2021 Illinois vs. Penn State football game
The Big Ten Conference matchup featured the Illinois Fighting Illini and the seventh-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, and took place during week eight of the 2021 FBS football season.
Illinois, led by first-year head coach Bret Bielema, came into the game with a 2–5 record; after a season-opening win against Nebraska, they entered a four-game skid which ended with a defeat of Charlotte, and they arrived in Happy Valley following a shutout loss against Wisconsin followed by a bye week.
Led by eighth-year head coach James Franklin, the Nittany Lions entered the game coming off of a bye week as well, with their lone loss (at No.
The game's first points came with nine seconds to play in the opening quarter, with Sean Clifford finding KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a long touchdown pass.
This conference game, which took place during week eight of the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season, pitted the Illinois Fighting Illini against the No.
As members of opposite divisions of the Big Ten Conference (Penn State in the East and Illinois in the West), the teams have not played annually since 2015.
[1] The Illinois Fighting Illini, under the leadership of first-year head coach Bret Bielema,[2] entered the contest with a record of 2–5, and 1–3 in conference play.
[6] The skid continued for the Illini; their next game, against Maryland, ended in a 17–20 defeat after the Terrapins converted a field goal as time expired.
[11] Led by eighth-year head coach James Franklin,[12] the Penn State Nittany Lions entered the contest with a 5–1 overall record and a 2–1 mark in conference play.
[26] Previews of the game praised Penn State's rush defense and cited Illinois's lack of depth and a clear starting quarterback as potential liabilities.
[26] Penn State lacked a straightforward quarterback situation as well; starter Sean Clifford had sustained an injury in the team's previous game against Iowa, and it was unknown if he was going to be able to play after practicing during the bye week while wearing a knee brace.
Starting on their own 25-yard-line, Illinois's opening drive lasted only three plays before an interception by Curtis Jacobs gave the Nittany Lions the ball on the Penn State 32-yard-line.
The quarter's last full drive was one that began on Penn State's own 7-yard-line, as the Nittany Lions offense drove the ball to the Illinois 42-yard-line before Sean Clifford completed a deep pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a touchdown, opening the game's scoring and giving Penn State a 7–0 lead with nine seconds to play in the quarter.
Illinois responded quickly, capping an eight-plus minute drive with a one-yard touchdown rush by Chase Brown, narrowing the Penn State lead to three.
This did not happen, however, as Penn State was unable to move the ball and ended up missing a 40-yard field goal, giving possession back to Illinois.
Illinois was forced to punt on their ensuing drive after stalling just outside their own 40-yard-line, giving Penn State the ball with under five minutes to play on the Nittany Lions' 15-yard-line.
Despite earning two first downs, Penn State was forced to punt the ball back to Illinois with just over half a minute remaining in the game.
After winning the coin toss, the visiting Illini elected to play defense first, and held Penn State to a 31-yard field goal try, which was successfully converted by Jordan Stout to put his team ahead by three.
Some speculated that the game took longer than it would have under the previous format[38][39] and Illinois starting quarterback Artur Sitkowski suffered an injury in the fourth overtime period.
[45] Penn State would end up finishing the regular season with a record of 7–5;[23] they were invited to the Outback Bowl, where they lost to Arkansas.
