No. 19 Illinois vs. No. 9 Penn State, how to watch, odds, injuries, weather, and series history

Penn State head coach James Franklin is calling for “White Out energy” for the Nittany Lion’s Big Ten opener at Beaver Stadium on Saturday night. No. 9 Penn State will host No. 19 Illinois, which got to 4-0 last week with an overtime win at Nebraska. 

In 2021, the last time that Illinois came to Happy Valley, the Fighting Illini took nine overtimes to beat the Nittany Lions 20-18. Penn State finished that season 7-6 with an Outback Bowl loss to Arkansas to finish the year. However, the most recent meeting was in Champaign in 2023 when Penn State cruised to a 30-13 win in Week 4 behind four interceptions from Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer. 

The Nittany Lions have much higher aspirations this season, coming off a 10-win campaign in 2023, Franklin is expected to make the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, and this will be his first true test. 

Penn State has gotten to 3-0 with a road win over West Virginia and back-to-back victories over MAC opponents, Bowling Green and Kent State. Now, Big Ten play begins, and here’s how you can watch this top-20 showdown. 

How to watch Penn State vs. Kent State Week 4

• Date: Saturday, September 28
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Beaver Stadium
• How to Watch (TV): NBC
• Streaming: fubo TV | Peacock
• Penn State Record: 3-0
• Illinois Record: 3-0

Illinois vs. Penn State odds, spread and total

Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook

Moneyline

• Illinois +640
• Penn State -1000

Spread

• Illinois +17.5 (-112)
• Penn State -17.5 (-108)

Total

• 47.5 (over -115/under -105)

Penn State injury report

• Andrew Rappleyea, TE: Out (undisclosed)
• Kevin Winston Jr. S: Questionable (undisclosed)
• Peter Gonzalez, WR: Questionable (undisclosed)
• De’Andre Cook, DL: Questionable (undisclosed)
• Kari Jackson, LB: Questionable (undisclosed)

Illinois injury report

• Carson Goda, TE: Questionable (undisclosed)
• Daniel Brown, LB: Questionable (undisclosed)
• Aidan Laughery, RB: Questionable (undisclosed)
• Mason Muragin, LB: Out (undisclosed)
• Cole Rusk, TE: Out (Knee)

Weather forecast in Happy Valley

Weather should be partly cloudy with a 40% chance of rain throughout the day and into the night. Happy Valley will see a daytime high of 74 degrees and a nighttime low of 59 degrees. 

Penn State and Bowling Green series history

Penn State all-time record vs. Illinois: 21-6

Last meeting, 2023: 30-13 PSU W at Illinois

Last meeting at Beaver Stadium, 2021: 20-18 (9OT) Illinois W