No. 9 Penn State survives countless mishaps to secure victory over No. 19 Illinois

STATE COLLEGE – Historically, Penn State University has made quick work of things against Illinois in most cases, boasting a 21-6 record against the Fighting Illini in 1954.

But this year's showdown between the programs seemed, at least on paper, to be a more even matchup.

No. 19 Illinois, arriving in Happy Valley with a seed for the first time since 2008, took on the ninth-seeded Nittany Lions, who so far have looked like a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

Facing its toughest test yet this season, Penn State imposed its will, surviving several mishaps and winning 21-7 in front of 109,911 fans at Beaver Stadium.

It was by far the lowest-scoring game of the year for both teams. Penn State led 14-7 for most of the second half, but Kaytron Allen increased the lead to 21-7 with 1 minute, 55 seconds left and secured the victory by scoring a touchdown on a 5-yard run.

In the fourth quarter alone, the Nittany Lions missed a field goal (their second of the night), failed to convert a fourth-and-short in Illinois territory, and had a pick-6 called back for a penalty.

Despite all the misses, Illinois couldn't take advantage and struggled to get the offense going, finishing with just 219 yards.

On the ground, the Fighting Illini were almost completely knocked out of action.

Aside from a 34-yard rush by Kaden Feagin in the second quarter, Illinois rushed for just 34 yards on 32 carries.

In contrast, the Nittany Lions' Nicholas Singleton ran 16 times for 94 yards as Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) gained 239 total yards on the ground in the win.

Drew Allar completed 15 of 21 balls through the air for 135 yards.

The game started inauspiciously for Penn State as Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer led his team down the field with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game.

But the Nittany Lions responded quickly on their first possession, and Tyler Warren capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive by taking a direct snap from the 3-yard line into the end zone to tie the score at 5-5. 34 made mark.

With about five minutes left in the second quarter, a 40-yard field goal attempt by Sander Sahaydak was useless.

Immediately after Penn State's missed field goal, Illinois took the lead with 4:56 left and found some momentum on the ground for the first time all night when Feagin burst through the line of scrimmage, giving the Nittany a 34-yard lead 43- Lions yard line.

Moments later, an unnecessary roughness penalty on Penn State's Jalen Kimber gave the Illini a new set of downs at the 13-yard line.

But things went wrong for Illinois at the 2-yard line after a bad snap over the head of Altmyer and a rush in the backfield led to a 3rd-and-goal in the 14th minute.

Illinois settled for a 45-yard field goal attempt, but it was of no use with 44 seconds left in the half.

In the second half, Penn State took a 14-7 lead by scoring a touchdown on its first possession, with Singleton scoring from 4 yards out and completing a 12-play, 74-yard drive.

Early in the drive, with the Nittany Lions facing third-and-7 on their own 47-yard line, Singleton gave his team a new set of downs by intercepting a short pass from Allar, putting his shoulder down and Miles Scott plowed through the Illinois defense to move the chains.

Late in the third quarter, coach James Franklin made a bold decision, opting for fourth-and-3 from the Illini 17-yard line.

Allar, facing pressure from the rim, shot the ball to Julian Fleming, who caught it but was less than a yard off the chain, resulting in a turnover on downs.

But Penn State's defense stepped up, sacking Altmyer twice after Illinois had the ball, maintaining a 14-7 lead with just under 13 minutes to play.

Sahaydak's second missed field goal of the night with 8:57 left gave Illinois another chance to get back into the game.

After a fourth-down conversion near midfield was negated by a false start, Altmyer threw an interception to AJ Harris with six minutes left.

Harris made it to the end zone, but the touchdown was called back due to a block by Zion Tracy in the backcourt.

Instead of taking a two-touchdown lead, the Nittany Lions began a drive at the Illinois 41.

Allen scored a few minutes later, wasting time, as Penn State took a 21-7 lead with just under two minutes left.