The Big Ten eliminated divisions for the 2024 season and featured the two teams with the best overall conference record for the first time, those being Oregon and Penn State.[3] This was the first Big Ten title game appearance for Oregon in its first season in the Big Ten, while it was Penn State's second.
This matchup was the fifth game between the two schools; they last played each other in the 1995 Rose Bowl, where the Nittany Lions defeated the Ducks 38–20.[4]
This was the first Big Ten Championship game since 2020 to not feature the Michigan Wolverines, who previously appeared in three straight championship games.
Oregon clinched a spot in the game following their defeat of Wisconsin on November 16.[5] The Ducks entered the game as the last remaining undefeated team in the FBS, having achieved their first undefeated regular season since 2010.
Penn State clinched a spot in the game following Ohio State's upset loss to Michigan and the Nittany Lions' defeat of Maryland on November 30. Penn State made their first Big Ten Championship Game appearance since 2016, in which they defeated Wisconsin 38–31.
Scoring summary
2024 Big 10 Championship Game #1 Oregon Ducks (12–0, 9–0) vs. #3 Penn State Nittany Lions (11–1, 8–1)
