Urban Meyer’s bold upset pick will shake up the Big Ten

There’s a strong slate of games across college football this weekend, with four Top 25 matchups that could bring realign the rankings come Sunday.

The headliner comes from Happy Valley, where No. 6 Oregon travels east to take on No. 3 Penn State in a primetime clash under the lights of a "White Out."

The environment at Beaver Stadium is legendary, and it will be at full volume on Saturday night. But one of the sport’s most respected voices believes Oregon has what it takes to leave State College with a defining win. On this week's Triple Option podcast, former Ohio State head coach and FOX Sports analyst Urban Meyer tabbed the Ducks as his pick to pull the upset.

“Oregon’s going to win the game,” Meyer said, noting that Penn State’s non-conference schedule left more questions than answers about how good James Franklin’s team really is. “The White Out is worth about seven points by itself, but I think Oregon wins it on a walk-off, either with a field goal or after a Penn State miss. It’s going to be one of the great games of the year.”

Oregon enters with momentum after handling Oregon State 41-7, behind the steady play of quarterback Dante Moore. While Moore has yet to face a test like this on the road, his stats have been one of the early storylines of the Ducks’ season. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has leaned on a balanced attack and that could be crucial against Penn State. 

The Nittany Lions have been among the nation’s elite defensively. They lead college football in scoring defense at 5.5 points allowed per game, rank eighth nationally in total defense, and sit inside the top 10 against the pass. However, Meyer and others point to flaws in the front seven as a possible opening for Oregon’s physical rushing attack to make an impact.

Penn State will try to counter with experience across the board, particularly in the secondary. Even after losing star pass rusher Abdul Carter to the NFL, the unit has shown discipline. Yet, the lack of a significant challenge through the first month leaves doubt about how their numbers will hold up against a top-10 offense.

For Oregon, this game represents more than just a statement in the Big Ten. It’s also chance to prove the Ducks belong among the nation’s true title contenders. For Penn State, it’s a chance to quiet skeptics and reinforce the idea that Franklin’s team is built for another College Football Playoff run.

Either way, the stage is set for one of the season’s most dramatic showdowns on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC). 

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