Sep. 16—FINAL — PENN STATE 30, ILLINOIS 13

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Touchdown Illinois as John Paddock connects with Malik Elzy for a 19-yard touchdown. Conversion no good. Penn State leads 30-13 with 4:21 to play.

First career TD for Malik Elzy.

Penn State lead now 30-13 with 4:21 to play. #Illini pic.twitter.com/AxkxiJgRaK

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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One drive later for each team and Illinois has the ball again at its own 28-yard line. 30-7 with 7:23 to play and the fans have already filed out of Memorial Stadium in droves.

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A 16-yard touchdown rush from Nicholas Singleton gives Penn State a 29-7 lead, which is followed by Felkins' extra point that makes this a 30-7 ballgame with 14:24 left in the fourth quarter.

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END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: PENN STATE 23, ILLINOIS 7

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Luke Altmyer throws his fourth interception of the game as Cam Miller becomes the fourth different defender to haul in a pick. Penn State is driving at the Illinois 29-yard line as the third quarter expires.

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Touchdown Penn State. The Nittany Lions cap a six-play, 59-yard drive with a bit of trickery and score via a pass from tailback Trey Potts to Tyler Warren. Felkins' kick is good and gives Penn State a 23-7 lead with 2:09 remaining in the third quarter.

A little trickeration from Penn State with Trey Potts throwing the halfback pass to Tyler Warren for a TD.

The PAT is good and the Nittany Lions now lead 23-7 with 2:14 left in the 3rd quarter. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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That Illinois drive: Three plays for a loss of one yard and a 44-yard punt that gives Penn State the ball with 4:16 left in the quarter.

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Yet another Illinois stop as Penn State's last three drives have all ended in punts. Can the offense flip the script? Ryan Meed tipped that punt at the line and it wobbled to the Illinois 24-yard line, where the Illini will start with a 16-7 deficit and 5:58 left in the third quarter.

Got a piece of it. #Illini pic.twitter.com/1myOJyJah1

— Michael Martin (@MPMartin_56) September 16, 2023

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A promising run from Reggie Love gained 20 yards on third and 22, but the Illini elected to punt rather than risk turning the ball over on downs in their own territory. Penn State takes over at its own 30-yard line with 8:14 left in the third quarter after a 43-yard punt from Hugh Robertson.

Penn State's defense:

—has created as many INTs (3)

—and more turnovers (4)

—than Illinois has converted third downs (3)pic.twitter.com/5phtehlPf9

— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) September 16, 2023

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A great adjustment from Isaiah Williams to haul in a pass from Altmyer is followed by Altmyer's third interception of the game. Penn State takes over at its own 28-yard line with 12:32 left in the third quarter.

Not such a big time play? Throwing an interception the very next play. Yikes. #Illini https://t.co/jq4mv0OS3f

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Illinois' defense holds and the Illini force a punt on Penn State's first drive of the second half. Illinois now has the ball on their own 39-yard line with 14:04 left in the third quarter.

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HALFTIME: PENN STATE 16, ILLINOIS 7

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The Nittany Lions mount a 6-play drive that ends in a short field goal from Felkins as the first-half clock expires.

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Illinois forces a punt and takes over on its own 19-yard line with 1:20 left in the half.

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Touchdown Illinois after a physical 5-yard touchdown rush from Reggie Love that caps an eight-play, 68-yard drive. Griffin's extra-point attempt is good and the crowd comes alive.

A little grit there from Reggie Love III, as he bulls his way through the Penn State defense and into the end zone for the 5-yard TD run.

The Caleb Griffin PAT is good, and the #Illini cut the Nittany Lions' lead to 13-7 with 2:08 left in the 2nd quarter.

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Johnny Newton blocks the PSU field goal attempt. Nittany Lions really going for it with the 52-yard attempt. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Same song, new verse: Illinois' defense forces Penn State's offense to stall out and blocks Felkins' 52-yard field goal try. Now the Illini offense will take another crack at cutting into a 13-0 deficit as it starts with the ball on its own 32 with 6:09 left in the first half.

BLOCKED @IlliniFootball shuts down the field goal attempt ✋ pic.twitter.com/X3XzvVNXDs

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 16, 2023

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Illinois punts it away after a three-play, five-yard drive that sets Penn State up at its own 39 with 9:55 left in the first half.

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Kaytron Allen runs it in for a four-yard touchdown and Penn State boosts its lead to 13-0 after Felkins' extra point. That caps a 12-play, 57-yard drive. 11:04 left in the first half.

Penn State turns the third Illinois turnover into a touchdown this time. Kaytron Allen with the 4-yard TD run.

The PAT is good and the Nittany Lions now lead 13-0 with 11:04 left in the 2nd quarter. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Bailey goes down again.

Matthew Bailey is down on the field again. He popped back up pretty quickly, but he's still coming off. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Beat writer Scott Richey's take on the first quarter:

Defense solid. Offense a disaster.

Based on how the 2023 season has gone so far, we are certainly in the upside down. #Illini pic.twitter.com/rSL6pvvR9M

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: PENN STATE 6, ILLINOIS 0

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Another Altmyer interception is Illinois' third turnover of the day.

Luke Altmyer underthrows Casey Washington just enough in 1-on-1 coverage for Penn State's Daequan Hardy to pick it off.

Not ideal. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Illinois' defense continues to look good, holding Penn State to a four-play drive in which the Nittany Lions lost four yards. A 45-yard field goal from Felkins puts Penn State up 6-0 with 1:43 to play in the first quarter.

Two Illinois turnovers. Two Penn State FGs.

That's about as close to a defensive win as you can get and still allow points.

Alex Felkins connects on the 45-yard FG and the Nittany Lions lead 6-0 with 1:43 left in the 1st quarter. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Luke Altmyer tosses an interception to stall Illinois' subsequent drive out around midfield. Penn State leads 3-0 with 3:02 left in the first quarter and will take over at the Illinois 22-yard line after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Illinois' Josh Kreutz.

Another #Illini turnover. Luke Altmyer picked off by Penn State LB Abdul Carter. Easy to do when the ball was thrown basically right to him. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

PICKED OFF@PennStateFball forces another Illinois turnover pic.twitter.com/IOJUbUWhFh

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 16, 2023

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The Illini come up with a defensive stand after Penn State drove the ball to the Illini 2-yard line in the first five plays of what appeared to be a touchdown drive. But the Nittany Lions are forced to settle for an Alex Felkins field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 5:27 left in the first quarter.

Penn State and Illinois must use the same short-yardage playbook. Nittany Lions have three shots from the 2-yard line and can't get it in the end zone.

A 20-yard FG from Alex Felkins makes it 3-0 PSU with 5:27 left in 1st quarter. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Two drives, two missed chances for Illinois as Josh McCray's fumble sets Penn State up with the ball at the Illini 43-yard line. No score with 9:38 left in the opening stanza.

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Illinois' defense gets off the field in three plays despite Bailey's setback and the Illini will take over at their own 25-yard line after a fair catch from Isaiah Williams. No score with 10:35 to play in the first quarter.

Matthew Bailey in for one play before he needs the athletic trainers' attention. But he is walking off OK. Looks like left arm is bothering him. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Tough start for Matthew Bailey, who returned to Illinois' defensive lineup today.

Matthew Bailey in for one play before he needs the athletic trainers' attention. But he is walking off OK. Looks like left arm is bothering him. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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Caleb Griffin misses a 47-yard field goal following a promising start to a 46-yard drive. No score with 11:17 to play in the first quarter.

Meanwhile, a promising Illinois opening drive ends with a missed 47-yard FG from Caleb Griffin.

So no points. Not ideal. #Illini

— Scott Richey (@srrichey) September 16, 2023

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We're off and running at Memorial Stadium. Follow along for updates.

Off and running at Memorial Stadium.

Our team of @srrichey, @BobAsmussen, @Tatelines and @JoeyWright2000 has you covered for updates throughout, as well as our online live report: https://t.co/ZC1slvRvEz pic.twitter.com/DnNGzuSKk2

— IlliniHQ (@IlliniHQ) September 16, 2023

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The last time Illinois faced Penn State the Nittany Lions were ranked No. 7 in the country and the Illini pulled off a nine-overtime upset at Beaver Stadium. Penn State is ranked No. 7 again today. Illinois could use a win after a disappointment in Kansas last week.

Is another upset in the works? Or another disappointment? Follow along to find out:

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