No. No. 9 Penn State arguably faced a test in its Big Ten opener, hosting No. 19 Illinois on Saturday. The Fighting Illini came into the game coming off a big win over then No. 22 Nebraska in Lincoln, improving to 4-0 and looking like a possible factor in the conference race.

If this was a test, the Nittany Lions passed it with a 21-7 win over State College. The evening game at Beaver Stadium was not officially a White Out (that will be on November 9 against Washington), although fans were dressed in white for the nationally televised primetime game.

However, coach James Franklin called for “White Out energy” on Saturday night and how Illinois responded in that environment could indicate how well the rest of the season could go. The results were not particularly impressive.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer continued his four-touchdown performance against Nebraska by passing for 185 yards, completing 16 of 25 passes with one score and one interception. That one turnover may have cost the Illini the game – or at least a chance at a tie.

Trailing 14-7 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Illinois faced a fourth-and-6 from their own 48-yard line. But Altmyer was picked off by Penn State’s AJ Harris, who ran the ball back 51 yards for an apparent touchdown. Still, the score was wiped off the board after an illegal blocking penalty from Zion Tracy.

The Nittany Lions eventually scored, though, capping an eight-play, 41-yard drive with a Kaytron Allen five-yard TD run. Allen rushed for 102 yards on 18 carries, while Nicholas Singleton added 94 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries to lead a rushing attack that racked up 239 yards.

With so many yards on the ground, Penn State QB Drew Allar didn’t have to post big numbers. He threw for 135 yards on 15-of-21 passing. Harrison Wallace III and Tyler Warren each had four receptions, combining for 84 yards.