The stakes are higher than ever as the Illini (4-0, 1-0) head to Pennsylvania to take on the infamous Nittany Lions. The team is having its best start to the season in over a decade, and now, they will take on a powerhouse of a football program on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
After a hot start to the season, last week’s conference win against Nebraska further propelled Illinois into public conversations. The team has caught attention at a national level, and players have received accolades for their talents left and right.
However, something feels a little different going into University Park this weekend. The last time the Illini traveled to Beaver Stadium, they came out with a historic result. In their 2021 matchup, the Illini pulled off the upset of a lifetime, defeating the Nittany Lions in nine overtimes.
“I think there’s just two completely different teams,” head coach Bret Bielema said when asked about what has changed since the team last visited Penn State. “There’s a lot that has happened. I think you’re always defined by the things of your past – good, bad or indifferent. The past is the past and they’ve learned from it.”
While Saturday’s game likely will not go into nine overtimes, it will still pose many challenges to Illinois. The crowd at Beaver Stadium always rings loud, and this weekend, Penn State is pushing a “White-Out Energy” narrative to taunt Illinois on the field.
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In their last matchup, Penn State finished with five defensive takeaways and defeated Illinois 30-13. This time around, Illinois’ offensive line must protect junior quarterback Luke Altmyer to prevent another game like that.
While Penn State’s defense is notably a force to be reckoned with, its offense does not go unnoticed either. Penn State’s quarterback, Drew Allar, is decisive and intelligent on the field. He excels at holding the ball for just a short time before targeting his receivers with nearly perfect spirals.
The Nittany Lions have yet to meet legitimate competitors this season. However, all this changes this weekend when the 4-0 Illini take to the field. An undefeated record goes a long way, but collective confidence can make an even bigger impact.
The talk of the town has centered around Altmyer. The Big Ten awarded him the Offensive Player of the Week title for his efforts against the Cornhuskers. Against them, he threw for 215 yards and completed four touchdowns.
Despite the victorious outcome against Nebraska, Bielema still believes there are aspects the team could work on.
“There’s so many things from last week’s game that we need to make an improvement on this week,” Bielema described. “Things happened today that we need to correct for Saturday. The true blessing was that it didn’t happen on Saturday night.”
Week 5 is anticipated to be the toughest challenge for the Illini so far. If the team can make the improvements Bielema is referencing, they might have a shot at taking down the intimidating force that is the Nittany Lions. Regardless of the outcome, this matchup will surely demonstrate the Illini’s ability to compete against the best of the best.
@tess_eken
