The 2025 college football season has been around for about a month now, but on Saturday, there’s a feeling in Eugene that it truly begins for the Oregon Ducks. After four cupcake opponents in the first few weeks, Dan Lanning’s team now goes on the road for the biggest game of the regular season against the Penn State Nittany Lions.
It will be the biggest test of the year for both squads, marking a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Conference Championship game, which the Ducks won 45-37 in a thrilling contest. However, many things have changed since then, particularly on Oregon’s sideline, with only four returning starters from last year’s team.
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For the Nittany Lions, however, there is a lot that returns from last year, with a handful of veterans from 2024 looking for one last shot at a championship run. So, who are these players that the Ducks should be most aware of going into Saturday?
Let’s take a look:
QB Drew Allar
Sep 13, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) drops back in the pocket while looking to throw a pass during the second quarter against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Now in his fourth year with the Nittany Lions, Drew Allar is among the most experienced and respected quarterbacks in the Big Ten. Despite his success, though, there are questions that remain about his abilities to “be the reason” a team wins, rather than just help orchestrate his team to victory. Ultimately, winning is what matters in the end, but if the Ducks are able to slow down Penn State’s rushing attack, I will be curious to see how Allar can shoulder the load and perform in crunch time. He’s got the tools to be great, but we’ve seen him shrink in big moments before.
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RB Nicholas Singleton
Dec 7, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) is tackled by Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) during the second quarter in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
The other half of the RB duo for Penn State, Nicholas Singleton has been electric, rushing for over 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns in his four years in Happy Valley. He too will likely be a top-end draft pick next year should things continue to play out this way in 2025. A year ago, he had 10 rushes for 105 yards against Oregon in the Big Ten title game.
RB Kaytron Allen
Nov 18, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) carries the ball as Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Shaquan Loyal (6) pursues during the second half at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Just one part of the two-headed monster in Penn State’s backfield, Kaytron Allen has asserted himself as one of the best running backs in the nation, and one of the likely top RBs off the board in next year’s NFL draft. In his career, he has rushed for over 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns, including a year with 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns last year. When the Ducks saw him in the Big Ten title game, he put up 14 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown.
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EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton
Aug 30, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) reacts following a tackle during the first quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
While losing someone like Abdul Carter is always hard, it’s made a bit easier when you have a guy like Dan Dennis-Sutton waiting to be the No. 1 guy. As a senior on the team, DDS has been solid this year, with nine tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks through the first three games. He’s also not had much of an opportunity to pin his ears back and get after the passer just yet, so this could be a breakout opportunity for him.
LB Tony Rojas
Sep 13, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Tony Rojas (13) reacts following a sack on Villanova Wildcats quarterback Tanner Maddocks (3) during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Tony Rojas is another stalwart inside linebacker who has been with Penn State for three years now and is really coming into his own in this defense. After racking up 58 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore, Rojas is well on his way to having another career season so far, with 18 tackles and five tackles for loss through three games.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five Penn State players who Oregon Duck fans should know in Week 5
