By: Pasquale Tartaro, GoPSUSports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa - Fresh off of a pair of bye weeks, the Penn State Nittany Lions are set to host the Fighting Illini in a Big Ten crossover matchup Saturday afternoon.
Game Information
Penn State holds a 20-5 edge head-to-head against Illinois and has won the past three meetings by an average of 38 points per game.
Following its first loss of the season to the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Nittany Lions (5-1) are looking to bounce back.
The Fighting Illini (2-5), on the other hand, have lost five of their last six games, and hope to get back on track when they return to Beaver Stadium.
Saturday's homecoming matchup will feature Penn State's Generations of Greatness uniforms, which are being worn for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The uniforms feature numbers on the helmets, block uniform numbers, a white stripe on the sleeves, a blue stripe on the pants, a gray facemask and white cleats.
Penn State will carry a 303-77 record inside Beaver Stadium into Saturday's matchup. The Nittany Lions are 32-5 in Beaver Stadium since 2016, the sixth-best home record among Power Five teams.
Kickoff is set for noon on ABC.
Players to Watch: Illinois
Chase Brown leads the rushing attack with 414 yards and three touchdowns while averaging close to seven yards per carry.
Though Illinois relies on the productivity of its rushing attack, Penn State's defense will have to also keep an eye out for wide receiver Isaiah Williams (32 receptions, 298 yards, one touchdown) who has proven to serve as a reliable target.
Illinois' defensive line has done a superb job of disrupting plays, with Owen Carney Jr. leading the way. Carney has recorded 4.5 sacks in the last five games.
Players to Watch: Penn State
In the Nittany Lions' 56-21 win over the Illinois last season, quarterback Sean Clifford threw for 285 yards and two scores, while wide receiver Jahan Dotson added a career-high 189 receiving yards, including touchdowns of 75 and 70 yards.
llinois will look to contain Penn State's explosive receiving corps, including Dotson. The junior, whose streak of six consecutive games with a touchdown was snapped versus Iowa, leads the Big Ten with 43 receptions and no drops.
Illinois will face the challenge that the Penn State defense presents. The Nittany Lions rank fourth in the nation in points allowed per game (13.8) and are holding teams to 313 yards per game (fifth in the Big Ten).
Individual standouts on this side of the ball include linebacker and leading tackler Ellis Brooks (team-high 44 tackles), pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie (team-high 4.0 sacks), and safety Ji'Ayir Brown (3 interceptions).
