>>Illini Head To Penn State
Penn State defenders spent much of the last two games lunging at ball carriers only to bounce off or wiff.
Those missed tackles have been a problem for a defense that's been solid under coordinator Bob Shoop. Penn State allowed 68 points and nearly 900 yards to No. 1 Ohio State and Maryland in part because of mobile quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Perry Hills.
Up next is Illinois (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten) and although quarterback Wes Lunt isn't a runner, he's usually well protected. The Illini defense has allowed just eight sacks so far.
While Penn State players missed 13 tackles against Maryland and handfuls more against Ohio State, generating pressure hasn't been an issue. The Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-1) lead the country with 31 sacks. Carl Nassib added to his NCAA leading 12.5 when he sacked Hills late in the fourth quarter to all but preserve Penn State's 31-30 win over Maryland last week.
The Fighting Illini ranked 112th in total defense each of the last two seasons and surrendered 481 and 456 yards per game in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Illinois is currently 33rd in total defense and is giving up 344 yards per game. Interim coach Bill Cubit said against the sack-happy Lions ''We've got to make sure we protect the quarterback.'' He also said he expects senior safety Clayton Fejedelem to play after a deep bruise to his knee.
Illinois will be without starting tight end Tyler White (knee). Running back Josh Ferguson is unlikely to play, missing his third straight game with a shoulder injury
>>Redbirds Welcome Another Nationally Ranked Opponent To Hancock Stadium
For the fourth time in the last five weeks, No. 3 Illinois State (6-1, 4-0 MVFC) will face off against a ranked FCS opponent, this time when it hosts No. 21 Indiana State (4-3, 2-2 MVFC) at Hancock Stadium for a Halloween battle.
Coming off a 48-28 win versus Western Illinois last week, Junior wideout Anthony Warrum continued his streak of eye-popping performances with seven receptions for 170 yards and connected twice with Tre Roberson for scores through the air against the Leathernecks. He also added a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and his performance earned him Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.
A game that proved to be a defensive battle throughout was decided on a last-second field goal, as Nick Aussieker connected on a 20-yard field goal with three seconds left on the clock to give No. 15 Illinois State a 20-18 come-from-behind win over No. 20 Indiana State at Memorial Stadium last year.
The game will kick off at noon, and will be broadcast live on CSN Chicago and ESPN3.
>>Eastern Illinois Hosts Murray State
Eastern Illinois remained undefeated in the Ohio Valley Conference race as the Panthers moved to 4-0 in the conference with a 51-20 win over Tennessee Tech.
This week, the Murray State Racers come to Charleston for an Ohio Valley Conference clash. The Racers are 1-3 in conference and 2-5 overall.
After a rough start to the season, the Panthers have rebounded for four straight wins and sit atop the Ohio Valley with Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky.
Game time Saturday is 1pm.
Hear all the action on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and online at dewittdailynews.com.
>>No. 5 TCU Blasts West Virginia
Trevone Boykin passed for 388 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 84 yards with a hurdling 2-yard score to help fifth-ranked TCU beat West Virginia 40-10 on Thursday night for its 16th straight victory.
Josh Doctson had 11 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns for the Horned Frogs. They improved to 8-0 and made quite an impression in their final game before the first weekly College Football Playoff rankings of the season come out.
West Virginia is 3-4. The Mountaineers have lost all four of their Big 12 games - previously losing to No. 14 Oklahoma, No. 12 Oklahoma State and No. 2 Baylor - all teams TCU has to play in November.
>>Oregon Gets Wild Win Over Arizona State
Bralon Addison scored on a 20-yard pass in the third overtime on a play upheld by review and Arrion Springs intercepted Mike Bercovici's pass in the end zone, lifting Oregon to a wild 61-55 win over Arizona State Thursday night.
Two teams clinging to hopes in their respective divisions, the Sun Devils and Ducks traded explosive plays in a game that featured 1,243 total yards.
It came down to a pair of plays in the third overtime.
Addison appeared to touch the back line on his TD catch, but the officials upheld the original call upon review. Oregon (5-3, 3-2 Pac-12) failed on the mandatory 2-point conversion, but Springs sealed it by stepping in front of Bercovici's intended receiver, sending the Ducks racing onto the field.
Oregon tied the game with 12 seconds left in regulation when Dwayne Stanford pulled down Vernon Adams' fourth-down, desperation pass for an 8-yard touchdown.
