Top 5 matchups for Week 5 of the 2024 college football season
3. No. 19 Illinois vs. No. 9 Penn State – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC
A Week 5 matchup between Illinois and Penn State is perhaps the biggest surprise on this list, but the Illini have earned the spotlight as a top-20 undefeated team. These two programs have met 27 times overall with Penn State racking up 21 wins, including a dominant 30-13 victory in Champaign last season. However, Illinois does have a recent win in the series in 2021 when it upset the Nittany Lions in a record nine overtimes in Happy Valley.
Penn State has opened as a 17.5-point favorite at most sportsbooks, but Illinois has proven doubters wrong multiple times already this season, including with an impressive Week 2 win over a ranked Kansas squad and this past weekend on the road at Nebraska, winning 31-24 in overtime. Bret Bielema鈥檚 squad has received terrific quarterback play from Luke Altmyer who had four touchdown passes against the Huskers and has yet to throw a pick this season. The Illini鈥檚 32nd-ranked defense has also played consistently well.
While Illinois鈥� defensive effort will be important in State College on Saturday night, Altmyer鈥檚 ability to move the ball against a top-10 Penn State defense will ultimately be key to an upset. The 3-0 Nittany Lions did give up 27 points to Bowling Green a couple of weeks ago, but are coming off a dominant 56-0 shutout against Kent State. The offense seemed to find its footing in that contest as well with Drew Allar throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. With Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen in the backfield, Penn State will likely continue riding a formula of running the ball and playing stout defense as it looks to strengthen its playoff resume.
