It’s time to bring the energy, folks.

Penn State plays its first top-25 matchup of the season under the lights on Saturday as Illinois comes to town. Both the Nittany Lions and Fighting Illini are coming off big wins as Penn State opens up Big Ten play at home for the first time since 2015.

Here’s everything you need to know before Saturday’s primetime game.

Television

Penn State has the 7:30 p.m. slot on NBC with Noah Eagle serving as the play-by-play analyst. Penn State alum Todd Blackledge will join Eagle in the booth, while Kathryn Tappen will be the crew’s sideline reporter.

Radio

Penn State Sports Network — Steve Jones and Jack Hamm
Local: 99.5 & 103.7 FM/1450AM, Sirius/XM: 83 or 119

Weather

Saturday will be mostly cloudy and humid with a high of 72°, according to Accuweather. There is an 80% chance of precipitation coming later in the day.

Last Meeting

Penn State traveled to Champaign, Illinois, last season and defeated the Illini 30-13.

Injuries

Linebacker Dom DeLuca and running back Cam Wallace both left the game against Kent State with injuries and weren’t seen during the media practice viewing session on Wednesday. James Franklin didn’t have an update as to whether either of their injuries were long-term.

The team will also be without safety K.J. Winston and tight end Andrew Rappleyea, who are both out with long-term injuries.

Betting Lines

Penn State opened as 18-point favorites over the Fighting Illini.

Media Coverage

Onward State will have you covered throughout today’s game. Find big plays, analysis, photos, and more on our main Twitter account @OnwardState as well as play-by-play commentary from @OnwardStSports.

Football writers C.J. Doebler (@CDoebler), Nolan Wick (@nolan_wick), and Mitch Corcoran (@MitchCorc18) will provide you with coverage from inside the press box, while photographers Hailey Stutzman (@stutzhailey) and Mikey DeAngelis (@mikey_deangelis) will provide visual updates from the field.

Onward State

• Penn State Football’s Penalty Woes May Soon Cost Games
• Onward Debates: Should Illinois Have Been The White Out Opponent?
• Tyler Warren Named Semifinalist For Campbell Trophy
• Penn State Football Preparing For Staunch Illinois Defense
• Penn State Football’s Defensive Front Seven Displaying Early Success
• Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week Three
• Penn State Football Opens As 18-Point Favorite Over Illinois
• Analyzing Post-Kent State Reactions For Penn State Football
• Penn State-UCLA Set For Noon Kickoff On FOX
• Penn State Football’s Post-Kent State Report Card
• Transfer Portal Roundup: Week Four
• Gameday Observations: Kent State
• [Photo Story] Penn State vs. Kent State
• Penn State Football Bumps To No. 9 In AP Poll
• Penn State Football’s Wide Receivers Have Massive Game Against Kent State
• ‘We’re Not There Yet’: What It’s Like For FBS Bottom-Feeder Kent State To Play At Penn State
• Penn State Football’s Defense Pitches Shutout Against Kent State
• ‘The Best Tight End In The Country’: Penn State Football’s Tyler Warren Continues Thriving Against Kent State
• James Franklin Calls For ‘White Out Energy’ Against Illinois