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Without any warmup opportunities, Illinois sophomore safety Matthew Bailey will be put to the test in his 2023 debut after missing the first two games with a severe foot/ankle injury. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 16, 2023

No. 7 Penn State at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2023: 6:30 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium Surface: Field Turf 

Capacity: 60,670

Records: Penn State 2-0; Illinois 1-1; 

Betting Line: Penn State by 14.5

Series notes: Penn State leads all-time series 20-6 and have won 10 of the 14 matchups in Champaign. Illinois won the last outing 20-18 in nine overtimes in 2021. 

TV: FOX; Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), and Jenny Taft (reporter). 

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O'Donnell (analysis), Michael Martin (sidelines) & Steve Kelly (Pre/HT/Post) » The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, SiriusXM (121/195), SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com.

(Editor's note: Rich Scarcella appears on this week's edition of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show, which can be heard in six states on more than 20 radio affiliates in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. https://illiniguys.com/radio/)

(Cover photo courtesy Penn State Athletics)

Rich Scarcella is a Penn State beat writer for the Reading Eagle who appeared on the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show this week. (Courtesy IlliniGuys)

September 16, 2023

Larry Smith: Rich Scarcella is a beat writer for the Reading Eagle and writes for seven other papers in southeast Pennsylvania. Rich, welcome to the show. Glad you're with us.

Rich Scarcella:  Thanks for having me, Larry. I appreciate being with you guys.

LS: We've been on this road before, right? Two years ago, Illinois struggling, they go to take on a highly ranked Penn State team. We said there's no way in the world that this is a surprise win. And we got a surprise in record fashion. Any concern right now that history could repeat itself?

RS:  I'm sure there's concern. It's a road game. It's Penn State's first road game of the year. Illinois  went into the season with a very stout defense. They haven't played that way in the first two games. I think Penn State has a lot of respect for Illinois and expects a very close game.

Brad Sturdy:  When you look at this matchup, what do you see here? I mean, could Penn State trouble from Illinois?

RS:  Well, for Penn State it's the third game, but it's the first time they're going to be seeing a dual threat quarterback with Luke Altmyer.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 15, 2023

This weekend Illinois is hosting a great list of potential visitors on campus, but it says something when a recruit is excited to get there to experience Illini basketball, the football game experience, and some of the campus.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 15, 2023

Illinois women's basketball program is looking to tap into the state of Minnesota again for another standout basketball recruit.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio

September 15, 2023

We’re back for another edition of Hoops Du Jour, on a weekend that is one of the biggest Illinois has had in quite some time. The Illini will welcome a number of visitors over the next two weekends as they try to finish up their 2024 class. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 15, 2023

This weekend is the weekend for several of the Illinois athletic programs in terms of recruiting for the football team; men's and women's basketball teams are all expected to bring some of the top prospects in the country. Saturday head football Bret Bielema's football team will take on the seventh-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. 

*Here is our list of players which is subject to change; when that happens, we will update our list*

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

September 15, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll break down my thoughts on the Big Ten and what the Illini need to show recruits against Penn State.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 14, 2023

One of the most underrated recruits on the Illinois campus this fall was Broderick Shull, a 2025 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive from Bixby, Oklahoma.

Following the 34-23 loss at Kansas, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said Thursday he’s a bit surprised at the media reports in the last few days.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 14, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — One of the top missions for Bret Bielema is to not allow the outing at Kansas to beat his Illinois football program more than once. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 14, 2023

Sure, there is a big football game taking place this weekend at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Illinois tight end room has graded well by new positional coach Robby Discher and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. - who was a tight end coach at Arkansas under Bret Bielema.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 13, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Griffin Moore believed eventually these moments would come in his collegiate career and recognizes his time is now. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 13, 2023

Illinois adds another offer to the class of 2027 men's basketball list.

September 13, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy Iowa Athletics) Week […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

September 13, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, QB commit Trey Petty breaks his silence and DE Dylan Stephenson visits.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 12, 2023

Running the football is Illinois head coach Bret Bielema's staple; it has made him successful, and he probably will not deviate too much from doing it.