Recap: Penn State scores late to beat Illinois 21-7 in top 20 matchup

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State is now 4-0 after beating Illinois 21-7 at Beaver Stadium.

“I’m really proud of [the defense],” James Franklin told NBC. He added on Drew Allar: “We’re getting better as an offense. Drew is doing some great things. This is a really good team. I have a ton of respect for Illinois. Good win for us.”

See the latest Penn State-Illinois updates below.

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Fourth quarter updates

10:49 — Abdul Carter forces a Luke Altmyer fumble that Smith Vilbert recovers. Penn State wins 21-7 and is 4-0 on the year .

10:36 — Touchdown, Penn State: Kaytron Allen runs in from a few yards out to put this one on ice. Lions lead Illinois 21-7 with 1:55 left.

10:33 — First down, Penn State, to take us to the two-minute warning. Lions lead Illinois 14-7 and have it at the ILL 5.

10:32 — Time out Illinois with 2:24 to go. PSU has 2nd and 5 coming out of it.

10:29 — Allar to Warren for a first down on third down with about four minutes to play.

10:27 — Interception: AJ Harris picks off Luke Altmyer’ss pass and races all the way to the end zone. The turnover is going to stand but the touchdown will not as Penn State is called for an illegal block in the back to negate the 49-yard touchdown return. Still, PSU gets it back.

10:15 — Penn State goes back to the Tyler Warren package and he hands off to Kaytron Allen, who gets a few. Lions will try a field goal with Sander Sahaydak. The 40-yard kick is no good. It’s his second miss of the night. PSU, ILL 7 with 8:54 to go.

10:12 — After a Nick Singleton fumble was overturned, a deep pass from Drew Allar is underthrown but draws a DPI flag on Brooks against Trey Wallace. Penn State moves up to the Illinois 42. Then, Singleton takes it to the PSU 29 as the clock clicks under 11 minutes to play.

10:05 — Another Penn State sack: Numerous Nittany Lions all meet at Altmyer on 3rd and 9. Reed and Rojas get the credit for it and Illinois will punt with 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. PSU takes over at its own 32.

Third quarter updates

9:59 — Three quarters are in the books at Beaver Stadium. Penn State leads Illinois 14-7. The Fighting Illini have a 3rd and 1 at its own 24 when the fourth quarter begins.

9:55 — Penn State goes empty on 4th and 3, Allar rushed his throw to Julian Fleming short of the sticks, and he never made the line to gain. Illinois takes over at the PSU 15 with 1:06 left in the third quarter.

9:41 — Abdul Carter knocks down Altmyer’s pass on thrid down and Penn State gets its first stop of the second half as Illinois will punt it away with 6:45 to go in the third quarter. Penn State will take back over at its own 42 with 6:39 to go in the third quarter.

9:34 — Touchdown, Penn State: Nick Singleton races four yards into the end zone to cap the Nittany Lions’ opening drive of the second half with six. Sander Sahaydak’s PAT makes it seven, and the Lions lead 14-7 with 8:38 to go in the second half.

9:25 — Penn State-Illinois is underway in the second half.

Second quarter updates

9:02 — Sack: Drew Allar stepped right up into pressure and goes down to end the first half. Penn State 7, Illinois 7 at the break. Lions have a 197-160 total yards advantage. Both teams have missed a field goal.

8:58 — Illinois’ 45-yard field goal attempt is no good. It sailed wide after a false start flag on the Fighting Illini. Penn State-Illinois is tied at 7 with :44 to go in the half.

8:54 — On his first pass attempt since the 11-minute mark of the second quarter, Altmyer is forced to throw it away. Illinois will try a field goal for the lead with 48 seconds left in the half.

8:52 — Illinois snaps it over Altmyer’s head. The Fighting Illini fell on it but now have 2nd and goal from the 11 with 1:35 left in the first half.

8:44 — Two minute timeout: Penn State 7, Illinois 7. Fighting Illini have it at the PSU 29 for 3rd and 7 when play resumes.

8:36 — Penn State offense stalls out leading to a Sander Sahaydak 40-yard field goal attempt. It’s no good. Nittany Lions 7, Illinois 7 with 4:56 left in the first half.

8:22 – Altmyer’s third down pass falls incomplete. Penn State declines an illegal shift penalty. Illinois will punt again with 10:58 left in the first half. PSU takes over at its own 10.

8:14 — Facing 4th and 1 at its own 42, Penn State will punt to start the second quarter when play resumes shortly. Illinois takes over at its own 10.

First quarter updates

8:10 — End of 1: PSU 7, Illinois 7. Lions will face 4th and 1 at its own 42 to start the second quarter.

8:02 — The PSU defense buckles down after a shaky start to its second drive and forces Illinois to punt at the PSU 40 facing 4th and 7 with 3:58 left in the first quarter. The Lions take over at their own 4.

7:54 — Touchdown, PSU: Tyler Warren takes a direct snap and leaps three yards into the end zone. Nittany Lions 7, Illinois 7 with 5:34 left in the first quarter.

7:53 — On 3rd and 4, Drew Allar hits a wide open Nick Singleton for a first down. It sets up first and goal for Penn State at the Illinois 8.

7:49 — Three straight 10-plus yard plays for Penn State to start the game: Allar 20 yards to Wallace, Allar 11-yard run, Singleton 14-yard run. Lions already up to the Illinois 30.

7:44 — Touchdown, Illinois: Altmyer to Carson Goda for a quick six. Ugly opening drive for the Penn State defense. Fighting Illini 7, Penn State 0 at the 9:36 mark of the first quarter.

7:43 — Altmyer to Bryant for a first down on third down sets up first and goal for Illinois at the Penn State 4.

7:40 — Illinois converted its first third down attempt and hasn’t faced another since as it marches inside the Penn State 20. Lions not having much success in any way, shape, or form defensively after the first two plays.

7:34 — We are underway at Beaver Stadium.

Pregame updates

7:32 — Penn State wins the toss and defers. Illinois will receive the opening kickoff in moments on NBC. And it looks like Tom Allen will call the game from the coaches box again.

7:04 — First look at Dom DeLuca, who is out tonight. He has what looks like a cast on his right hand.

7:00 — Not much of note from team warmups. Starters look fairly normal so far and everyone who should be out there is.

6:30 — Full team warmsups are underway.

5:54 — Availability report is out. For Penn State, linebacker Dominic DeLuca, safety KJ Winston Jr., quarterback Jaxon Smolik, running back Cam Wallace, linebackers Keon Wylie and Kari Jackson, defensive ends Mason Robinson and Zuriah Fisher, receivers Ethan Black and Peter Gonzalez, tight end Andrew Rappleyea, linemen Sam Siafa, Liam Andrews, De’Andre Cook, and T.A. Cunningham. are OUT. No one is QUESTIONABLE.

5:30 — Penn State arrived around 5:30 p.m. ET. So did Illinois. More updates will follow once pregame warmups begin.

Illinois at Penn State: Game time and details

Penn State is 21-6 all-time against the Fighting Illini. Illinois beat the Lions in nine overtimes during its last trip to State College. Penn State extracted revenge by winning in Champaign a year ago. Here is the info for this week’s game:

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28
Location: Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.
Weather: Here’s the latest forecast: “Cloudy with showers. High 68F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.”
The line: Penn State is a 17.5-point favorite.
Over/under: 48.5 points