Penn State football vs. Illinois: Scouting report, prediction

This Penn State football team will receive its most functional test yet of the 2023 football season Saturday in Champaign, Illinois.

Will the 1-1 Fighting Illini provide the most astute opponent judgment yet for the Nittany Lions, No. 7 in both the US LBM Coaches and Associated Press polls? Who can really know so soon.

The Illini were predicted to challenge for a Big Ten West title but only survived opening opponent Toledo in the final seconds and fell behind Kansas 34-7.

Still, this is a Big Ten opener on the road for the Lions, which should add some perspective to how their vaunted defense actually performs and to the continued growth of new quarterback Drew Allar.

A first, mysterious step, in a sense, toward the games that will matter most.

Here are three things to look for and a prediction:

Penn State running back breakout?

The shifting, share-the-load arrangement between elite-talent tailbacks Nick Singelton and Kaytron Allen offers some intrigue:

When will one of these dynamic runners actually break a big one again?

They haven't yet this season. Consider that Singleton was third nationally and led the Big Ten last year in runs of 30 yards and longer (nine).

Meanwhile, Allen appears stronger and more explosive hitting the line of scrimmage.

And Illinois ranks last in the league in defending the run early on (224 yards per game).

So the dam could very well break Saturday.

Drew Allar builds his case, once more

The sophomore QB's decision-making and poise have impressed as much as his raw throwing abilities.

He's made quick, strong, accurate throws under rush pressure (West Virginia) and found late-breaking receivers or ran the ball when defenders laid back (Delaware).

The Penn State 'punisher': What's next for Penn State football's Kaytron Allen? 'I like making people fear me.'

Illinois should have better athletes to employ against him — such as national star linemen Keith Randolph, Jr. and Jer’Zhan Newton (27 tackles for loss, combined, 2022).

Can they help cut down Allar's stunning 78 percent completion rate? Can they force him into a couple of big mistakes?

They must to stand a chance.

Defense identity: Stop the run

While the Lions have been good enough, overall, defending the run so far, they've endured some glaring lapses.

They allowed 146 rushing yards vs. West Virginia and struggled to contain QB Garrett Greene when he took off. They then were ripped for a 66-yard touchdown run against FCS Delaware — when no one filled a wide-open gap on the left side of the line.

Their expected dominators, such as the linebacker Abdul Carter and their defensive ends, have not yet emerged.

Analyzing Drew Allar: How good can Drew Allar be for Penn State football's future? It starts with this now ...

The Illini feature another dynamic running quarterback in Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer. He diversifies a rush attack that will hope to control the game, much like they did in nine overtimes two years ago in Beaver Stadium.

So we'll begin to see if Penn State's front seven really is big (and good) enough to excel in the Big Ten.

Prediction: Penn State 30, Illinois 13

A close contest at halftime rolls downhill for the Lions late. Expect Singleton and Allen to soften up, then wear down the Illini defense to create an easy pitch-and-game for Allar.

While Penn State's defense has a few forgettable moments chasing down Altmyer, it provides its best big-play effort yet. All eyes on busy cornerback Johnny Dixon and safety KJ Winston. Both are set for big moments now that the action is leveling and tighter, throughout.

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football: Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen vs. Illinois Illini