By: Tyler Millen – Student Writer for GoPSUsports.com

Head coach James Franklin called for “white-out energy” against Illinois following Penn State’s 59-0 win over Kent State on Sept. 21, setting the stage for the Nittany Lions’ first Big Ten home opener since 2015.

Penn State and Illinois enter the contest as two top-20 teams in the AP Poll, with the former ranked No. 9 and the latter ranked No. 19. Saturday will be the 28th matchup between the Big Ten opponents and the first-place competition between the two teams since 2008.

It was a historic start for the Fighting Illini, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2011 and just the second time since 1951. Illinois picked up its second Top 25 win of the season on the road on September 20th after a strong 31-24 win over Nebraska. They play Penn State against their third-place team from the last four weeks.

Head coach Brett Bielema will lead his Illinois team to its first top-20 competition since 2000 and features one of the top quarterbacks in the country in junior Luke Altmyer. The Starkville, Mississippi product is the only quarterback in the country with 10 or more touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I think the biggest difference is the quarterback (Luke Altmyer),” Franklin said. “He has 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions. I think he’s one of the more advanced players in college football right now.”

Penn State has featured a high-octane offense through its first three games, highlighted by eight different players scoring a touchdown in the Week 4 win over Kent State. The Nittany Lions are one of two FBS teams averaging 250 or more passing yards and over 250 rushing yards per game this season.

Penn State’s offense ranks seventh nationally with an average of 537.7 total yards and second nationally in big play percentage at 22.73%. Junior quarterback Drew Allar is off to a strong start in his third season in Happy Valley with a passing efficiency rating of 218.3, which puts him second in the FBS rankings.

Junior wideout Omari Evans and junior running back Nick Singleton were catalysts in Penn State’s offensive attack. Evans has recorded over 25 yards per reception and Singleton has 104.7 rushing yards per game.

Penn State will look to take advantage of Illinois’ third-down defense, which is ranked 106th nationally. The Fighting Illini were able to maintain control of the clock and the ball, with the nation’s third-best turnover margin of +7.

The Nittany Lions will look to resemble last season’s 30-13 win over Illinois, when their defense had five takeaways. Redshirt junior linebacker Kobe King was one of the players who recovered a fumble recovery, recognizing Penn State’s defensive approach to Saturday’s game.

“They are a great team; “A physical team that likes to run the ball,” King said. “They like to target other key players through the air, but we just have to stop them doing what they do best, which is the way they run the ball.” They like to push it forward and challenge them Big ones at the top. Your big ones against our big ones. This is what they want to see and we will make it happen.”