STATE COLLEGE | Vega Ioane, the Penn State guard who is playing at an elite level this season, looked over the line of scrimmage in the second quarter and saw a tired Illinois defense.

“Every block I made, it seemed like they didn’t even want to try against me anymore,” Ioane said late Saturday night at Beaver Stadium.

On Tuesday, Penn State coach James Franklin personally challenged his offensive and defensive lines to take over the team’s Big Ten opener Saturday night against Illinois. So they did. The Nittany Lions’ 21-7 win, which Kaytron Allen called “down and dirty,” represented their most physical performance of the season. Both lines were dominant, as reflected in the quick numbers: Penn State ran for 239 yards, Illinois for 34 yards.

And while Penn State had issues (some new, some recurring), the team improved to 4-0 in taking on the likes of Illinois. That’s important for a team that hasn’t had to play those kinds of games yet.

With that, to the report.

RELATED: Breakdown of Penn State’s 21-7 win over Illinois

VIOLATION: B

With Kaytron Allen (18 carries, 102 yards) and Nicholas Singleton (16 carries, 94 yards) running through and through, Penn State surrendered its offensive game plan to the run. The offensive line demoralized Illinois, namely Ioane and center Nick Dawkins, who was exceptional. Even after guard Sal Wormley (making his 28th career start) left with an injury, the line didn’t skip a beat. JB Nelson and Cooper Cousins ​​continued to rile Illinois from the interior.

Penn State ran 44 times for 239 yards, an average of 5.4 yards per carry. Allen and Singleton averaged 5.8 per touch and each scored a touchdown. The Nittany Lions were especially run-heavy on first down, running 22 of their 32 first-down plays, averaging 6.6 per carry. Four players had rushes of more than 10 yards, including Tyler Warren, who cleared the Wildcat for 14 yards and also scored a rushing touchdown.

The passing game was okay (quarterback Drew Allar threw a few fastballs that missed) and Penn State left runs on the field. But the dominance on the front line represented a major step forward.

DEFENSE: B+

Allowing another touchdown on the first drive (the second in four games) raised red flags. Even Franklin acknowledged that, saying it speaks to being unprepared. But Penn State’s defense turned the game around with a red zone stop late in the second quarter. Illinois had scored on 36 consecutive red zone possessions dating back to October 2023. It was 16-for-16 on the season. And the Illini had first and goal from the Penn State 2-yard line. Granted, a bad snap and intentional grounding stalled the drive, but Hakeem Beamon also delivered some run stuff that turned the series around. Illinois missed a field goal to end the red zone streak.

The Nittany Lions can be tough to defend. They missed their fair share of tackles, which contributed to Illinois recording seven plays of more than 16 yards. But they also held Illinois to 1.1 yards rushing per attempt, sacked quarterback Luke Altmyer seven times (five in the second half) and intercepted him on the penultimate drive. Defensive end Abdul Carter arrived and made 3.5 tackles for loss, a huge pass breakup and the game-clinching sack fumble. Tackle Zane Durant tossed a guard aside for a sack. Cornerback AJ Harris, who played at Georgia last year, made his first interception at Penn State. Illinois looked poised to increase the score after its opening-game touchdown drive. Penn State put an end to that quickly and decisively.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C

After the game, Franklin said he wanted kicker Sander Sahaydak to “celebrate the win like everyone else.” But this week, Franklin and special teams coordinator Justin Lustig are reopening the kicking competition. Sahaydak missed two 40-yard field goals (one left, one right) that kept Illinois in the game. Ryan Barker scored the extra point on Penn State’s final touchdown. College kickers deserve a second chance, and Sahaydak got one after his loss at West Virginia. However, the change could come now.

Elsewhere, Penn State still has a strange situation at punt returner. Receiver Kaden Saunders, who was injured during training camp, is the returner but still hasn’t played offense. On Saturday he made four more nice catches. Penn State is apparently comfortable protecting the ball with punts, but it’s curious that an athletic team hasn’t developed a secondary return threat in four games.

COACHING: B

Franklin was awarded another penalty after his team was flagged six times for 63 yards. The total actually fell below Penn State’s average (7.3), but it irritated the staff nonetheless. Particularly irritating was the continued trend of defensive offside situations. The Nittany Lions were flagged two more times (another was dismissed), for 11 in four games. Good on defensive coordinator Tom Allen for recalibrating his group.

GENERAL: B

Penn State played an at times sloppy, undisciplined and unfocused game. And it called an oddly timed Wildcat to Tyler Warren on 3rd-and-7 in the fourth quarter when he posed no threat to throw. Micro issues aside, the Nittany Lions imposed their will on Illinois, which should be the biggest takeaway from Saturday night.

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Penn State on SI is the home for Penn State news, opinions and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has been covering Penn State for more than two decades, maintaining three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on X (or Twitter) @MarkWogenrich.