College football scouting reports: Illinois, NU, Notre Dame and NIU

Illinois (2-1, 0-0) at Penn State (4-0, 0-0)

When: 7 p.m. at Beaver Stadium

TV: Channel 7;

Radio: WIND 560-AM

Series: Penn State leads 12-3.

Coaches: Ron Zook (15-24, fourth year at Illinois; 37-38 overall); Joe Paterno (376-127-3, 43rd year at Penn State).

Players to watch: Sophomore WR/KR/RB Arrelious Benn set the tone in last year's upset of Penn State with a kickoff return for a touchdown, but Benn has yet to be the all-American caliber threat this year that everyone expected. RB Dan Dufrene went for a career-high 126 yards in Illinois' last game, which might force Penn State's defense to play him honestly on the option and give QB Juice Williams some room to maneuver.

Penn State's new "Spread HD" offense ranks third in the country in scoring (54.7 ppg) and sixth in yardage (595.5 ypg) with a multipronged attack led by QB Darryl Clark (48 of 78 for 715 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT) and sophomore RB Evan Royster (379 yards, 7 TDs in just 49 carries). The defensive line regains the services of all-Big Ten DE Maurice Evans and DT Abe Komora, which hardly seems necessary since Aaron Maybin ranks second nationally with 6 sacks.

The skinny: Brett Musburger and his ABC crew will allow 70 percent of the nation the chance to be looking live at the Illini from Happy Valley, but most of the hype will revolve around the 12th-ranked Nittany Lions. Penn State leads the Big Ten in every primary offensive and defensive category except pass efficiency defense and scoring defense - and the Nittany Lions are second there.

If there's a silver lining here for No. 22 Illinois, it's that Ron Zook's crew has been in the crucible of two tight games while Penn State has overwhelmed everyone it has played. This could come down to a few Illini - old and new - standing up and being counted in front of 107,000-plus Penn State fans. MLB Brit Miller, who's tied for third nationally with 12 tackles per game, must pile up at least that many stops on Royster and fellow RB Stephon Green. Meanwhile, true freshman RT Jeff Allen needs to be unbelievable against Penn State's stable of pass rushers, particularly Maurice Evans who posted 12.5 sacks last year.

Northwestern (4-0, 0-0) at Iowa (3-1, 0-0)

When: 11 a.m. at Kinnick Stadium

TV: ESPN Classic

Radio: WGN 720-AM, WNUR 89.3-FM

Series: Iowa leads 46-20-3

Coaches: Pat Fitzgerald (14-14, third year at Northwestern); Kirk Ferentz (64-50, 10th year at Iowa).

Players to watch: Northwestern senior RB Tyrell Sutton says he's 100 percent after injuring his left hamstring last week against Ohio, which will be crucial for a struggling Wildcats offense against an Iowa defense that ranks fifth nationally in scoring (7.3 ppg) and second in pass-efficiency defense (80.3 points). QB C.J. Bacher threw a career-high 4 INTs last week, but he should be on point this week with healthy fingers on his throwing hand. And did you know that only Air Force has more sacks than Northwestern's 15? DE bookends Corey Wootton and Vince Browne could be in the backfield all day.

Iowa has settled on sophomore Ricky Stanzi as its QB. At least, that's the plan for this minute. Stanzi has 426 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INT in 48 throws, as opposed to incumbent Jake Christensen (Lockport) who has 372 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT in 56 throws. Fireplug RB Shonn Greene, after a year in academic purgatory, has returned to Iowa as a big-time threat. He's eighth nationally with 506 yards along with one TD in each game.

The skinny: When Iowa senior defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul made their first Big Ten starts way back in 2005, Northwestern redshirt freshman center Ben Burkett was starting his junior year at Toledo's St. Jesuit High School. That's a serious experience disadvantage for the Wildcats. King and Kroul are four-year dominant forces in the middle, and it's up to first-year starters like Burkett and left guard Keegan Kennedy to limit their impact. "We're not allowed to have that (rookie) mentality any more," Burkett said. "It's time to grow up."

With Northwestern and Iowa both ranking among the nation's top 13 teams in scoring defense, this should be a field-position struggle that could be won on special teams. The Wildcats will gladly hedge their bets there: Amado Villarreal is one of two kickers in the country to be perfect on at least 8 field-goal attempts, while punter Stefan Demos hasn't had a single touchback as he consistently deadens his boots inside the 20.

Purdue (3-1) at Notre Dame (2-1)

When: 2:43 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium

TV: Channel 5;

Radio: WLS 890-AM

Series: Notre Dame leads 51-26-2.

Coaches: Joe Tiller (85-55, 11th year at Purdue; 122-84-1 overall); Charlie Weis (24-16, fourth year at Notre Dame).

Players to watch: Senior TB Kory Sheets has developed into one of the finest all-around threats in Purdue history. Sheets has 2 touchdowns in each of the Boilers' games this year, which gives him 43 for his career. He also owns 2,562 career rushing yards to go with 82 receptions. Preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Curtis Painter, on the other hand, has been heinous. He was supposed to break all of Drew Brees' Big Ten records, but instead he's testing Joe Tiller's patience with these numbers: 68 of 114, 754 yards, 3 TDs and 3 INTs.

Is Notre Dame freshman WR Michael Floyd any good? With his 7 catches last week at Michigan State, Floyd set a single-game rookie record while producing the program's most receptions since Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija in the 2007 Sugar Bowl. The pass-catching exploits of Floyd (10 catches, 118 yards, 2 TDs) and Golden Tate (15 catches, 303 yards) are trying to mask a dismal rushing attack. Chicago's Robert Hughes leads the way with 142 yards and 2 scores.

The skinny: Notre Dame wraps up its three-game tour of the Big Ten's middle class with this traditional rivalry (every year since World War II ended) that has generally gone the Domers' way of late. Purdue was supposed to have an improved defense as led by LB Anthony Heygood, but that hasn't been the case to date. The Boilers are last in the Big Ten in rushing defense and total defense, but it remains to be seen if Notre Dame' weak running game can capitalize. On the flip side, the Irish gave up too much ground to MSU's Javon Ringer and Michigan's Sam McGuffie. Kory Sheets' ability ranks somewhere between those two, so look for Purdue to try to ride him to victory.

Northern Illinois (1-2, 0-1) at Eastern Michigan (1-3, 0-1)

When: 11 a.m. at Rynearson Stadium

TV: Channel 50

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Series: Northern Illinois leads 22-14-2.

Coaches: Jerry Kill (1-2 at NIU; 105-59 in 15th year overall); Jeff Genyk (14-36, fifth year at EMU).

Players to watch: Northern Illinois is doing everything by committee on offense. Senior Dan Nicholson and redshirt freshman DeMarcus Grady are sharing QB. Me'co Brown, Montell Clanton and Justin Anderson are sharing TB with 258 yards and 3 TDs between them. Thirteen different receivers have caught passes, though nobody has more than 7. Senior Matt Simon, who owns 79 career catches, could miss this game with a bad heel.

Eastern Michigan leads the MAC in rushing with a multi-headed attack that features Terrence Blevins (312 yards, 5 TDs) and Dwayne Priest (194 yards, 2 TDs). Third-year starting QB Andy Schmitt has been out with an injured left arm, but backup Drew Nicholson has been solid in his absence.

The skinny: Eastern Michigan used to be an automatic win for NIU, but no longer. The Eagles shattered that illusion last September in DeKalb, when they rallied from an early deficit to win 21-19. Dan Nicholson went the route in that game and remembers one play more than the rest - the interception he threw to linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw deep in NIU territory with 7:16 to go. The Eagles went ahead and scored to push their lead to 21-13.

Nicholson led a drive capped by his touchdown pass to Brandon Davis, but his 2-point pass didn't work. He then moved the Huskies into field-goal range, but Chris Nendick's game-winning 50-yard field-goal attempt was blocked as time expired. "They're still a real solid group," Nicholson said. "Nothing too different (from last year)."

Nicholson's actually being kind. Eastern Michigan ranks next-to-last in the MAC in scoring defense and has allowed at least 41 points in each of its last three games (against Michigan State, Toledo and Maryland). On the other hand, those who believe in comparative scores will note that EMU whomped Indiana State 52-0 on Aug. 28 while NIU squeezed by Indiana State 48-3 last week.

_Lindsey Willhite