Oct. 29, 2013
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GAME INFORMATION
TELEVISION: ESPN
Beth Mowins (p-by-p), Joey Galloway (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline).
TV APPEARANCES: The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 236th time in their last 238 games.
RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations):
Steve Jones (p-by-p), Jack Ham (analyst), Loren Crispell (sideline).
XM: Ch. 193 Sirius: Ch. 92
Local: 93.7 FM & 1450 AM.
Illinois Radio Network: Brian Barnhart (p-by-p), Kurt Kittner (analyst) and Steve Kelly (host).
WEB: GameTracker and Live Audio available at GoPSUsports.com
SERIES:Penn State and Illinois have met 20 times, with Penn State owning a 16-4 on-field advantage in the series. The teams have met every season since 2005 and also will meet in 2014 and '15.
With this week's meeting, the two teams have met in 17 of Penn State's 21 years in the Big Ten, with the Lions owning a 13-3 on-field record in conference play.
COACHES
Bill O'Brien
PENN STATE RECORD: 12-7, 2nd year
OVERALL RECORD: Same
VS. ILLINOIS: 1-0
NOTABLE: Named Penn State's 15th head football coach on Jan. 6, 2012...Won first career game vs. Navy on Sept. 15, 2012...2012 Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year...2012 Bear Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN National Coach of the Year...Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator under Bill Belichick...Coached NFL MVP Tom Brady from 2009-11.
TIM BECKMAN
ILLINOIS RECORD: 5-14, 2nd year
OVERALL RECORD: 26-30, 5th year
VS. PENN STATE: 0-1
AT A GLANCE
Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium, hosting Illinois in the first of three November home games. The Nittany Lions are 5-1 in games following a loss under head coach Bill O'Brien.
The Nittany Lions own a 16-4 on-field advantage in the series, including a 35-7 win in Champaign last year. The teams have met every season since 2005 and also will meet in 2014 and '15. Penn State has won the last two meetings. With this week's contest, the two teams have met in 17 of Penn State's 21 years in the Big Ten.
Allen Robinson posted his third career game with double-digit catches and fifth game this season over 100 yards last week at No. 4 Ohio State. The 2012 Big Ten Receiver of the Year made 12 receptions for 173 yards and caught a 65-yard touchdown pass, his longest career reception. Robinson put up identical numbers earlier this season at Indiana, with his 12 catches ranking second in school history (13 - Freddie Scott, `95).
Bill Belton rushed for 98 yardsagainst the Buckeyes, the most rushing yards allowed by the No. 3 rushing defense in the Big Ten. Brandon Felder caught his third touchdown pass of the season, all coming in the past two games, and caught four passes for 42 yards.
True freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg leads the Big Ten in completions (144) and passing yards (254.9 ypg) and is tied for fourth in touchdown passes (12). Robinson leads the Big Ten in receptions (7.9 rpg) and receiving yards per game (125.4), ranking 10th and 5th, respectively, in the NCAA. Senior DT DaQuan Jones leads the Big Ten with 8.5 tackles for loss.
Illinois is led by quarterback Nathan Sheelhaase, who ranks fourth in the Big Ten in passing yardage with 235.6 yards per game and 12 passing touchdowns. He has completed passes to 14 different receivers, with eight of them catching touchdown passes. Linebacker Jonathan Brown leads the Big Ten at 10.6 tackles per game.