penn State and Oregon.
Watch Big Ten Football Championship for free
Looking for free ways to watch the 2024 Big Ten Football Championship Game? Thanks to this year’s broadcast channel shuffling, CBS is the new home for Big Ten football, so you can watch it for free with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna like the Mohu Leaf 50. Antennas allow you to catch national networks like CBS without requiring a TV subscription.
Streaming TV fans should check out Fubo, which has a great seven-day free trial for new customers and availability on nearly every major smart TV platform. Check out our full Streaming Free Trials guide to learn more.
Visit our Penn State Nittany Lions and Oregon Ducks team pages for more details on watching the Big Ten Championship Game live.
#1 Oregon Ducks vs. #3 Penn State
2024 Big Ten Football Championship Game
Date: Saturday, Dec. 7
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
Point spread: Oregon by 3.5
2024 Big Ten Football Championship Game preview
Most preseason analysts considered the Big Ten to be a two-team race between Ohio State and Oregon. But Penn State always had the potential to make some noise in the conference title race, and now, they’ll get a chance to prove it.
Who will win the Big Ten and the No. 1 seed in next week’s playoff rankings? Here are our biggest questions ahead of Oregon versus Penn State in the 2024 Big Ten Football Championship Game.
Oregon vs. Penn State by the stats
| Stat |
 Oregon Ducks |
 Penn State Nittany Lions |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN FPI | 6th | 9th |
| Passing yards per game | 277.6 (14th) | 248.2 (40th) |
| Rushing yards per game | 170.9 (56th) | 194.7 (25th) |
| Points scored per game | 35.2 (19th) | 33.3 (30th) |
| Rushing yards allowed per game | 112.3 (22th) | 97 (7th) |
| Passing yards allowed per game | 171.5 (8th) | 169.8 (7th) |
| Points allowed per game | 16.2 (9th) | 14 (6th) |
Steady wins the conference
Were the Ducks in the Big Ten the whole time? As with Penn State, neither squad’s offense is designed to melt scoreboards—they’re both average in offensive pace and explosive plays. But otherwise, the Ducks and Nittany Lions are nearly mirror-image squads: extremely efficient offenses with elite defenses designed to choke out opponents.
On the Ducks’ side, Dillon Gabriel defines efficient quarterback play. He’s second nationally with a 73.5% completion rate alongside 3,275 passing yards and 24 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Oregon also welcomed back receiver Tez Johnson, who leads the Ducks in yardage and touchdowns, from an injury late in the year. Johnson went for three catches and a touchdown in their season-ending win against Washington after sitting out most of November. Defensively, the Ducks are anchored by ends Matayo Uiagalelei and Jordan Burch. Both players rank in the top 20 nationally for sacks.
Penn State’s Abdul Carter is a similar defensive anchor for the Nittany Lions, as he ranks 11th nationally in sacks and third in tackles for loss. Drew Allar’s a solid enough point guard for the Penn State passing game. But their offense is powered by running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, along with tight end and Mackey Award finalist Tyler Warren.
Matayo Uiagalelei vs Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/5NNHOMrrqz
— ☘️LegalizeQuack☘️ (@Legalize_Quack) November 17, 2024
Good versus great
Oregon’s undefeated record was no fluke this year (rulebook shenanigans against Ohio State aside), but the Ducks weren’t fully formed out of the gate. They started slow against Idaho and Boise State and gave up seven of Dillon Gabriel’s 12 sacks in both games. Outside of a tight game against Wisconsin, Oregon managed to dominate the Big Ten in its first year in the conference.
Penn State was similarly dominant against most of its schedule but dealt with close games against Ohio State, USC, and Minnesota. The Gophers’ sneaky-good defense can partially explain Penn State’s narrow win over Minnesota. However, their overtime win against a USC team that’s limped into bowl eligibility doesn’t look great in hindsight.
Penn State vs. Oregon prediction: experts narrowly favor Ducks
On paper, there’s little separating the Big Ten’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams, and it’s reflected by the narrow margin that oddsmakers and analysts have ahead of Saturday’s game. (That said, we understand if Penn State’s no-show against Ohio State is still fresh in your mind. Death, taxes, and James Franklin against top-five opponents!)
| Source | Game pick |
|---|---|
| Point spread | Oregon by 3.5 |
| ESPN Matchup Predictor | 53.7% Penn State win probability |
| Bill Connelly/SP+ | 58% Oregon win probability, 27-24 projected score |
| CFB Insiders | 62% Oregon win probability, 24-20 projected score |
Oregon’s biggest advantage over Penn State is its consistency, as they’ve rarely needed to shift into third gear to win games this year. (For starters, the Ducks’ offense averaged a healthy 7.63 yards per play against Ohio State, which was their third-best performance of the year.) Penn State’s defense is elite by multiple standards, and held Ohio State in check, but the offense’s ceiling under pressure remains its biggest question mark.
However, it doesn’t mean that Oregon’s immune to a hiccup—Wisconsin was able to drag the Ducks into a 16–13 rock fight that wasn’t decided until the final minute. Penn State’s odds to knock Oregon off its track boil down to two things: red zone conversions and getting production from someone besides Tyler Warren.
- Wisconsin managed to hold Gabriel, running back Jordan James, and the Ducks offense to a single touchdown on five red zone trips.
- Warren’s prolific stats aren’t solely because of James Franklin’s campaign to get him a Mackey. He’s also Penn State’s best target by a sizable margin—his 81 catches this season are nearly as much as Penn State’s next four receivers combined. But it’s also not the greatest reflection on Penn State’s receivers in high-pressure moments. Julian Fleming and Harrison Wallace III (who’s questionable ahead of Saturday’s game) were the only receivers to record a catch against Ohio State.
How good is the 2025 Tight End class?
— Marvin Elequin (@FF_MarvinE) November 25, 2024
Harold Fannin Jr. and Tyler Warren are on pace to finish their seasons averaging over 3.00 Receiving Yards per Team Pass Attempt
They would become the ONLY drafted tight ends since 2013 to exceed that threshold#2025NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/bxTY5HPXX6
How to watch Big Ten Football Championship Game FAQ
When is the Big Ten Football Championship Game?
The 2024 Big Ten Football Conference Championship Game will air on CBS this Saturday, Dec. 6, at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Where can I watch the Big Ten Football Championship Game for free?
You can watch this game for free with an OTA antenna or a free streaming trial to a service like Fubo or Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
Who is favored to win Penn State vs. Oregon?
Oregon is currently favored to win against Penn State by 3.5 points.
Why you should trust us
Our sports experts created this guide by researching this year’s Big Ten Championship game schedule and channel details. We verified the TV information with official broadcast sources and analyzed the best viewing options. Additionally, we examined team stats and storylines to provide an in-depth preview of the matchup.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
