UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Football welcomes Illinois to Beaver Stadium Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff. The game will air on FS1 and the Penn State Sports Network (airtime 4 p.m.).
COVID-19 Safety
- Under current Big Ten and Pennsylvania state guidance, public tickets will not be available. Fans are encouraged to cheer the Nittany Lions on from afar through virtual initiatives.
- The University in conjunction with the Borough of State College, has discouraged visitors in the interests of public health and safety.
- Tailgating is not permitted on game days in any University parking lots. More information can be found here: https://bit.ly/34pBX6c.
- If fans choose to gather at their home, Penn State recommends following local health and safety guidelines as Nittany Nation virtually comes together on football Saturdays.
December Football: On Saturday, Penn State will compete in the latest game ever played at Beaver Stadium in a calendar year. Prior to last Saturday's 39-24 win over Michigan State, the previous latest game played at Beaver Stadium was on December 7, 1968 against Syracuse.
Series History: The Nittany Lions are 19-5 all-time against Illinois, including a 9-1 mark at home. In 2018, the Nittany Lions trailed 24-21 in the third quarter but finished the game with 42 unanswered points for a 63-24 win. Miles Sanders rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns, while Ricky Slade added 94 yards and two touchdowns. Trace McSorley threw three touchdown passes. S Jonathan Sutherland led the Penn State defense with eight tackles. LB Ellis Brooks recorded six tackles, a half-sack and an interception.
All-Purpose: With 695 receiving yards and a 21.0 punt return average, WR Jahan Dotson is one of six FBS players (seven occasions) since 2000 with those totals. Dotson and Alabama's Devonta Smith are the only FBS players with those totals this season. Dotson's 695 receiving yards lead the Big Ten, while his 21.0 punt return average paces the conference and ranks third in the FBS.
Latest Game in Beaver Stadium
- Penn State's matchup with Illinois, on December 19, is the latest the Nittany Lions have played a game at Beaver Stadium.
- Penn State has played three previous December home games: December 7, 1968 vs. Syracuse, December 1, 1979 vs. Pitt and December 12, 2020 vs. Michigan State.
- In 1968, the Nittany Lions completed an undefeated regular season with a 30-12 win over Syracuse. Penn State ended the season with an 11-0 record and No. 2 national ranking after defeating Kansas, 15-14, in the Orange Bowl.
- Penn State has a 7-4 record in December regular-season games.
Dotson's Impressive Production
- WR Jahan Dotson's 695 yards rank 27th nationally and his six touchdowns rank tied for 25th among teams who have played at least eight games. His 46 receptions rank 38th.
- Dotson is averaging 15.4 yards per reception (minimum 45 catches) through his first eight games of 2020, which ranks ninth nationally and fourth in the Power Five for a player's first eight games of the 2020 season.
- Dotson is one of five Power Five receivers to total at least 46 receptions, 695 yards receiving and six receiving touchdowns in their first eight games this season, joining Ole Miss' Elijah Moore (86 rec, 1,193 yards, 8 TD), Alabama's Devonta Smith (72 rec, 1074 yards, 12 TD), LSU's Terrace Marshall Jr. (48 rec, 731 yards, 10 TD) and Clemson's Amari Rodgers (48 rec, 720 yards, 6 TD) and one of 10 in FBS.
- Since 2000, Dotson is the only Penn State receiver to total at least 46 receptions, 695 yards receiving and six receiving touchdowns in the first eight games of a season.
- Dotson's 695 receiving yards in the first eight games of the season are the third-most by a Nittany Lion since 2000, trailing Allen Robinson (1,043 yards, 2013) and DaeSean Hamilton (728 yards, 2014).
- Dotson (46 receptions) and Parker Washington (35 receptions) are the first Penn State duo with 30 or more catches in a season since 2017.
- Dotson is one of four Big Ten receivers with at least four 100-yard receiving games this season.
- Dotson is one of seven Penn State receivers with at least four 100-yard receiving games in a single season since 2000.
Virtual Valley Experience
- Penn State Athletics will implement the Virtual Valley Experience, presented by Aquafina, as a way to virtually bring Nittany Lion fans to football game days, including having a presence in Beaver Stadium.
- Virtual Valley will also give fans behind-the-scenes access to the Penn State football program all season long.
- Fans can visit the site at www.GoPSUsports.com/virtualvalley for more information on any the initiatives.
The Unrivaled Pregame Show
- The Unrivaled Pregame Show, presented by Highmark. This new show will bring the game day experience into fans' homes by highlighting the traditions and fan experiences which make Penn State the best game experience in the country.
- The Unrivaled Postgame Show, returning for its second season, recaps the game with coach and student-athlete interviews. Both programs are available to fans for free on LionVision, Facebook LIVE and Twitter.
Additional virtual initiatives for the 2020 football season include:
- Fan Photos on Beaver Stadium Videoboard: Fans can show their support of Penn State football student-athletes by posting photos on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #PSUPride. Photos will be featured on the videoboards in Beaver Stadium during home games and on the Virtual Valley Experience website.
- Unrivaled Podcast: Unrivaled: The Official Podcast of Penn State Football, presented by Rocket Mortgage, returns for its second season with new episodes each Thursday.
- Virtual Tailgate of the Game Contest, presented by Weis Markets: Each game day, fans will be asked to share photos of their socially distant or virtual tailgates on social media, using #PSUPride. The fans showing the most Penn State spirit will be selected as the Tailgate of the Game and claim a prize from the Nittany Lion Club.
- Behind the Mic: The Penn State Sports Network brings fans into the radio booth with Steve Jones and Jack Ham. Watch and listen to Steve and Jack as they broadcast the game and it will be streamed on LionVision and Facebook Live (Penn State Nittany Lions account). Please note, this video feed does not show the game.
- Trivia Contest, presented by Utz: Each week at halftime of the game, fans will have the opportunity to participate in the Penn State Football-themed trivia contest. The link to the trivia contest will be posted on the Penn State Football social channels on Friday of game week.
- Nittany Lion Club Tailgate Cookbook Recipe of the Week: The Nittany Lion Club will feature its Recipe of the Week, presented by Weis Markets, each Wednesday.
- Zoom Backgrounds: Penn State Athletics has a variety of virtual Zoom backgrounds, including tailgate lot views, available by clicking here.
The 2020 Penn State Football Season is presented by PSECU.