Where do Penn State, Illinois, rank among nation's undefeated teams?: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Sept. 25 include a look at the nation’s unbeaten teams before two of them meet in State College on Saturday, headlines of the day, and more. It’s time to review Wednesday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
Twenty-six FBS teams enter Week 5 of the college football season with a perfect record. Where do Penn State and Illinois rank among them ahead of their clash at 7:30 p.m. Saturday inside of Beaver Stadium? ESPN’s Bill Connelly has put together a 1-26 rundown. Texas leads the way and future Nittany Lion opponent Ohio State checks in at No. 4. Head coach James Franklin’s team, then, is at No. 8.
“The Nittany Lions have sandwiched one shaky performance (34-27 over Bowling Green) with two methodically destructive ones (blowouts of West Virginia and Kent State),” Connelly writes. “Through three games, quarterback Drew Allar is fifth in Total QBR, backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are averaging 7.0 yards per carry between them and the defense is both seventh in stuff rate and 15th in pressure rate. I’m not sure about the secondary, especially without injured safety Kevin Winston Jr., but this has been a top-10 team so far.”
The Fighting Illini, meanwhile, are at No. 16.
“Quarterback Luke Altmyer has played super-safe ball, completing 71% of his passes with no interceptions and rising to 31st in Total QBR,” Connelly writes. “This still isn’t an amazing offense — the Illini are still just 58th in success rate — but with the secondary as opportunistic as ever, their ceiling is higher than it’s been in a while. (They’re still probably going to lose at Penn State this Saturday, though.)”
Headlines of the day
Penn State and Illinois square off, plus a new No. 2 behind Ohio State: Big Ten Power Poll: Flounders, PennLive
Penn State wrestling schedule: Lions to host Drexel during 2024-2025 season: Pickel, BWI
A Good Start for Penn State’s Offensive Line. Illinois Will Test That: Woloson, SI
Penn State breaks $60 million Beaver Stadium renovation fundraising mark with new $5 million donation: Pickel, BWI
Why Penn State Football Fans Love Julian Fleming. And Vice Versa: Poorman, Statecollege.com
Trimmings: James Franklin’s pointed pitch to Top100 prospect; Another senior riser worth watching: Fitz, BWI
Nittany Lions in the NFL | Rookies get involved, stars keep shining: Hill, Daily Collegian
Jahmir Joseph details commitment to Penn State and the progress he’s made so far this season: Snyder, BWI
Quote of the day
“I felt very welcomed there. From the first time I visited, I always liked Penn State and how they carry themselves. I just always liked the way they do things around there, so I just fell in love with it when I got there [for my official visit]. I already had a good relationship with them, so it just felt even better.”
–PSU commit Jahmir Joseph to BWI.
