**Penn State Triumphs Over Illinois in Homecoming Game**

Penn State emerged victorious in their Homecoming game on Saturday, defeating Illinois 21-7 despite not covering a nearly three-touchdown spread. The game, held at Beaver Stadium, saw a turnout of 109,911 enthusiastic fans.

The victory, which marks the Nittany Lions' fourth win of the 2024 season, was powered by stellar performances from running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Singleton and Allen each found the end zone, with Allen breaking the 100-yard mark. “I mean, they ran hard,” remarked quarterback Drew Allar. “There was a lot of guys that they were running over today. I think that sets a tone for us as an offense.”

Reflecting on the physicality exhibited by the running backs, Allar continued, “When we see them being super physical runners, we obviously know about their ability to break longer runs. When they're running people over, it puts them on the ground and gains an extra three or four yards. That’s a big help to our offense. We are able to be more aggressive and stay ahead of the sticks.”

Locally and nationally, the performance has been met with applause. Yahoo Sports’ writer Ian Casselberry observed, "Penn State met its first-ranked opponent on Saturday and outgained it 374-219 and allowed just 34 rushing yards." Casselberry noted that Coach James Franklin sought "White Out energy" from the fans for the nationally televised game. Though it wasn't an official "White Out," the fans dressed in white showed robust support.

PennLive’s Bob Flounders also commended Penn State’s dominance, especially at the line of scrimmage. The team rushed for 239 yards while allowing only two sacks, and the defensive line achieved seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Flounders commented, "The Lions (4-0, 1-0) were too physical at the line of scrimmage on both sides," highlighting the effectiveness of the offensive line even amid injuries. Guard players like Sal Wormley and JB Nelson were sidelined, prompting Vega Ioane and true freshman Cooper Cousins to step up in the crucial fourth quarter.

In summary, Penn State’s run game and defensive strength were too much for Illinois to handle, solidifying the Nittany Lions' strong start to the 2024 season.