Penn State at Illinois Game Thread

[Crimson's Ghost]

Penn State (6-4) at Illinois (4-6)
Saturday 12:00 ESPN2

[DragonsDoExist]

Illinois is at home and playing for their bowl lives but other than that not much going for them. Of their 4 wins the 4 point win over a decent Minnesota team is by far their best. Other than that they have an 11 point win over Youngstown St. an 8 point win over W. Kentucky and a 7 point win over Texas St. They did play tough at Wisconsin which ended in a 10 point loss. PSU got the running game going last week and with Hacks recent struggles will need to try and continue that trend against an Illini defense that gave up 587 yards of offense last week to Iowa, including 304 on the ground. Illinois statistically has the worst defense in the B1G giving up 36 ppg and 497 yards of offense. This could possibly be just what the doctor ordered for a struggling PSU offense. Offensively Illinois can throw the ball, 2nd best in the B1G, but cannot run the ball to save their lives. Turnover margin is also next to last in the conference. Everything points to a Lions victory but this season stranger things have happened.

Penn St. 27
Illinois 10

[PLDragons24]

It would be nice if we can get the run game going again. I have a feeling Hackenberg will have a good game today.

[konjo78]

Honestly with how Hackenburg is playing I would consider benching him for a game and it should definitely be an open competition next spring. He's had about a D+ season this year for someone who was rated #1 qb in his recruiting class

[PLDragons24]

I think that would be a mistake. We might get better qb play and maybe even get an extra win this season, but it would kill what is left of his confidence. They just need to get through this season and give him another offseason to work on his game and work on getting better in the system. If he struggles through the first couple games next season, that's when you sit him down.

[konjo78]

He looks like he's been babied. there needs to be a form of punishment for his terrible play and lack of leadership. I'd be OK with bad play if he was at least communicating with teammates and making sure everyone is keeping their heads up.

[PLDragons24]

They played gutless football today on both sides of the ball and it cost them the game.

[PortagePride]

They played gutless football today on both sides of the ball and it cost them the game.

Couldn't have said it better myself....They played to lose the entire game after going up 7-0. Turning point of the game was Zettel jumping offsides on the punt giving Illinois a 1st Down with about 1:50 to go before the half and them evening up the game on the ensuing drive. He was right next to the football on the snap, there is NO excuse for that, especially coming out of a time out. But I'm not here just to solely place the blame on him, the coaching staff was atrocious, hackenberg sucked, the FG holder sucked, the punter still sucks...I could go on and on.

And I KNOW i'm going to be a minority on saying this, but I really wouldn't mind if we turned down the bowl game. Yes I know..for the seniors blah blah blah....but it's not just about them. It's about getting embarrassed in a bottom feeder bowl against a mid major conference team like Houston again that I could live without.

[abpk2903]

They would never do that but I'm with you. They are on their way to a 2-6 conference record! Zettle's offsides, Gula not being able to handle a snap, and deciding not to field a kickoff, were enough to sink the ship.

At some point coaching needs to be questioned, why do they continually run on 1st and 2nd down and then force their struggling QB into 3rd and longs? Why have the TEs disappeared this year? Why are they playing a soft zone against an Illinois team that doesn't have the athletes on offense to compete man-to-man? Why would they punt into 30 mph wind gusts with a chance to win the game on a 4th and 1 foot? At some point you have to "play to win the game." Poor coaching decisions have now cost Penn state games against Michigan, Maryland, and Indiana.

The clock management against Michigan was atrocious, they called a run on 3rd and 8 against Maryland and then punted to them already in FG range, and now they elect not try to close the game out on a 4th and 1 foot.

[El-Moldo]

Just guessing, but I'll bet the Big Ten was rooting for the Illini today. Since both NW and Illinois are 5-6 right now, and they play each other next week, that insures at least another bowl eligible team from the Big Ten. If PSU would have won today, the Illini would have 7 losses and out of the bowl picture. Then, if they would beat NW next weekend, the Wildcats would have 7 losses. So NEITHER team would go to a bowl. Now, either NW or Illini, will play in a bowl. More moola for the Big Ten.