Did Penn State football win? Yes. Was it pretty? Not necessarily, but the Nittany Lions got the job done against a tough Illinois team.

The defense played a significant role in shutting down Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer and the rushing attack in front of an unofficial White Out crowd at Beaver Stadium. Meanwhile, Penn State’s running back tandem of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton played a huge role on the offensive side of the ball.

There’s more to analyze besides those aspects of Penn State’s 21-7 win over of Illinois, starting with the quarterbacks.

Quarterbacks: B-

Drew Allar wasn’t asked to do much, but he was efficient on Saturday. He completed 15-of-21 pass attempts for 135 yards without throwing any touchdowns or interceptions. The third-year hasn’t attempted more passes, yet he threw his fewest amount of yards in a game this season. However, that 71% completion rate was his best through four games. Despite Andy Kotelnicki’s heavy emphasis on running the ball throughout the game, Allar’s 15 rushing yards were his second-fewest of the season.

Meanwhile, Beau Pribula had three carries for 17 yards without attempting a pass. It was odd to see Pribula, a primarily run-first quarterback, so under-utilized in a game that saw so much action on the ground.

Neither quarterback took over the game, but doing so wasn’t part of the game plan. Pribula barely played, but Allar was fine and serviceable. For Allar, however, Saturday’s game feels like a missed opportunity to build upon a strong start to the season in hopes of entering the Heisman conversation.

Running Backs: A+

Allen and Singleton might’ve been the two most important players on the field. They combined for 196 rushing yards and each scored a touchdown.

Allen led the way with 102 rushing yards, and Singleton had 94. Allen’s total solidified the duo as the second pair of Penn State teammates to each have 2,000 career rushing yards, joining Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell.

Nick Singleton (2,221 yards) and Kaytron Allen (2,058 yards) are the second set of Penn State teammates to each have 2,000 career rushing yards, joining Lydell Mitchell (1969-71; 2,934 yds.) and Franco Harris (1969-71; 2,002 yds.)

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What’s also impressive: Illinois was allowing 104.2 rushing yards per game and hadn’t given up a single rushing touchdown prior to Saturday.

The duo was an offensive focal point in the game. Out of all 65 offensive snaps, Singleton and Allen had runs in 34 of them. They averaged 5.9 and 5.7 yards per carry, respectively. Additionally, they were responsible for 10 of Penn State’s 24 first downs.

Without Allen and Singleton’s performances, Penn State wouldn’t win the game. They were too involved and dominant.

Wide Receivers: C-

The wide receivers were an afterthought in the game. Trey Wallace led the group with four receptions for 50 yards, while neither Liam Clifford nor Julian Fleming had more than 10 yards. There needs to be more production from this group against ranked opponents, period. Allar shouldn’t be left to rely on the running backs or Tyler Warren when he’s trying to make a play. Illinois’ secondary deserves credit, but Saturday left more to be desired.

Tight Ends: B-

Warren continued to showcase his versatility as one of, if not the most, complete tight ends in America. He had four catches for 34 yards and a rushing touchdown. However, he didn’t produce as much as he usually does, as those are small numbers for him. It’s surprising he wasn’t involved more, but again, the game plan revolved around the run. Luke Reynolds also got involved with one catch for eight yards later in the game.

Offensive Line: B+

Singleton, Allen, and Allar repeatedly credited the offensive line with Penn State’s success on Saturday. The group paved the way for the running backs to pick up 196 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while the total offense had 374 total yards. Penalty woes were much-improved, as a Drew Shelton false start in the third quarter was the only one against the entire offense. However, the offensive line did allow a sack, a quarterback hurry, and three tackles for loss. Despite a couple hiccups, it was a good performance.

Front Seven: A+

The front seven wreaked havoc on Illinois all night after its opening touchdown drive. Altmyer was chased all over the field, as he was sacked seven times and hurried once by the group by the time the game was over.

Additionally, the group had 11.5 tackles for loss. Illinois was held to just 34 rushing yards, with an average 1.1 yards per carry. Not a single rushing touchdown was allowed. This group was the most important on the defensive side of the field, if not the entire field.

Secondary: B

Illinois’ been averaging 215.20 passing yards per game, but Penn State’s secondary held the Fighting Illini to 185. Altmyer threw a touchdown pass and had occasional success in the passing game, but Penn State’s defensive backs contested most throws. A.J. Harris and Elliot Washington II each had a pass breakup, and Harris would’ve had a pick-six if Zion Tracy hadn’t committed an illegal block in the back penalty. Harris was previously docked for pass interference in the first quarter. Some things could be cleaned up, but it was a decent performance.

Special Teams: F

Sander Sahaydak missed two field goals, which prompted James Franklin to replace him with Ryan Barker for Penn State’s extra point attempt after Allen’s fourth-quarter touchdown. There’s again a kicker controversy, as Franklin said there would be a competition for the starting job.