Illinois faces tough test at Penn State

Illinois (6-2, 2-2) at Penn State (7-1, 4-0)

When: 2:30 p.m. at Beaver Stadium

TV: ABC

Radio: WIND 560-AM

Series: Penn State leads 14-4; Illinois won 33-13 last season.

Coaches: Ron Zook (34-47, seventh year at UI); Joe Paterno (408-136-3, 46th year at Penn State).

Players to watch: Penn State RB Silas Redd has four straight 100-yard games and ran for a career-high 164 yards at Northwestern last week. DT Devon Still ranks second in the Big Ten with 12 tackles for loss, trailing only Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus (15). … After shuffling running backs most of the season, Illini coach Ron Zook vowed this week to stick with senior Jason Ford, who ran for 83 yards on 10 carries at Purdue.

The skinny: Illinois’ offense sputtered in two straight losses to Ohio State and Purdue. The Illini won handily at Penn State last year, though, and could pull within a game of the Leaders division lead with another victory. On defense, the Nittany Lions and Illini are nearly identical statistically, but Penn State has held five of eight opponents to 10 points or less.

Fast fact: Illinois senior PK Derek Dimke has made 10 straight field goals, the third-longest streak in school history.