There’s heroes of any contest, a Big Ten Championship Game is no different in that aspect. 

Amidst Oregon’s 45-37 win over No. 3 Penn State in Indianapolis, Indiana, one Duck was brighter than all of the primetime lights put together. 

Tez Johson became the first wide receiver in Big Ten Championship Game history to be named the game’s Most Valuable Player. 

He was well deserving. Johnson had a career-high 181 yards on 11 receptions and 12 targets. Johnson tormented the Nittany Lions’ defense all night long, shifting away from would-be tacklers and creating space – often in the middle of the field.

The Nittany Lions had absolutely no answers for the senior receiver, and Penn State head coach James Franklin gave Johnson some well-deserved credit. 

“We knew going into the game, 15 was going to be a problem.” Franklin said. “Tez Johnson, had a ton of respect for him. He ended up having a heck of a game.”

Indeed he did. It was a record-setting night, too. Johnson’s 181 receiving yards were the most ever in a Big Ten Championship Game and the most in an FBS conference championship game since 2021. Johnson had 104 yards in the first half (on just five catches) to become the first player in Big Ten Championship Game history to record a triple-digit first half. 

“He’s special,” Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel said. “He knows it. I think when you’re around a talented individual, you appreciate it because just the person he is. He’s electric, and when he gets the ball in his hands, he’s going to make a play.”

Johnson missed time this year after sustaining an injury in a win over Michigan, yet moved up to third in single-season receptions in a UO season. He’s at 78, chasing the record he set last year at 86. 

“Tez is a huge part of what we do,” Gabriel said. “And him being on the field makes us a lot better.”

Despite only being at Oregon for two seasons, Johnson sits fifth in program history in total receptions. He sits just 15 behind the all-time record of 179. Johnson has already more than etched his name in the Duck record books, becoming the 12th player in program history to surpass 2000 career receiving yards.

But, the win meant more than numbers on a scoreboard or a stat sheet to Johnson. On Saturday, he played in front of his biological family for the first time. 

“I told them, like, this is the first game y’all coming to, I’ll give you all a show,” Johnson said. “I promise you that.”

His show was a masterminded performance that’ll be talked about for years to come. The show’s crowning moment came on Oregon’s first drive of the third quarter. Facing 2nd-and-9, the pocket was collapsing around Gabriel. He rolled out to his left and his eyes found what had to be a glorious sight: Johnson alone in the middle of the field. Gabriel hit Johnson and the shifty wideout did the rest himself, taking off for a 48-yard touchdown to put Oregon ahead 38-24. 

“I don’t know if words can explain it,” Johnson said. “My mom, just seeing the tears in her eyes, being able to watch me play on a stage like this.”

Aside from walking out of Lucas Oil Stadium with MVP honors, Johnson left with a feeling of gratitude. 

“Just being able to get them to the game, words can’t explain,” Johnson said. “It’s something you dream about. And when that time happens and it’s being able to get checked off your bucket list, you don’t take it for granted.”

Johnson had six receptions that went for more than 15 yards. He was open a lot, and he’s nearly impossible to tackle when given space. The Ducks missed him during his absence, and he gave the college football world a reminder of the threat he is, bringing home Oregon’s first Big Ten title in program history.