'Words can't even explain' the feeling of the Oregon Ducks being Big Ten Champs

Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, and Jordan James led the No. 1 Oregon Ducks to their first-ever Big Ten Championship. The Ducks defeated the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions 45-37 in a high-powered offensive shootout.

The usually dominant Oregon and Penn State defenses seemed off-kilter as they each allowed nearly triple the points that most opponents could only score a dozen or so points on.

However, the Oregon offense blew past the Nittany Lions and punched the Ducks' ticket to the Rose Bowl Game and a bye in the first round of the College Football Playoffs. From Gabriel's accuracy to Johnson's shiftiness to James' refusal to be taken down, the Ducks dominated.

"I’m just so proud of our team," Head coach Dan Lanning said after the game. "We’ve had moments where the defense had the offenses back, tonight the offense had the defenses back… To finish it like that with that physicality, that’s what I love to see"

Lanning led the Ducks to a perfect 12-0 record in the regular season which improved to 13-0 with the win over Penn State.

"We focus on the next play, we focus on the next moment, the next play," Lanning said about keeping his team focused as they took over the Big Ten.

Gabriel, who completed 22 of 32 pass attempts for 283 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air as well as 17 yards on the ground, was simply overjoyed after his team earned the victory.

"Good people. You gotta surround yourself with good people, it makes you even better," Gabriel said. "We’re far from over but just little steps around the way, you smile."

Gabriel's go-to guy, Johnson, returned to the field for Oregon just one week ahead of the Big Ten Championship. In the conference title game, he had 11 receptions for a jaw-dropping 181 yards and 1 touchdown.

"It takes a lot of grit but I know I had a lot of faith behind me with God and my teammates," Johnson said. "Words can’t even explain how I feel right now."

Lanning and Oregon lifted the Big Ten Championship trophy high above their heads after the game and elation spread across the face of every Duck in the stadium. Johnson, an undeniable hero of the game, won the Most Valuable Player trophy just a few moments later.

The final College Football Playoff rankings show is set for 9 a.m. PT on ESPN. The Ducks have almost certainly locked down the No. 1 spot in the nation.

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