The Illini (6-2, 2-2), once a Top 25 team, have been exposed a bit as frauds the past two weeks in being offensively stagnant in losses to unranked Ohio State and Purdue. After starting the season 6-0, Illinois hasn't scored in the first half in either of its past two games. It took the Illini until midway through the fourth quarter to reach the end zone against a bad Boilermaker team last week. Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase for just 16 yards on 13 carries, was sacked four times and was under constant pressure.

No. 19 Penn State (7-1, 4-0), which has a 1.5-game lead over Wisconsin for the division lead, hasn’t looked great in Big Ten play but is winning – and that’s all that matters. Last week at Northwestern, it seemed like Joe Paterno’s QB controversy was solved. Matt McGloin was 17 of 26 for 192 yards and two touchdowns. For the first time all season, McGloin started and Bolden didn’t play a snap. McGloin is averaging nearly 137 passing yards a game to 75 for Bolden, who has started six of seven games.

Tailback Silas Redd has run for at least 129 yards in Big Ten play, including a career-high 164 against Northwestern. PSU won without top receiver Derek Moye, and he will likely sit this one out as well with a foot injury. Despite missing two games, Moye still leads the Nittany Lions with 28 catches, 485 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

A win here would break a tie for second between Paterno and Grambling State's Eddie Robinson for all-time college coaching wins at 408. Paterno, who holds the Division I record, is still 73 behind leader John Gagliardi, who coaches Division III St. John's in Minnesota.

In a scheduling twist, this is the second year in a row Illinois travels to Happy Valley. Last year the Illini won 33-13 for the program's first-ever victory at Beaver Stadium. In the Ron Zook era, the Illini are 4-18 against ranked teams, although one of those came this season vs. Arizona State.

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