STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – No. 6 oregon secured a 30-24 double-overtime victory over No. 3 Penn State Saturday night at Beaver Stadium, marking a significant early-season win for the Ducks as they navigate their inaugural Big Ten schedule.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning lauded the game as an instant classic, and outlined key takeaways from the hard-fought contest during his post-game press conference.The win improves Oregon’s record to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play, setting a strong foundation as they prepare for a bye week before hosting Indiana on Oct. 11.
Lanning described the week’s preparation as focusing on a strategy of “death by 1,000 cuts,” emphasizing consistent pressure and incremental gains. He also explained his sideline throat-slash gesture during the game – made when Oregon led 17-3 – as a visual depiction of that “cut” mentality.
Addressing a key defensive play, lanning stated the interception was a direct response to anticipating both a sweep and a specific route. He also emphatically declared, “I think we have the best quarterback in college football.”
Lanning acknowledged the challenging atmosphere created by the Penn State crowd, suggesting it was worth approximately seven points, but ultimately didn’t factor into the outcome. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of self-assessment,stating,”We got to go attack our flaws,” and characterizing the victory as “a huge growth moment for our entire team.”
