All stolen from Fightingillini.com as usual....
#19 Illinois (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) at #9 Penn State (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Date/Time Saturday, Sept. 28 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Location University Park, Pennsylvania (Beaver Stadium) (Leave now, Judge Judy!)
Watch NBC (Peacock) Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), and Kathryn Tappen (reporter)
Radio Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Listen | SiriusXM (146/195)
This will be the Illini's first trip to Beaver Stadium since their historic nine-overtime victory in 2021 in the longest game in college football history.
*Illinois has two AP Top 25 wins during September for the first time in program history.
*Illinois has two AP Top 25 wins in a single season for the first time since 2007, when the Illini beat three AP ranked teams.
*Last week's Sept. 15 AP Top 25 poll marked the earliest in the season that Illinois has been voted into the top 25 since 2008.
*Illinois and Penn State will meet as ranked foes for the first time since 2008, when #21 Illinois fell 38-24 at #12 Penn State.
*Since 1942, Illinois has compiled a record of 82-50-2 (.619) when ranked in the AP Top 25.
*Before back-to-back AP Top 25 wins, Illinois was 2-32 in its previous 34 games against the AP Top 25.
Bielema is Trash!
*The Fighting Illini have knocked off Eastern Illinois, #19 Kansas, Central Michigan, and #22 Nebraska to start the season 4-0 for the second time since 1951 and first time since 2011.
*Illinois has four 4-0 starts in the AP poll era (since 1936): 1942, 1951, 2011, and 2024.
*Bret Bielema improved to 22-19 in his Illinois career. He is the first head coach in program history to start .500 or better through their first 41 games since Lou Tepper started 21-19-1 from 1992-95.
*Bielema is 8-6 in Big Ten road games as head coach at Illinois. His eight Big Ten road wins are the fourth-most ever by an Illinois head coach in his first four seasons, behind only Mike White (11, 1980-83), Lou Tepper (10, 1992-95), and John Mackovic (10, 1988-91).
*Bielema is 4-5 (.444) against ranked teams (AP/Coaches/CFP) as Illinois' head coach. His .444 winning percentage against ranked teams is the second-best in Illinois history, behind only John Mackovic (8-8, .500, 1988-91).
*Bielema's four ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons are tied for the third-most in program history, behind only John Mackovic (8, 1988-91) and Mike White (5, 1980-83).
*Bielema tied the program record for road ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons. He is the second coach in Illinois history to win three ranked games on the road during his first three seasons, joining Lou Tepper (1992-96).
*Bielema is the first Illini coach to earn Top 25 rankings in two of his first four seasons since Ron Zook led the Illini into the top-25 rankings in 2007 and 2008, his Years 3 and 4 in Champaign, respectively. Illinois reached as high as #14 and were ranked for four consecutive weeks in October and November 2022 under Bielema.
Following the team's Week 3 Homecoming win vs. Central Michigan, Bielema improved to 9-4 through his first 13 nonconference games (including postseason) at Illinois. It is the best record through 13 nonconference games for an Illinois head coach since Robert Zuppke started 10-3 against non-Big Ten opponents from 1913-18.
*Bielema joined George Huff (1895-98), John Mackovic (1988-91), and Lou Tepper (1992-95) as the only head coaches in Illinois history to win 4+ games in each of their first four seasons leading the Fighting Illini.
Put Your Cup On Now!
*Penn State will be Illinois' third AP-ranked opponent in the last four games. Illinois is on track to play five ranked opponents over a seven-game stretch, which would tie the program record for the most ranked opponents played during a regular season. The last time Illinois played five ranked opponents during a regular season was 2005.
*Illinois is facing three AP-ranked opponents over a four-game stretch for the first time since 2011, when the Illini fell to #21 Penn State, #22 Michigan, and #15 Wisconsin in three consecutive weeks.
*This is the first time in program history Illinois will start its Big Ten schedule with two ranked opponents on the road.
*Illinois is starting its Big Ten schedule with road games in back-to-back weeks for the first time since 2008.
Illinois is starting its Big Ten schedule with two ranked games for the first time since 2009.
*Saturday will be Illinois' first top-20 vs. top-20 Big Ten game since 2000 (#19 Illinois lost vs. #10 Michigan) and the Illini's first top-20 vs. top-20 road game since 1991 (#13 Illinois lost at #15 Iowa with Bielema playing for Iowa).
*Illinois has won four of the last 13 meetings (2007, 2010, 2014, 2021). Prior to 2007, Penn State had won 11 of 13 meetings, including seven in a row from 1972-2000.
*Illinois is 2-13 all-time against Penn State teams ranked in the AP top 25, including a 1-7 record against Penn State teams ranked in the top 10. Other than 2021, the Illini's lone win against a ranked Penn State team was a 27-20 victory vs. No. 21 Penn State on Sept. 29, 2007. Last season, the #7 Nittany Lions defeated Illinois 30-13 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
*Prior to Illinois' historic road win in 2021 under Bielema, the Illini's only other win at Beaver Stadium was a 33-13 decision on Oct. 9, 2010, in Ron Zook's sixth season at the helm of the Illini program.
VSiN odds: Illini +18 yeeouch! Also see +17.5. O/u 47.5 (seems high). ML is +600 to +720! There seems to be some variance on the vig here.
Per BetMGM: Illinois vs Penn State Prediction:
The winning team model predicts Penn State will win this game with 89.5% confidence, based on game simulations, offensive & defensive matchups and recent game results.
Illinois vs Penn State Spread Prediction:
Based on recent against-the-spread trends, the model predicts Penn State will cover the spread with 66.4% confidence.
Will weather be a factor? Seeing fog anticipated during the game, but no rain.
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