"Oregon + refs won that game vs. Penn State" - Fans make wild assumptions after Dan Lanning clinches Big Ten title

Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 45-37 to win the Big Ten championship game in their first season after departing the Pac-12 in the conference realignment and expansion. Saturday's win cemented the Ducks' No. 1 spot heading into the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

The game was largely dominated by Oregon, although the penalty count was lopsided. The refs penalized the Ducks three times for 24 yards, while the Nittany Lions were penalized five times for 65 yards.

During his postgame news conference, under-pressure Penn State coach James Franklin complained about the nature of the officiating allegedly favoring Dan Lanning's team.

“I don't want this to come off the wrong way, I give Oregon a ton of credit, but the penalties were pretty lopsided,” Franklin said. “There was a couple calls that we didn't get that I thought we should have. One of the calls that I thought was a critical point in the game was the two-minute drive with a catch on the sideline to Omari, I thought was a catch.

"Looking on the Jumbotron, it looked like it was a catch. You can't miss those calls in these types of games, especially when you've got replays. Just buzz down. It's too important.”

College football fans on X had mixed reactions to the officiating in the Big Ten championship game.

Some fans pointed out the irony of the Ducks winning the title in their first season in the conference after being warned of the physicality of the Big Ten.

"We tore through the b10 lol," one fan tweeted.

"Duck domination first szn in Big Ten and they already champs sheeesh," another fan tweeted.

"Wow, what a thrill! Oregon rules Big Ten, first title in new home! #B1GChamps #GoDucks," one fan tweeted.

Dan Lanning leads Oregon to first Big Ten title

Conference realignment and expansion triggered the Oregon Ducks' move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. During the conference's media days, coach Dan Lanning repeatedly had to address the expected shift in physicality that his team was prophesied to experience in the Big Ten.

In the end, the transition could not have been smoother as the Ducks ran the table and won the conference championship at a canter with the expected physical opponents unable to land any lasting blows.

During his postgame news conference, Lanning praised his players for delivering a sensational season.

"I’m really proud of our players," Lanning said. "They accomplished this. I didn’t have anything to do with it. I just get to keep the train on the tracks. We have unbelievable leadership. We have an unbelievable coaching staff. And the Big Ten’s tough. I think tonight’s game is a great example of that. This is a tough league. It’s hard to go out there and win."

Dan Lanning has led his team to a dominant 13-0 season, and with the College Football Playoff yet to come, his dream to win the national championship with the Oregon Ducks is still alive.