Penn State is on the road for the first time this season looking to open Big Ten play with a victory against 1-1 Illinois. The Nittany Lions have scored 30 or more points in nine straight games, which leads the nation following Alabama’s loss to Texas last weekend. Penn State will be happy with whatever point total they get as long as they win. Here are five storylines to follow for the Nittany Lions’ Week 3 clash.
Road Debut: Drew Allar has played on the road before, and in the Big Ten, but nothing is quite like getting your first road start in conference play. An 11 a.m. local start in Champaign isn’t quite the same thing as primetime at Beaver Stadium, but road games are road games and starting quick is always key. There’s no reason to think Allar can’t play like he has in the first two weeks of the season, but playing well on the road is still a box he has yet to check off. This shouldn’t be his stiffest test, but Allar still has to start building a resume away from Beaver Stadium. If he can continue to take what the defense gives him and make all the throws he can, he’ll be fine.
Kicking It Up: Eventually Penn State’s special teams will have to make positive plays and makes some kicks. This game might not be decided by field goals, but nothing will help this group’s confidence like seeing the ball go through the uprights. No time like the present to reverse an early season narrative. Penn State could also avoid penalties in this area, having picked up three already this season. Upsets often start with special teams, and Penn State doesn’t need to plant that seed.
There You Go: Penn State’s defense has — despite the final scores — not quite looked like what people were expecting so far this season. As the games get more and more important, the more this group will have to flip the switch. There’s no reason to worry yet, but expect Big Ten teams to attack this defense on the ground until that’s not working. Illinois will be the first team of real note to give this a go. Will the defensive line be up to the challenge? Getting some healthy bodies back in that rotation could be the key. Can the linebackers be gap sound? It’s the little things, and now is when those little things really start to matter.
Be That Team: Penn State is a top 10 team and games like this are when it should show. Can the Nittany Lions go out there and make a statement that proves their worth against the best team they’ve played so far this year? Penn State doesn’t have to be a finished product in September — probably not a good thing if it is — but it’s not a bad time to start making some noise as the college football world gets into the thick of conference play.
Explosive: Penn state’s running game has been fine this season but has yet to really create an explosive play. There are worse things than averaging four or five yards a carry, but Nick Singleton’s bread and butter is making people try to catch up to him. If Penn State can start to make teams pay on the ground with explosive runs, it will only improve the quality of this offense as a whole and make Drew Allar’s life easier in the process. Home runs aren’t necessary, but racking up those 15-20-30 yard runs will make Penn State even better and better.
PENN STATE AT ILLINOIS
WHEN: Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT, Sept. 16
WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
TV: Fox
SPREAD: Penn State -14.5
