EUGENE — Oregon’s offseason-long emphasis on improving at defending the run is rooted in performance against Penn State in last year’s Big Ten Championship game.

The Ducks won that night in Indianapolis, but allowed 292 yards on the ground to the Nittany Lions in what remains the most on the ground by an opponent during Dan Lanning’s tenure. At a rate of 8.34 yards per carry, it was the highest rate allowed by Oregon since its 2016 loss to Washington.

Even while ultimately winning the conference title game and preventing Penn State from completing a pass longer than 28 yards, the run defense was “not the standard,” as Lanning put it.

“That’s definitely something we remember as a defense,” edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei said. “We can’t just rely on one side of the ball. We got to dominate

See Full Page