Penn State's James Franklin Addresses Overturned Fumble vs. Oregon Ducks

The No. 2 Oregon Ducks took down the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions in week 5 of the season. It was a close matchup, which made every call critical. On Monday, Penn State coach James Franklin voiced his displeasure with the ruling that there was no fumble in the third quarter of the game.

Jul 23, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Penn State head coach James Franklin speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

The No. 2 Oregon Ducks took down the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions in week 5 of the college football season. Penn State coach James Franklin spoke to the media on Monday, and he shared his thoughts on the controversial Oregon fumble that was overturned in the third quarter.

Penn State Coach James Franklin On Overturned Call

“We had a turnover late in the game that got overturned. You know, to me, from what I saw, cause I got this question afterwards, I didn’t see enough to overturn the call on the field,” Franklin said.

Sep 13, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks on the field prior to the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

After the game on Saturday, Franklin was asked about the call, to which he said he did not see why it was overturned; he was just told Whittington’s knee was down.

At the point of the call, the game was still tied 3-3 in the third quarter. It was a heavily defensive matcup for both programs, but the call on the field would have shifted momentum into Penn State's favor.

The energy at Beaver Stadium during the Penn State White Out was high when Nittany Lions safety Zakee Wheatley recovered the fumble, but once the call was overturned, the energy changed significantly.

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On the following play, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore had a touchdown pass to running back Dierre Hill Jr., giving the Ducks the lead for the first time of the game. The Ducks went on to win the matchup in double overtime, with a game-winning interception by Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.

What Oregon’s Win Over Penn State Means

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks the field during warmups as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With the win over Penn State, the Oregon Ducks are 5-0 and the No. 2-ranked team in the nation. While anything can happen in football, Penn State was the toughest opponent on Oregon’s schedule. The Ducks will still have to take it one week at a time, but the win over the Nittany Lions put Oregon in good standing to make it back to the Big Ten conference championship for the second year in a row.

With how tough Penn State’s defense played, Moore faced his first big test of the season. It was not going to be an easy game, but the Oregon quarterback stepped up, and Moore is now a name to watch for the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Against Penn State, Moore went 29-of-39 for 248 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 10 carries for 35 yards. Moore is a strong passer, and while he does not rely on running, he is proving that he can use his legs to get out of tough situations and earn positive yards.

Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) warms up before a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images | James Lang-Imagn Images

The Ducks are heading into a bye week undefeated and can get their bodies right after traveling to the East Coast for a critical matchup.

The No. 2 Oregon Ducks will next face the No. 8 Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 12:30 p.m. PT. Indiana will also have a bye this week before traveling to Autzen Stadium to face the Ducks. It will be another big game for Oregon, as Indiana is also a top-10 undefeated opponent.