Penn State Football faces its first real test of the 2024 season when No. 19 Illinois comes to town for a Saturday night primetime matchup.

The Illini are 4-0 for the first time in over a decade and rolling into Happy Valley fresh off of a Big Ten opening upset at Nebraska last Friday. If the No. 9 Nittany Lions hope to remain unbeaten and on track for the program’s first college football playoff appearance, here are three key matchups the Penn State MUST win.

Drew Allar vs. Illinois Secondary

Illinois’ secondary has been incredible on Illinois’ four-game win streak to start the 2024 season.

After finishing with seven interceptions in all of 2023, the Illinois secondary has seven interceptions already this season through four games.

Three different players in the Illinois secondary have multiple interceptions this season.

The Illini defensive backfield will test Drew Allar more than any defense has this season.

Allar has been much improved throwing the ball down the field under Andy Kotelnicki’s offense this season, leading the Big Ten in yards per attempt, yards per completion, and quarterback efficiency rating.

With a talented backfield across from Allar, Penn State will need Allar to continue the upward trend he has showed so far this season without turning the ball over.

If Allar and the Penn State offense can throw the ball with efficiency and protect the football through the air, it should open up running lanes for the talented junior tandem of Penn State running backs to change the game in Penn State’s favor.

Penn State Secondary vs. Luke Altmyer

Like Drew Allar, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has taken a major step forward so far this season.

In 2023, Altmyer was benched against Penn State after throwing four interceptions last September. In 2024, however, Altmyer has yet to throw an interception and leads the Big Ten in touchdown passes with 10 on the season. Altmyer’s completion percentage is up almost seven percent from last season (64.8 in 2023 to 71.4 in 2024) and his yards per attempt, yards per completion, and passer efficiency rating are all up as well.

According to PFF, Altmyer leads all Big Ten starting quarterbacks on intermediate passes, with an astonishing 93.3 grade on passes between 10-19 yards. Penn State’s secondary has to force incompletions and tight coverage to stop Altmyer and the Illini offense from passing all over the Nittany Lions like Bowling Green did in the first half in week two.

Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, they will have to do this without their top defensive back KJ Winston who is sidelined with a long-term injury. So far this season, Penn State ranks seventh in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed per game (144.3), however this is skewed low due to the Kent State matchup where the Golden Flashes only passed for 18 yards.

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Penn State Pass Rush vs. Illinois Offensive Line

Penn State’s pass rush has not generated the results that many expected to start the season.

While teams have been scheming to get the ball out quickly to not allow Penn State’s heralded defensive ends to change the game, Penn State has only recorded four sacks on the season. Illinois ranks 94^th in the FBS in sacks allowed per game (2.3). If Penn State’s pass rush can get home and force Altmyer into uncomfortable throwing situations, it could help Penn State’s defensive backs in generating incompletions and turnovers.

Penn State has a major opportunity to get its first ranked win of the season Saturday. If the Nittany Lions can win these three key matchups, the Nittany Lions could see more national respect as October starts.

After Saturday, Penn State currently has two more ranked matchups on the season (USC and Ohio State) and will need to boost its resume if the Nittany Lions want to break into the inaugural 12-team college football playoff field.

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Robert Shields

Penn State Football Reporter at NittanyCentral

Robert Shields covers Penn State Football for Nittany Central. As a Penn State graduate, Robert has covered Penn State football since 2019, but had been a fan of the Nittany Lions for well over a decade. During his undergraduate education, Robert was a manager in the athletic department of a division III school, working in various aspects of athletic management at football, soccer, baseball, basketball, and lacrosse games.

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