Turnovers Doom Illini in 30-13 loss to No. 7 Penn State - INSTANT RECAP

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 16, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois badly failed the first lesson of Bret Bielema’s ‘Football 101’ as five turnovers buried any chance of the Illini pulling off an upset of a Top 10 opponent.

 In its first road test of the 2023 season, No. 7 Penn State used the giveaways to produce a comfortable 30-13 victory over Illinois.

Illinois sophomore quarterback Luke Altmyer tossed four interceptions and the Nittany Lions (3-0, 1-0 in Big Ten Conference) turned the mistakes into 20 points on its way to putting Illinois 0-1 in Big Ten play for the second straight year under head coach Bret Bielema. 

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who was making his first conference road start of his collegiate career, ended the afternoon with a conservative 208 yards passing but led the Nittany Lions to a 30-7 advantage with 14 minutes and 24 seconds left before being pulled for precautionary reasons. 

Altmyer, who was making his fourth career collegiate start and third start this season since transferring from Ole Miss, was instead pulled after three quarters for performance-based issues. The Starkville, Mississippi native finished 15 of 28 for 163 yards and four key interceptions that led to PSU points before being relieved by walk-on backup John Paddock. 

Penn State’s defense smothered the Illini all afternoon for only 4.8 yards per play as Illinois (1-2, 0-1 in Big Ten). The Illinois defense, which came into the contest after two disappointing efforts in the first two contests of the 2023 season, allowed just 383 total yards and forced five three-and-out possessions. 

Illinois will now face Florida Atlantic next weekend before rejoining Big Ten play the following weekend at Purdue for a Big Ten Saturday Night contest on NBC as the Illini face its former defensive coordinator Ryan Walters.

Podcasts

Heat Checks & Hail Marys – Ryan Day, High School Football Playoff Solutions & An AD's Response & B1G Football Team Rankings

Listen

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Ked interviews Top JUCO Linebacker & Illini Commit Ismael Kante 

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini 38-28 Win Over the Northwestern Wildcats – Post Game Analysis #437

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini 38-28 Win Over the Northwestern Wildcats #436

Listen

Nov 29 Weekend - Hour 2 - S4Ep16

Listen

Nov 29 Weekend - Hour 1 - S4Ep16

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini 90-77 Win Over Arkansas Razorbacks - #435

Listen

IlliniGuys Halftime LIVE - Interview with Grant Beerman 4-Star LB Commit #434

Listen

Thanksgiving Special - Big Sports Radio Nov 29 Weekend #433

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Win 92-34 Over Little Rock - #431

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini at Northwestern Wildcats Football Preview - #431

Listen

Heat Checks & Hail Marys - B1G vs SEC for CFP, Hot Takes and B1G FB Tiers

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Win 87-40 in a “CritterKill” over UMES - #430

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Execute a Huge 2nd Half Rally to Defeat Rutgers 38-31 - #429

Listen

Nov 22 Weekend - Hour 2 - S4Ep15

Listen