It is still September. Nothing that happens when Oregon travels to Penn State on Saturday will make or break an NFL Draft prospect, but this is one of the most anticipated games of the year from a scouting perspective.

All 32 NFL teams will devour this tape, and how prospects perform on this stage will carry much more weight than anything they’ve done over the first four weeks of the season.

Who are the players to know?

Best prospect in the game: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The highest-ranked player in this matchup, Sadiq (No. 17 on my preseason top 50 draft board), hasn’t disappointed.

Although he’s not a high-volume pass catcher, Sadiq makes an impact every time he is targeted. Of his nine catches this season, five have resulted in first downs and three in touchdowns. Sadiq is naturally explosive with fluidity in his adjustments to frame the football without breaking stride.

He has arguably been even better as a blocker, especially as a latch-and-drive bully in the ground game. He was a solid blocker on his 2024 tape but looks stronger this season, which especially shows in how he finishes.

Penn State didn’t appear ready for Sadiq in last year’s Big Ten Championship Game, but it won’t be caught off guard this time.

Prospects with the most to prove: Both quarterbacks

I’m probably burying the lede, because the quarterbacks are the headliners.

A five-star recruit, Dante Moore had a lackluster freshman season at UCLA in 2023, so he was an unknown coming into the 2025 season. But the Detroit native has been one of the best quarterbacks in college football through four games (74.7 percent completions, 962 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and only one interception).

With his arm talent, you can see why Moore was a top recruit. However, I’ve been impressed with his ability to move the pocket and his eye discipline to hold defenders. Although Oregon’s competition so far has been closer to rookie mode than All-Madden, Moore has played with impressive rhythm in his drops and delivered with precision, both outside the numbers and down the spine.

Despite the limited sample, Moore is the quarterback I’m most excited to watch in this game. If he passes this test, on the road in a “White Out” environment against a talented defense, expect Moore’s draft stock to continue to skyrocket in a class thirsty for a QB1.

Like Oregon, Penn State hasn’t exactly faced a murderer’s row over its first three games, but Drew Allar has been more adequate than awesome so far. He has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 626 yards, four touchdowns and one interception — pedestrian stats for a third-year starter with his talent.

Allar took a noticeable step between his sophomore and junior seasons. Can he take another jump now as a senior? At 6-foot-5, 237 pounds, Allar checks the boxes for size, arm strength and ability to read out of the field. But inconsistent footwork and rhythm are hurdles he still needs to clear for evaluators to be sold on his next-level ceiling.

Over the summer, I gave Allar a second-round, low-end NFL starter grade, which is similar to how a lot of NFL scouts feel about him.

Prospect matchup that might determine the outcome: Penn State RBs vs. LB Bryce Boettcher

Any conversation about the best running-back tandem in college football starts with Penn State’s Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. In three games this season, the duo is averaging more than six yards per carry and has accounted for eight combined touchdowns.

At 6-0, 220 with 4.3 speed, Singleton has the explosive traits that might make him a top-100 draft pick, even if his vision and decision-making are inconsistent. Allen doesn’t have the same giddy-up, but his stubbornness and power as a runner will make him a solid backup at the next level.

Boettcher, Oregon’s leading tackler, is a fun player with a fun story. A former baseball player for the Ducks, he walked on to the football team and became a special teams demon before transforming into the heartbeat of the defense. The same range and hand-eye coordination the two-sport athlete shows as a centerfielder comes across in how he plays on the football field.

Boettcher was drafted by the Houston Astros and has a baseball career waiting for him after this season. Because of his love for the physicality and energy of football, NFL scouts are hoping he chooses their sport. Expecting Boettcher to be in last year’s draft class, I gave him a third-round grade at the time — and he will look to cement that status Saturday.

Prospects who need strong performances: Both left tackles

Penn State’s Drew Shelton (No. 26) and Oregon’s Isaiah World (No. 28) made the cut for my preseason top 50. Can they play up to that level in this game?

The two prospects are similar, as each has the physical traits and obvious talent for the NFL. Shelton (6-5, 303 with 33 1/2-inch arms) has quick feet to mirror in space and the athleticism to recover and adjust from complicated positions. World (6-5, 321 with 34 1/2-inch arms) is an easy mover with the initial quickness to close space on defenders.

However, both Shelton and World have put several bad losses on the 2025 tape. They are technically raw with inconsistent punch timing in pass pro and average grip strength in the run game. And the competition only gets tougher for each OT in this matchup, with Matayo Uiagalelei (Oregon) and Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State) rushing off the edge, respectively.

Underrated prospects: A.J. Harris, CB, Penn State; Iapani Laloulu, C, Oregon

A starting outside corner, Harris has yet to register an interception (or even a pass breakup) this season. But he has good reason for that — teams are staying away from his side of the field. Harris has faced only one target through three games, although that should change against Oregon, given how Moore likes to attack outside the numbers. Harris debuted at No. 45 on my preseason top 50.

After spending his freshman season as a backup, Laloulu became Oregon’s starting center last season and is the Ducks’ only returning offensive starter. He has the physicality to move bodies in the run game and stays square to rushers in pass protection. Watching Laloulu versus Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant should be fun.

(Top photo of Kenyon Sadiq: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)