Lucas Oil Stadium is buzzing with excited fans. In a few moments, the highly anticipated Big Ten Championship game will kick off. For the Big Ten toppers, this isn’t just a fight for the conference title. This is a battle to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs. But before the action starts on the field, let’s check out the atmosphere around the venue and the expectations that fans are holding on to. And if you’re a Penn State fan, I’m sorry, but you might feel a little sting even before the game kicks off. 

One of the worst things a fan can experience in a game is when your fan base can’t compare to the size of the rival fan base. Penn State fan and influencer Katie Feeney didn’t see what was coming to embarrass her. Ahead of the Big Ten Championship showdown between No. 1 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State on December 8, she took to Instagram to ask random fans who they’re rooting for as the conference champion. Much to her heartbreak, the word “Oregon” was everywhere she went. Feeney only found a couple of Nittany Lions fans to join her in cheering for Penn State. It seems these Ducks’ fans would “never” root for Penn State “unless they’re playing Michigan.”

You can’t count Penn State (11-1, 8-1) out. They were the Big Ten champions for four seasons in a row. This is HC James Franklin’s second time earning his team a Big Ten Championship appearance. Now, they’re seeking their fifth conference win against a new undefeated member who’s threatening to steal their top spot with a 12-0, 9-0 record. And yes, the competition is going to be intense. 

As far as conference success goes, Oregon is among the top. The Ducks already have 14 conference championship victories since their last Pac-12 title victory in 2020. A win over Penn State will give them an unrivaled beginning in their new conference. It will also guarantee them the No. 1 seed in the playoff as the final undefeated team in the FBS this year. 

Who’s in danger – Penn State or Oregon?

It’s not often that we see a matchup between Oregon and Penn State. This meeting will mark the fifth time they’ll play against each other with the last being the 1995 Rose Bowl faceoff. So far, Penn State leads the series 3-1 but this season could upset their winning record. The Ducks are entering the conference finale as a 3-point favorite against the Nittany Lions. But Dan Lanning and Oregon aren’t without pressure themselves. Some NCAA models favor Penn State over the Ducks. 

Meanwhile, James Franklin isn’t trying to push his luck too far as he said ahead of the game, “What I would say is two things. Number one, I’m focused on the things that I can control which is being prepared to play Oregon and play Oregon well. Then, those other things are outside my control. I think everybody recognizes that. We want to make sure that these playoff games do not become a penalty.” All paths will be clear once the final score lights up on the board in this highly-awaited game.