As we gear up for Saturday’s clash between the 9th-ranked Penn State Football and the 19th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, fan banter is heating up.
An unofficial White Out is brewing in Happy Valley, and the excitement is palpable.
This week, we’re diving into some of the most ridiculous takes from Illinois fans and setting the record straight with facts. Let’s jump right in!
Fan Take: “Drew Allar is mid. Luke Altmeyer is better.”
Nittany Notes: According to ESPN, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is currently ranked as the No. 2 QB in the nation, while Illinois’ Luke Altmeyer comes in at No. 19.
Allar has led the Nittany Lions with precision and consistency, while Altmeyer has shown promise but hasn’t matched Allar’s production or efficiency.
There’s a clear gap between the two, despite the Illini fanbase’s optimism.
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Fan Take: “Illinois is better than people think.”
Nittany Notes: Illinois may be ranked 19th overall, but their offense is lagging, ranked 82nd nationally. Defensively, they’re solid, sitting at 32nd, but Penn State boasts a more balanced attack—7th in offense and 9th in defense.
The Nittany Lions have carried over their defensive dominance from last year, while their offense has only improved, making them a tough matchup for Illinois on both sides of the ball.
Fan Take: “Illinois will upset PSU at home and run for 200 yards.”
Nittany Notes: While Illinois has had some success on the ground, averaging 156 rushing yards per game, it’s important to note they’ve only surpassed 200 rushing yards against an FCS team, Eastern Illinois. In their more competitive matchups:
- vs. Kansas: Top rusher had just 40 yards.
- vs. Central Michigan: Their lead back mustered only 54 yards.
- vs. Nebraska: They managed a decent 166 yards on the ground, but nothing close to the 200-yard prediction against a top-10 Penn State defense.
Penn State’s defense has consistently been a wall against the run, making it unlikely Illinois will achieve such a feat this Saturday.
With days to go until kickoff, the banter will only intensify. Fan takes can get a little wild, but it’s all part of the fun.
MORE: James Franklin Opens Up on Unique Challenge Posed by Illinois
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He has been recognized for his work as a photographer and has also contributed to various publications including PennLive and The Weather Channel.
Brad is an Air Force veteran, coach and competitive runner that grew up a Nittany Lions fan as his family is originally from the State College area.
His diverse skillset and experiences provide for interesting perspectives on the college football, and sports topics of the day.
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