Penn State is set to open Big Ten play for the 2023 season in Week 3 with its first road trip of the season. The Nittany Lions face Illinois, one of the more surprising teams from the 2022 season in the Big Ten. Illinois is hoping to pick up a relatively rare win against Penn State on their home field after getting roughed up on the road last week at Kansas.
Penn State and Illinois did not meet last season but played one of the more dramatic game of 2021 with a nine-overtime game in Beaver Stadium. That game was won by the Illini as Penn State was left scratching their heads about two-point plays.
Penn State leads the all-time series with Illinois, 20-6. The series dates back to 1954 but just games were played from 1954 through 1972. It was not until Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993 that meetings with the Illini became much more frequent.