STATE COLLEGE | Penn State and Illinois went into halftime tied 7-7 in what became a field position and defensive game in the second quarter. Both teams scored on their opening possessions of the game, but the defense neutralized the play afterward.

A quick recap of the first half of Penn State-Illinois.

Penn State makes an important stop in the red zone

Illinois had scored on 36 consecutive red zone possessions dating back to October 2023, including Saturday’s first game. Late in the second quarter, the Illini scored first and goal from the Penn State 2-yard line and looked poised to take a 14-7 lead. Then a mini meltdown.

A high snap on the first down (after a Penn State timeout) lost 9 yards. Penn State defensive tackle Hakeem Beamon scored a point on third down. And then Illinois was called for a grounder, as quarterback Luke Altmyer threw into an empty end zone to force fourth down. Illinois’ 40-yard field goal attempt went to 45 yards, which Illinois missed to keep the score tied at 7–7. Penn State dodged one there, though Beamon’s run stuff and Dani Dennis-Sutton’s third-down pressure helped keep Illinois out of the end zone.

Another score from the opening sequence

Penn State had gone 28 consecutive games without giving up a touchdown on the opening drive before Bowling Green ended that streak in Week 2. Illinois ended the next streak at one, driving 75 yards on 11 plays, led by Altmyer’s early hot hand. Altmyer completed a pair of passes to Zakhari Franklin, one for 13 yards on third down, and then found a wide-open Carson Goda for a 4-yard touchdown pass. Goda gestured through the formation and went uncovered for the easy score.

Penn State deviates from its run on a key series

Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen brought their mean sides to Saturday’s game, sharing control of Penn State’s offense. Both backs ran over Illinois defenders on first-down carries, with Allen averaging 12.7 yards per carry on his first three attempts. They also had space on the edges, as Penn State’s line stretched the Illinois front seven to its limits, and was dominant in a second-quarter series that started at Penn State’s 7-yard line.

But then offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki sent the run out and called three consecutive pass plays (albeit one on 3rd and 6). Quarterback Drew Allar made some overheated throws after two incompletions, and Penn State settled for a 40-yard field goal attempt.

Kicker Sander Sahaydak, 2-for-3 on field goals coming into the game, missed to keep the score tied.

Tyler Warren adds a rushing touchdown

Tight end Tyler Warren scored Penn State’s first touchdown, diving into the end zone from three yards out for his first rushing touchdown of the season. Warren now has receiving, passing and rushing touchdowns through four games.

Both coaches choose to kick

Penn State had a very short 4th-and-1 in the second quarter, making coach James Franklin’s decision to punt a bit surprising. Granted, the ball was on Penn State’s 42-yard line, but Franklin can be aggressive in those situations. Earlier, Illinois punted at Penn State’s 40-yard line, albeit on 4th-and-7.

Injury update

Penn State guard Sal Wormley was injured during the Nittany Lions’ first offensive series and did not return. JB Nelson replaced Wormley, who started 28 games at the team level.

Additionally, the Nittany Lions were without linebacker and special teams captain Dom DeLuca and running back Cam Wallace. Both were injured last week against Kent State.

More Penn State football

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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.