Penn State football: Top-10 moments in 'White Out' history

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 6: Wide receiver Derrick Williams #2 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches the ball against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium on October 6, 2007, in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images) /

Penn State football: Top-10 moments in ‘White Out’ history

No. 4 Derrick Williams dominates top-25 Illinois in 2008

In 2008, the Penn State Nittany Lions came into the season with high expectations, and by the fifth game of the season, they were already ranked No. 12 in the country. Their White Out opponent that season was Illinois, who was a top-25 team in their own right, and were looking to come into Beaver Stadium and hand Penn State their first loss of the season.

That would not happen, and it did not happen because Derrick Williams went nuts against the Fighting Illini. Williams, who had established himself as a dangerous threat for head coach Joe Paterno, became the only player under the legendary coach to score a touchdown on the ground, through the air, and as a return man in one game during his era as the head coach.

Williams racked up 241 all-purpose yards in the game, beating the Illini every time he touched the football, and willed this Penn State team to victory. Illinois fought hard in this one, but in the end, it was just too much Williams, as his fourth-quarter kick return for a touchdown put the game away for good.

It was the Irish’s first win over a ranked opponent that season and they move up to No. 3 in the country before losing to Iowa inside Kinnick Stadium. Still, they would end up being co-Big Ten Champions, and play in the Rose Bowl, where they would end up losing to USC in another heart-breaker.

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