Penn State Football vs Illinois: Nittany Lions’ Reasons for Optimism, and Worry

Reason for Optimism – Penn State Football’s Pass Defense

Penn State Football has one of the best secondary’s in all of college football, and they face one of the worst passing offenses in the country this week against Illinois.

The Illini are 126th in the country in completion percentage, completing less than half their passes as a team. They are also 122nd in the country in passing yards per game, at 153.7. Finally, the Illini are 127th in all of college football in passing efficiency.

The Nittany Lions are tied for 13th nationally in interceptions with 8. They are also 31st in the country in passing yards allowed per game at just over 200.

So the numbers here strongly favor the Nittany Lions, as their long, athletic secondary far outmatches the Illini’s quarterbacks and receivers.

Illinois is also not very good in pass protection, so pass rushers Arnold Ebiketie, Jesse Luketa, and Nick Tarburton (as well as others) should have plenty of opportunities to get the Illini quarterbacks on the ground.

The Nittany Lions should play with a lead for most of the game against Illinois, forcing the Illini to have to try to push the ball downfield through the air, which will bode well for the good guys.