It’s not unexpected to see No. 9 Penn State bolt out to a 3-0 start entering Big Ten Conference play.
On the other hand, Illinois getting off to a 4-0 start and earning a No. 19 ranking in this week’s Associated Press poll probably wasn’t on too many bingo cards a month ago.
That makes the teams’ meeting Saturday night in State College, Pa. a big game, particularly for the Fighting Illini. After opening conference play last weekend with a 31-24 overtime victory at Nebraska, they’d love nothing more than to take down one of the preseason favorites.
“When you get into Big Ten play, it’s different, and Illinois has done a really good job,” Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said. “They’re a physical bunch. The quarterback is playing at a high level.”
Which is a big reason why the Illini are surpassing most preseason expectations. Luke Altmyer has thrown for 10 touchdowns in four games after managing just 13 scoring strikes last year. Most importantly, he’s not been intercepted in 105 passes this season after being picked off 10 times in 2023.
Altmyer’s 71.4 percent completion rate is the best of his career and he’s improved his yards per attempt by more than one. Add on a balanced rushing attack and a defense that resembles the one of two years ago that enabled Illinois to contend, and you have a team that fourth-year coach Bret Bielema can believe in.
“Defensively, we get better as the game goes along,” Bielema said.
Case in point: how Illinois ended the win at Nebraska. After Altmyer fired the go-ahead touchdown pass on the Illini’s overtime possession, they sacked Dylan Raiola on first, second and fourth down to seal the outcome.
Now comes, at least on paper, another step up in class. Penn State’s offense has looked much-improved in the early going, getting more big plays to complement what appears to be another solid defense. It rolled to a 56-0 win last week against hapless Kent State, allowing just 66 total yards.
New offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki stressed creating more chunk plays, and that’s what’s happened. Quarterback Drew Allar is averaging a whopping 17.8 yards per completion and running back Nicholas Singleton is averaging a robust 8.5 yards per rush, compiling 314 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“The quarterback can’t work through his progression if we’re not playing well up front,” Franklin said. “That plays a part in the quarterback being able to attack the entire field.”
Franklin said the Illinois pass rush is a concern. The Illini will need to pressure Allar because he has capable receivers all over the field, beginning with tight end Tyler Warren, who’s on pace to catch 64 passes. Wideouts Omari Evans and Harrison Wallace are combining to average nearly 22 yards per catch.
This is Illinois’ first visit to Beaver Stadium since it won an NCAA-record nine-overtime game in 2021 on a two-point conversion pass from Brandon Peters to Casey Washington. The Nittany Lions own a 21-6 lead in the all-time series, winning last year in Champaign 30-13.
