You knew it was on when Penn State drove into the tunnel to Phil Collins’ On the air tonight.

It’s exactly the song that an out-of-touch show that peaked in the 1980s would intimidate other people.

“This is the best environment in all of sports.” James Franklin may eat those words again after he’s fired for winning “only” nine to 10 games a season and having to coach in a different environment.

But on Saturday night, the Nittany Lions defense came with bad intentions. After a dominant first drive, the Illinois offense was anemic at best for the remainder of the game.

Make no mistake about it. Tom Allen was the MVP of this game. Yes, that Tom Allen. The guy who had a standout year at Indiana and then remembered he was…coaching Indiana.

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Furthermore, Penn State managed football with impunity. They dominated the Illini front with two backs. Kaytron Allen gained 102 yards, while Nicholas Singleton underperformed with just 94 yards.

After the game, James Franklin said he couldn’t imagine a better pair of backs anywhere in the country. Thanks for that refined, deep insight, coach.

It was total domination after the first series. Drew Allar didn’t have to dominate throwing the ball. Penn State has used the damn Wildcat multiple times. Their superstar Ty Warren, Clay Matthews’ next hair bender, lined up in the shotgun and took pictures. The kid looked like two-way threat Luke Cafferty of the East Dillon Lions Friday evening lights.

But there were no bright eyes or full hearts. And the Illini could certainly lose.

Penn State played this game with ruthless aggression.

If the Lions had lost, James Franklin would be on a fast track out the door.

But back to the game at hand. Abdul Carter is a threat. He was the best player on the field. He caused destruction in several places. Allen deployed his greatest weapon in multiple unblockable schemes. It was a masterful job.

And if your two best running backs look like Saquon Barkley and Blair Thomas, you win.

Illinois “didn’t lose that much.” And some will call that a “moral victory.” Illinois “played tough.” They ‘played hard in defeat’.

Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tell Gabe Jacas that his yeoman-like effort was only good enough for a respectable performance. Tell Pat Bryant to get on the field and “hope for the best.” Tell Aaron Henry that “keeping it close” is a noble, admirable goal.

There are levels for this. And certainly, Illinois is at a relatively high level. But on Saturday, James Franklin’s crew played “Big Bank Take Little Bank.”

If Illinois goes 1-2 in the next three games, they will still be in a great position to get into a bowl game and have a successful season. In short, beat a Purdue team headed for relegation to the Horizon League, and the landscape still looks positive.

The Illini offensive line showed so much progress against Nebraska. Nebraska is definitely not Penn State. And while both fans would be happy to get into the Delorean in 1990, Penn State hit Illinois with the ferocity of generations past.

James Franklin’s crew put a skin on the wall. They beat a ranked team. They beat Illinois with more vigor than they beat Bowling Effing Green with. Drew Allar didn’t hand it over, but Luke Altmyer (finally) did. Penn State just has his number.

In addition to recruiting, the bye week should be a reminder that the possibilities are great, but execution must evolve to compete with the conference’s top quarter.

The punishments killed. Penn State tried to give this game back to Illinois with missed kicks and inexplicable plays. But Illinois didn’t snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, as they did against Kansas and Nebraska.

So as the Illini deal with the misery of a loss on a big stage, they are reminded by an intensely passionate group of coaches that there are no such things as moral victories. There are victories. There are losses. There is joy. There is misery. And in your next game there’s Ryan Walters.

Act accordingly.