No. 9 Penn State Defeats No. 19 Illinois 21-7 in Big Ten Homecoming Showdown
UNIVERSITY PARK – No. 9/8 Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) defeated No. 19/21 Illinois (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten), 21-7, on Saturday evening at Beaver Stadium in front of 109,911 fans for homecoming.
The Nittany Lions outgained the Fighting Illini 374-219 in total yardage, with quarterback Drew Allar completing 15-of-21 passes for 135 passing yards. Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton led the Blue & White in rushing yards with a combined 196 yards. Allen contributed 102 yards on 18 attempts for an average of 5.7 yards per carry, while Singleton added 94 on 16 carries for 5.9 yards per attempt.
Through the air, six different receivers hauled in at least one reception for Penn State, highlighted by a four-catch, 50-yard performance from redshirt junior wide receiver Harrison Wallace III. Wallace III was responsible for the longest reception of the evening for Penn State, a 20-yard haul on the first Nittany Lion play from scrimmage in the contest. Senior tight end Tyler Warren continued his outstanding stretch of individual performances on Saturday night, snagging four catches for 34 total yards in the passing attack while contributing a three-yard direct-snap rushing touchdown to open the scoring for the Blue & White.
The Nittany Lions won the turnover battle for the third time in the 2024 season, rising to 3-0 overall when doing so. Penn State forced a pair of takeaways from the Fighting Illini offense, with defensive end Abdul Carter forcing a fumble and cornerback A.J. Harris snagging his first career interception. Offensively, Penn State completed the game turnover free, winning the turnover battle by a 2-0 margin in the process.
Penn State surrendered the opening score of the game on Illinois’ first drive of the night, but swiftly responded with a touchdown of its own on the ensuing possession. The Nittany Lion defense would remain stout for the remainder of the contest, holding the Fighting Illini without another score while affording the offense the opportunity to register 21 unanswered points en route to the 14-point Big Ten opening victory.
Penn State’s defense held the Fighting Illini to 219 total yards split between 185 yards through the air and just 34 on the ground. Safety Jaylen Reed highlighted the Nittany Lion defensive effort with nine total tackles. Carter led the way with 1.5 sacks, while Reed, linebacker Kobe King, defensive tackle Zane Durant and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton each finished the night with one apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois struck first on an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on its first possession of the game. Quarterback Luke Altmyer found tight end Carson Goda in the end zone to go up 7-0 with 9:36 on the clock in the opening quarter.
A rushing touchdown scored by Warren, the Nittany Lion tight end, knotted the score at seven apiece with 5:34 yet to play in the opening quarter. Penn State marched 75 yards for the touchdown in eight plays that wound 4:02 off the clock.
Penn State took its first lead of the game on its first drive of the second half. Singleton toted the ball four yards for the score, capping off a 12-play, 74-yard scoring drive. The Nittany Lions led the Illini 14-7 at the 8:38 mark of the third quarter.
The Nittany Lion defense stepped up in the clutch once again, as Harris intercepted Altmyer with under six minutes remaining in the game. Allar led the Penn State offense to its third touchdown of the day, constructing an eight-play, 41-yard scoring drive. Penn State went up 21-7 thanks to a five-yard run by Allen. The Nittany Lions continued to stifle Illinois all the way through the end of the game, winning 21-7.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.
