By: Tyler Millen – GoPSUsports.com student writer

Head coach James Franklin called for “White Out Energy” against Illinois after Penn State’s 59-0 victory over Kent State on September 21, setting the stage for the Nittany Lions’ first Big Ten home opener since 2015.

Penn State and Illinois enter the game as a pair of top-20 teams in the AP Poll, with the former ranked No. 9 and the latter ranked No. 19. Saturday is the 28th matchup between the Big Ten foes and the first-ranked . match between the two teams since 2008.

It’s been a historic start for the Fighting Illini, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2011 and only the second time since 1951. Illinois gets its second top-25 win of the season after a resilient 31-24 victory over Nebraska. on the road on September 20th. They play Penn State against their third team in the last four weeks.

Head coach Brett Bielema will lead his Illinois squad to its first top-20 game since 2000 and has one of the nation’s top-producing quarterbacks at his disposal along with junior Luke Altmyer. The Starkville, Mississippi product is the only quarterback in the country with 10 or more touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I think the biggest difference is the quarterback (Luke Altmyer),” Franklin said. “He has 10 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. I think he’s one of the better players in college football right now.”

Penn State has shown a very explosive offense through its first three games, highlighted by eight different players recording a touchdown in the Week 4 win over Kent State. The Nittany Lions are one of two FBS teams averaging 250 or more passing yards and more than 250 rushing yards per game this season.

Penn State’s offense ranks seventh in the nation with an average of 537.7 total yards and ranks second nationally in big play percentage at 22.73%. Junior quarterback Drew Allar is off to a strong start in his third season in Happy Valley with a passing efficiency of 218.3, which ranks him second in the FBS rankings.

Junior wideout Omari Evans and junior running back Nick Singleton were catalysts in Penn State’s offensive attack. Evans has recorded over 25 yards per reception and Singleton has 104.7 rushing yards per game.

Penn State will look to take advantage of Illinois’ third-ranked defense, which ranks 106th in the nation. The Fighting Illini have been able to control the clock and control the ball with the third-best turnover margin nationally at +7.

The Nittany Lions will look like last season’s 30-13 win over Illinois, when their defense gave up five points. Redshirt junior linebacker Kobe King was among the players who got away with a fumble after a turnover and recognized Penn State’s defensive approach for Saturday’s game.

“They are a great team; a physical team that likes to run the ball,” King said. “They like to target other key players through the air, but we just have to stop them doing what they do best, which is the way they like to control the ball. They like to take it forward and challenge the big boys up front. Their big boys versus our big boys. That’s what they want to see and we’re going to make sure it happens.”