Fans invest a lot of mental energy into the idea that teams go "plain vanilla" in early-season games and hold out a large part of their offense for tougher opponents.
Penn State head coach James Franklin put that idea into a sleeper hold in his Monday press conference, "Are you saving things? I think you're always-- I don't know if saving is the idea but you've done some offseason studies where there's certain things you've worked on during training camp that you're planning on using against certain opponents."
"There's some things you could have used early in the season but you didn't feel like you didn't needed to? Yeah. I think that's always the case, but it's not like I think, offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators, head coaches going into a game say 'we're going to be conservative in this game.' It's not that. It's not 'vanilla.'"
"it's what we need to do in this game to win, to score points, to stop people scoring. It's all about the matchup you have there. I guess it just depends on your lens."
James Franklin on whether or not teams save plays for bigger games:
— Joel Haas (@Joel_Haas1) September 22, 2025
(Question by @maxralph_) pic.twitter.com/QijQNxJK5J
That sounds more neopolitan than plain vanilla, preparing to win the game but showing as much as you need to gain an advantage and scheme for the opponent. It's interesting because Will Stein has taken the opposite approach, showing as much variety and formation wizardry as he can, employing two-back sets and empty sets and Jet Motion and Jumbo Packages , dazzling opponents with counter plays, misdirection, even pulling all five linemen on a screen.
Stein has used 13 different ball carriers and 12 different receivers. Five different pass catchers have scored a touchdown, five different ball carriers, and Jordon Davison the 6-0, 235 true freshman has been the Ducks leading scorer, a battering ram at the goal line. Davison doesn't need a tush push. He has all the push he needs.
In addition to his 6th TD in his 4th career game on Saturday, Oregon freshman RB Jordon Davison was schemed into the Ducks’ game plan as a blocker again.
— John Evans (@_jpevans_) September 21, 2025
Here they line him up as the H-Back in a 21-personnel bunch formation to use him as the sift blocker for split zone. pic.twitter.com/nFDjlfxet9
Embodying the Nike principle that "we're always on offense," Stein has turned the conventional wisdom on its head, almost saying, "Here it is. Try and stop it."
The bold, aggressive approach (and some weak competition) has allowed Oregon to score 27 touchdowns this season while settling for field goals five times. Two of those touchdowns were scored by the defense, Jerry Mixon and Peyton Woodyard on Pick Sixes against Oklahoma State.
One thing to remember is, plays and formations only go so far. Stein, and Penn State coordinators Andy Kotelnicki and Jim Knowles are three of the most brilliant strategists in the game, but all play-calling does it put players in position to succeed. Execution matters most. Deception and play design just give it a boost.
The pressure this week is squarely on Penn State. Off a bye. At home. Favorite… etc
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 23, 2025
As far as the Knowles thing … what Ohio State did to Oregon in the Rose Bowl is two fold and I’m not sure it applies here.
1 - Gabriel had limitations in the pass game (like not being able… https://t.co/3ltbiv3pQ4
Both of these teams are good, and each of them will have an inventive game plan. The outcome will depend on which squad handles the perceived pressure better and executes to the standard of their athletic ability. In a big game, turnovers and errors get magnified.
Going into a storied hostile environment, the Ducks will have to be resilient. On Monday Dan Lanning said, "But there's going to be highs and lows in this game regardless, right? There's gonna be plays that they win. There's gonna be plays that we win. It's really about the next play. That's the next most important play."