There’s no question that Oregon is talented.

Actually, the Ducks are probably the best team Penn State will have played so far this season. They have earned their No. 1 ranking as the only Power 5 conference team that went undefeated in the regular season, including a thrilling 32-31 win over Ohio State back in October.

So how do the Nittany Lions come home from Indianapolis with an upset in the Big Ten championship and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoffs?

Here are five keys to the game:

Make Dillon Gabriel

uncomfortable

One of PSU’s greatest strengths all season has been the ability to get after the quarterback with outstanding edge rushers in Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton.

The Lions had six sacks last weekend against Maryland, and they’re going to need more of that against the Ducks.

Just as Oregon is the most talented team PSU has faced this year, Gabriel is also the best quarterback they’ve seen. He might be a longshot for the Heisman Trophy, but there’s a chance he will be invited to the ceremony in New York next weekend.

For the season, Gabriel has 3,275 passing yards with 24 TDs and six interceptions. He’s also a threat in the run game with seven TDs on the ground.

If Gabriel has all the time in the world to work, it could be a long night for the Lions.

More Tyler Warren

It cannot be stressed enough how PSU needs to utilize Warren to the maximum.

Whether it’s as PSU’s best pass-catcher as a tight end or as a wildcat quarterback, your best players need to have the ball in his hands at the critical moments.

It sure looks like PSU has learned its lesson from Ohio State.

The need for Warren to produce is only magnified by the lack of production from PSU’s wide receivers. Harrison Wallace III has shown flashes that he can be a No. 1 receiver, but nobody else has shown any type of consistency.

Plus Wallace did not play last week due to injury.

Maybe today is a time for more magic to be drawn up by Andy Kotelnicki, like the play where Warren snapped the ball and caught the touchdown against USC.

Contain the edge

Just as it’s important for Carter and Sutton to get after Gabriel, it may be equally as important for PSU offensive tackles Drew Shelton and Nolan Rucci to keep quarterback Drew Allar clean. Oregon defensive ends Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti have been known to wreak havoc in backfields all season.

Rucci is making the most of his time as the starter after Anthony Donkoh was lost for the season to an injury in the Minnesota game. The Wisconsin transfer was splitting reps for much of the season, but has filled in nicely for Donkoh.

Win the special

teams battle

It hasn’t been talked about much, but kicker Ryan Barker is quietly putting together a pretty nice season after Sander Sahaydak’s early-season struggles. Barker is 11 for 13 on field goals this season with a long of 49 yards.

It’s possible that the Big Ten title game could come down to a special teams play, perhaps a Barker field goal or a Nicholas Singleton kickoff return or a Zion Tracy punt return.

Maybe if we want to bring up a certain special memory for Nittany Lion fans, it could be a blocked field goal.

The mental game

This goes without saying, but the Lions can’t go into Saturday thinking they’re defeated before taking the field. Nor should they. Oregon is very good but beatable.

The Ducks were only a three-point victor over another probable playoff team in Boise State, and they struggled in a season-opening 24-14 win over FCS Idaho.

Wisconsin also had Oregon on the ropes just a few weeks ago.

Even their best win against Ohio State has a “yeah, but…” attached to it. If Buckeye quarterback Will Howard doesn’t make a bonehead play at the end of the Oregon game, OSU had a chance to win the game with a makeable field goal.

It’s a simple concept, but one worth repeating that Oregon is a beatable team. Such is life in college football this year.