5 Questions Oregon Ducks will have to answer in Week 5 matchup with Penn State

Week 5 isn't just a normal Big Ten matchup for the Oregon Ducks. The importance of it pales in comparison to each of the Ducks' four games to begin the 2025 season. They enter the weekend coming off the heels of a month of dominant play — yet aren't considered an AP Poll top five team, as they currently hold the sixth spot in the rankings.

But all of that goes out the window on Saturday, when they'll take on the second-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions on the road. Penn State fans will be participating in their famous "whiteout," with roughly 106,000 packed into Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley.

Oregon's chance to prove to the country that they're for real will start with a win on Nittany Lion turf. And while that's the overarching question heading into this matchup — whether the Ducks are legitimate Big Ten title and national title contenders — they'll have to answer the five questions below in the process.

Will the Ducks Be Able to Run the Ball?

The most important aspect of the Oregon's early season offensive dominance has been their ability to run the football. They rank 10th in the nation with 255.3 rush yards per game and are gaining 6.7 yards per rush, a remarkable feat.

Especially considering the atmosphere that the game will be played in, the Ducks' offensive line has to be able to move the line of scrimmage. If they show that they can consistently move the Nittany Lions' defensive front, the entire playbook is open for offensive coordinator Will Stein, who's widely considered to be one of the best schemers in the business.

Pressure would be lifted off of quarterback Dante Moore's shoulders, who's starting in the biggest game of his life. The play action pass game has been deadly when dialed up by Stein this season, with Moore hitting a number of deep shots on such plays.

If the Ducks can't move the ball on the ground, their chances of winning greatly diminish.

Moore has revealed himself as one of the top passers in college football, but him having to operate in a straight drop back game in his 10th career start is simply too much to ask — much less against a Penn State secondary that's allowing just 123.3 passing yards per game, good for 12th in the country.

If the Ducks can push the Nittany Lions around in the ground game, they'll not only have a great chance to win this game, but feel good about their chances of pushing around every other team in the country as well.

Can the Defense Limit the Run and Make Drew Allar Beat Them?

Conversely, the line of scrimmage will be of major significance for Oregon's defense.

The Nittany Lions have two star running backs in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Both ran for over 1,000 yards and combined for 27 total touchdowns last season, powering Penn State to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Singleton brings the burst and is known for his homerun-hitting ability, while Allen brings the pop and is a tremendous downhill back.

The key for Penn State, as is the same for Oregon, is to get the running backs going early and often, opening up the entire offensive system for offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who's scheme is highly-regarded.

But for the Ducks, simply bottling up the run game isn't the only strategy here: making Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar beat them is also a crucial proponent.

At worst, Allar is seen as a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. At best, a top 10 pick. He has all the tools to be a successful passer, standing 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds with a rocket arm and viable athleticism and escapability for his size. Yet something is holding the senior signal-caller back from truly establishing himself in the upper-echelon of college quarterbacks.

In Big Ten games against top 10 teams, Allar is 0-4 in his career. He hasn't won the big games and has repeatedly underperformed in the biggest of moments. And, boy, is Saturday a big moment.

The Ducks have to make sure that the run game is limited for Penn State and Kotelnicki is forced to put the ball solely in Allar's hands. In that situation, Oregon should like their chances.

How Will Dante Moore Perform in the Difficult Environment?

Moore has been excellent to begin the season, completing 74.7% of his passes for 962 yards and 11 touchdowns versus just one interception. His 10.1 yards per attempt is one of best marks in the country.

But visiting Happy Valley in the presence of a whiteout is something Moore has yet to face in his career — or anything remotely close, for that matter. It's certainly a far cry from his true freshman season with the UCLA Bruins in which he played on the road at Utah, Oregon State and Arizona. His lone away game start with the Ducks was in Week 3 against Northwestern in a makeshift stadium that holds just over 12,000 people.

There will be over 100,000 screaming fans on Saturday evening with the sole purpose of knocking Moore and the Ducks' offense off their game. There's bound to be hiccups at some point; during those times, can Moore display poise and leadership under immense pressure?

It's undoubtedly one of the biggest questions heading into the game for the Ducks, for the landscape of college football in 2025 and Moore's NFL draft prospects.

How Big of An Impact Will Dillon Thieneman Have?

Dillon Thieneman came to Eugene after two 100-plus tackle seasons at the safety position with the Purdue Boilermakers and a freshman All-American campaign in 2023. He was one of the most sought after defenders in the transfer portal at the conclusion of last season.

He landed with the Ducks, bolstering the safety position and providing stability on the back end of the defense. While he hasn't necessarily underwhelmed, the tackling numbers haven't come at the same level that they did during his time at Purdue. The biggest reason for that is completely unrelated to Thieneman, as the Ducks' front seven has done a nice job in not allowing ball-carriers to reach the third level.

There's a chance that changes in Week 5.

As mentioned, Singleton is a home run hitter. Allen is no stranger to long runs either, but after bursting through the hole and running over would-be tacklers at the second level. That's where Thieneman would become a huge factor: limiting long runs to just 10-yard gains.

And if the front seven does its job, Thieneman, who intercepted six passes as a true freshman, will be a factor as well.

Penn State has a talented group of pass catchers headlined by Trebor Pena, but Allar is inconsistent. More than likely, the ball will be in the air for Thieneman to capitalize.

Who Emerges as the Most Trusted Running Back?

It's no secret that the Ducks have one of the deepest running back rooms in all of college football. Each of Jayden Limar, Dierre Hill Jr., Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison have served in significant roles this season in the backfield. Makhi Hughes, Jay Harris and Da'Juan Riggs have all recorded more than 12 carries as well.

It's led to the 10th-best rushing attack in yards per game, with its 14 rushing touchdowns tied for seventh-most in the country.

But when the going gets tough, which of the top four will be on the field? Whittington is likely the answer, but he's been questionable the past two games, suiting up but not playing any snaps.

In his absence, Limar emerged as the starter while Hill has displayed his explosiveness in breaking several long runs. Davison, with the use of his six-foot, 236-pound frame, has operated as the Ducks' short-yardage back in scoring six touchdowns on 19 carries.

The answer of who's the most trusted back — assuming Whittington is active — may be simple, as it's been a situational rotation and could continue as such.

In that case, head coach Dan Lanning, Stein and running backs coach Carlos Locklyn will have to be on point with their substitutions in maximizing the talent of the entire running back room.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 5 questions Oregon Ducks will answer against Penn State in Week 5