The Day After

REVIEW

Every game has a defining moment when the outcome is established. Here's the play from Saturday's Illinois-Iowa game:

THE SITUATION

The Illini trail 7-3 with 8:25 left in the first half.

THE PLAY

On third and 13 from his own 14, Tim Lavery's pass to George McDonald-Ashford falls incomplete. Ryan Tabloff drops back to punt for the Illini. The plan is to keep the ball away from Iowa star returner Tim Dwight.

THE RESULT

Tabloff's 47-yard kick is taken by Tony Collins at the Iowa 39. Dwight knocks an Illinois defender out of the play at the Iowa 42. Collins races toward his right and finds a hole through the Illinois coverage. Hawkeye Rob Thein makes the final key block, knocking Steve Willis off his feet at the Illini 42. Eric Guenther, Tabloff and Ivan Benson can't keep Collins out of the end zone.

THE OUTCOME

The Hawkeyes take control of what had been a close game. Illinois can't move on its next drive, and Iowa kicks a field goal. The Hawkeyes add a touchdown in the final seconds of the half for a dominating 24-3 lead.

THE RECORD

So. Miss 24 UI 7

Louisville 26 UI 14

Wash State 35 UI 22

Iowa 38 UI 10

Saturday vs. Penn State

Oct. 11 at Wisconsin

Oct. 25 vs. Purdue

Nov. 1 at Indiana

Nov. 8 vs. Northwestern

Nov. 15 at Ohio State

Nov. 22 vs. Michigan St.

PREVIEW

On Saturday, Illinois plays host to Penn State. A quick read on the Nittany Lions:

LAST GAME

Penn State improved to 3-0 on Sept. 20 by pounding host Louisville 57-21. That's the same Louisville team that defeated Illinois the previous Saturday. The Nittany Lions took a 50-14 halftime lead and cruised after intermission.

WHO TO WATCH

Joe Jurevicius. Thought we were going to say Curtis Enis, didn't you? Through three games, Jurevicius has been the top offensive threat for the Nittany Lions. The senior leads the Big Ten in receiving yards a game. He has 14 catches for 330 yards and five touchdowns.

WHERE TO WATCH

Big shocker: It's ESPN2. The network should be called TNT (Turner Network Television). The 11:30 game is the fourth Illinois appearance on ESPN2 this season.

REASON TO WATCH

The Illinois losing streak soon might become a national story. At 10 games, the streak is the third-longest in the nation. Iowa State and Northern Illinois have lost 11 in a row. Uh-oh: Iowa State plays Missouri, and NIU goes against Bowling Green.

BY THE NUMBERS

THE RECORD

Penn State 34 Pitt 17

Penn State 52 Temple 10

Penn State 57 Louisville 21

Saturday vs. Illinois

Oct. 11 vs. Ohio State

Oct. 18 vs. Minnesota

Nov. 1 at Northwestern

Nov. 8 vs. Michigan

Nov. 15 at Purdue

Nov. 22 vs. Wisconsin

Nov. 29 at Michigan St.