Illinois vs. Penn State Showdown: Big Ten Football Preview

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Transcript

00:00Let's flip it over to the Big Ten here in a nice battle.

00:05Illinois is going to take on Penn State.

00:06Penn State got right last week on offense, just like everybody should, against Kent State.

00:10But they're going to take on the fighting Illini, a plus 17.5 number coming towards

00:15the Illini on the road in State College, 47.5 as a total.

00:20Illinois, Penn State, top 20 action.

00:22What gives?

00:23Yeah, now, last year, Penn State won this game 30-13.

00:27Drew Aller completed only about 48% of his passes, but Luke Altmeier, the quarterback

00:32for Illinois, is hitting on all cylinders, threw four touchdowns, completed 77% of his

00:37passes.

00:38The last time they played in Happy Valley and went nine overtimes.

00:42But I feel like Penn State always steps up when Illinois is good.

00:46When Illinois is bad, that's where Illinois seems to clip them.

00:49But 17.5 seems like way too many points in terms of this matchup.

00:54Big Ten atmosphere.

00:55I like Bielma as an underdog.

00:57I don't know if they actually win it, Donnie, but give me those points because I think this

01:02game will come right down to the wire.

01:05Got a question for you here on Penn State.

01:07Chances for them on the remaining parts of the season.

01:09We know they're extremely talented and love to typically beat teams up that aren't as

01:14talented.

01:15And quite frankly, you might be looking at Illinois as not as talented.

01:17Why?

01:18Because they're 17-point underdogs in this game.

01:20What is your outlook for Penn State on the season?

01:21Is there a legitimate chance, Joe, they can find their way into the college football playoff?

01:26No, absolutely, Donnie.

01:27The schedule is light.

01:29The problem is their quarterback, Drew Aller, right?

01:32In big games last year, he didn't step up.

01:34He completed less than 50% of his passes.

01:37And if he's going to go up against an SEC opponent, especially in a semifinal playoff

01:41game, that is the concern.

01:43Let's say going up against Millrobe, Beck, or even Jackson Dart for that matter, or even

01:48Nussmeier, right?

01:49I need to see it at a Drew Aller, not against West Virginia, not against Illinois, but against

01:55the better teams, a team like Michigan, should they square off in the Big Ten Championship.

01:59Show me that you could step up in the big games as opposed to 500 competition.