QUARTERBACKS

Juice Williams has won three straight as starting quarterback and completed 55.7 percent of his passes while causing problems for defenses with his feet. But he’s still not a consistent force in the pass game. Penn State’s Anthony Morelli is more experienced and is averaging 199.2 passing yards a game, having thrown eight touchdowns and one interception.

ADVANTAGE: PENN STATE

RUNNING BACKS

Rashard Mendenhall is tearing up defenses. He’s notched three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Daniel Dufrene should see increased action this week and Walter Mendenhall will move to No. 3 in the depth chart following freshman Troy Pollard’s knee injury. Penn State splits its backfield duties between Austin Scott and Rodney Kinlaw. The two have combined for seven rushing touchdowns and, as a team, the Nittany Lions are averaging 173 yards a game.

ADVANTAGE: ILLINOIS

WIDE RECEIVERS

Freshman Arrelious Benn has not found the end zone yet but has shown his potential to separate on routes and create on the ground. Illini tight ends have been more involved in the offense lately, catching touchdown passes the past two games. The Nittany Lions’ Deon Butler leads the Penn State receiving corps with 46 yards a game and Jordan Norwood has two TDs and is averaging more than 40 yards a game.

ADVANTAGE: DRAW

OFFENSIVE LINE

Junior center Ryan McDonald leads the Illini line, which has helped the run offense average more than 265 yards per game. Junior Xavier Fulton missed some time in practice earlier this week with a foot injury but should be ready for the Nittany Lions on Saturday. The experienced Penn State line has allowed seven sacks.

ADVANTAGE: ILLINOIS

LINEBACKERS

J Leman leads the Big Ten and is 12th in the nation, averaging 12.3 tackles a game. His complements Antonio Steele and Brit Miller combine to give the Illinois a solid linebacker corps. Penn State counters strongly with All-American Dan Connor who continues the tradition of strong middle men at Linebacker U. The senior anchors a defense that’s allowing just 12 points a contest.

ADVANTAGE: DRAW

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Illini defensive front has 12 sacks the past two weeks and is allowing 87 yards on the ground. Junior Will Davis tallied a career-high four sacks last week against Indiana, earning him Co-Defensive Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Penn State’s front is stingy. It’s allowed less than 55 yards a game on the ground. Last week, Michigan’s Mike Hart ran for more than 150 yards but averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry. The Nittany Lions also have 19 sacks already on the season.

ADVANTAGE: PENN STATE

SECONDARY

The Illini defense is allowing 229 yards a game through the air. Last week sophomore cornerback Vontae Davis controlled Indiana’s biggest offensive target in James Hardy and intercepted a Kellen Lewis pass late in the fourth quarter to seal the Illini’s third victory. The Penn State secondary allows less than 200 yards a game and cornerback Lydell Sargeant is third on the team in tackles. As a unit, the Nittany Lions have forced three interceptions and broken up 13 passes.

ADVANTAGE: PENN STATE

SPECIAL TEAMS

Jason Reda hit two field goals last week and punter Anthony Santella boomed two punts more than 50 yards, with two inside the 20. Penn State’s strengths are in the return game. Derrick Williams is ninth in the nation, averaging 18.6 yards on punt returns, and A.J. Wallace is third with 37.2 yard on kick returns. Punter Jeremy Boone leads the conference with a 43.8-yard average.

ADVANTAGE: PENN STATE

COACHES

Coach Ron Zook is riding his first three-game winning streak while in Champaign. He has a long way to go if he wants to catch Penn State’s Joe Paterno, who is second all-time on the college football victory list. Paterno is in his 42nd year as head coach and is 366-122-3 in his career. How much coaching he still does is anyone’s guess, but you can’t argue with results.

ADVANTAGE: PENN STATE