The ninth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions play their next game on Saturday against the 19th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini. This is the third of four straight games at Beaver Stadium. It is also Penn State’s first Big Ten contest of the season. The Nittany Lions defeated Kent State 56-0 in a tune-up game last week to stay undefeated. Below is a preview of the Penn State vs. Illinois matchup.
Penn State has two wins against MAC teams, and a victory against West Virginia, a Power Five opponent. The Nittany Lions were able to overcome relatively slow starts in each of their games. However, Illinois will not be as forgiving this week. The Illini have built confidence in their ability to win on the road. As Penn State head coach James Franklin said Monday at his press conference. “They’re coming in here confident, already going on the road and finding success in a tough environment.” Illinois defeated ranked Nebraska in Lincoln last week. Franklin is looking for Penn State’s fans to bring a “white-out energy” to the Big Ten opener.
Nittany Nation, we need WHITE OUT…
ENERGY❕See you this Saturday back home in Beaver Stadium. #WeArePennState
— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) September 23, 2024
#19 Illinois (4-0) at #9 Penn State (3-0) Preview
When & Where: Saturday, September 28, 7:30 pm ET, at Penn State
Last Week’s Results: Penn State won at home, defeating Kent State 56-0. Illinois faced Nebraska on the road and won 31-24.
Last Season’s Results: Penn State finished ranked #13 after a 10-3 season that ended with a Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss. Illinois finished with a record of 5-7, including Big Ten wins over Maryland, Minnesota, and Indiana.
Series History: Penn State leads the series all-time by a 21 to six margin. The teams met last season when Penn State won 30-13.
Penn State vs. Illinois Preview: Nittany Lions to Watch
Defensive Coordinator Tom Allen
As a preview of Penn State vs. Illinois, Penn State’s defense has performed well overall so far this season. Allen’s unit ranks ninth in total defense, allowing 229.3 yards per game. In fairness, a big driver of that was giving up only 67 yards to Kent State. The Golden Flashes are the lowest-ranked team in the country. Of his defense, Franklin said, “Defensively, when you hold any D1 team to 67 yards, that’s hard to do.”
Allen is a Nittany Lion to watch this week due to the continuous adjustments he has made and will need to continue to make. In the wins against both West Virginia and Bowling Green, the opponent was significantly winning the time of possession battle early on. However, as a nod to the symmetry of football, as Allen made adjustments, and the offense produced better, the time of possession returned to where it was expected to be.
For the first time in 15 years, Allen coached from the booth last week, instead of the sideline. Commenting on that change, Franklin said, “There’s a lot of different ways to do things that work.” He also stated that they would decide on if Allen would be on the field or in the booth on a week-to-week basis. However, Allen, Franklin, and the players were all happy with the results.
Heading into Big Ten play, the defense’s ability to stop the Illinois offense will be a key factor in the game. Luke Altmyer, the Illinois quarterback, has thrown for 10 touchdowns with no interceptions so far this season. Kaden Feagin, the leading rusher, has 242 yards and three touchdowns.
Wide Receiver Omari Evans
Penn State’s offense is fortunate to have arguably the best running back tandem in the country. However, the duo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen cannot be solely relied upon to carry the load for Andy Kotelnicki’s offense. That is where Omari Evans comes in, and as a preview of Penn State vs. Illinois, makes him a Nittany Lion to watch.
During his Monday press conference, Franklin stated, “Being able to run to win games, and throw to win games is very important.” Quarterback Drew Allar has been performing well, and is hitting his stride with Kotelnicki. Part of that was finding a rhythm in the passing game. Not surprisingly, contributions in the passing attack have come from the running backs, the tight ends, and of course the wide receivers.
Evans has been able to establish himself as a reliable deep threat for Allar. He leads the team at 25.6 yards per catch and is second on the team (behind Tyler Warren) with 205 yards receiving. His eight receptions tie him with Trey Wallace for second behind Warren’s 16 catches. The season-long reception for Evans, and the team, was his 59-yard touchdown against Kent State. He also had a 55-yard grab against West Virginia. The threat of Evans stretching the field could open up the running game (reverse of Kotelnicki’s usual strategy), and open up patterns underneath for Warren, Wallace, and Julian Fleming.
Defensive Tackle Zane Durant
It is not often that a defensive tackle with six tackles and a sack through three games is highlighted, but Zane Durant is a Nittany Lion to watch. His stability and production on the interior of the defensive line is paramount for Allen’s defense to perform, especially as it works to offset some key injuries.
In the secondary, KJ Winston is out with what Franklin deemed a “long-term” injury. That injury trickles down to the linebacker level. Instead of the hybrid 4-2-5 alignment that Allen likes to run, a more traditional 4-3 formation could offset Winston’s absence. One of the linebackers that was expected to step up was Dom DeLuca. However, he was injured in the first half of the Kent State game and did not return. Subsequently, an option to help out in the linebacker corp is Abdul Carter. He is making the move to defensive end this season.
Having Durant provide a solid foundation in the interior of the line is important. His presence quiets the noise from the musical chairs driven by the injuries. It gives Illinois something to game plan around. It opens up lanes for the linebackers to rush the passer and/or stop the run. Additionally, it covers for a suddenly less experienced secondary. Of Durant’s shoddy statistics, Franklin reinforced that he, “Has been as impactful on the quarterback as anybody, and if you are just strictly looking at a stat sheet, it wouldn’t tell you that.”
