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GAME NOTES: Coming off their first loss of the season, the 15th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions will attempt to right the ship, as they hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Champaign, to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Big Ten action.

For the second straight season, the favored Nittany Lions fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes. Last week, the team dropped a 21-10 decision to the Hawkeyes in Happy Valley, leaving PSU in an early Big Ten hole at 0-1.

Ron Zook's Illini are also 0-1 in-conference following last weekend's 30-0 shutout at the hands of Ohio State in Columbus. The loss was the second in three games this season, with the lone victory on the year being a 45-17 rout of FCS foe Illinois State.

These two teams are meeting for the 17th time, with Penn State holding a 13-3 advantage all-time. Penn State has won four of the last five meetings overall, including a 38-24 decision last year.

Penn State couldn't get much going last week against Iowa, as four turnovers, a blocked punt and a safety negated anything positive for the team. On the season, the numbers have been much better, with a good mix of the run and the pass keeping teams honest. PSU is putting up 127.2 ypg on the ground and a additional 247.5 ypg through the air. The first half has told the tale for the Nittany Lions, who have scored 76 points in the first two quarters compared to just 24 after the break.

Turnovers are a real concern for Joe Paterno.

"I'm very much concerned with the turnovers. There's no question about it. I started out saying, we had five turnovers. Five turnovers - I'm including the punt block as one of the five turnovers - you will lose most games you play. I don't care who you play. So, yeah, I am concerned with it. No question about it."

Quarterback Darryl Clark has played to mixed reviews, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes, for 958 yards and nine TDs. However, he has also thrown six interceptions and he must cut down those mistakes if Penn State is to be in the hunt for the conference crown. A new receiving corps has shown some promise in the early going, with Derek Moye (15 receptions, for 252 yards, two TDs), Chaz Powell (15 receptions, 213 yards, two TDs) and Graham Zug (12 receptions, for 153 yards, two TDs) all capable of making plays.

The ground game is spearheaded by one of the Big Ten's best in Evan Royster, who is netting nearly five yards per carry (4.9) and has three of the team's four rushing scores to date.

The Penn State defense certainly wasn't to blame for last week's debacle against the Hawkeyes, and has been rock-solid for the most part this season. The Nittany Lions have shown equal disdain for the run (75.5 ypg) and the pass (158.2 ypg), while showing the ability to rush the passer as well (12 sacks).

Standout linebackers Sean Lee (32 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, two sacks) and Navarro Bowman (13 tackles, 3.0 TFLs) have both missed time due to injury and that certainly hasn't helped. However, players like senior LB Josh Hull (41 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, one sack, one interception), senior tackle Jared Odrick (15 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, two sacks) and sophomore end Jack Crawford (14 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks) have stepped up.

The Illini offense has struggled a bit this year, none more so than against the Buckeyes last week, as the team was able to muster just 170 total yards, while being held scoreless. The team has found some success on the ground (192.0 ypg) at five yards per carry, despite not having a true workhorse in the backfield.

Jason Ford currently leads the team with 157 yards, although he has just 16 carries (9.8 ypc). Quarterback Juice Williams is next at a mere 94 yards.

Williams has split time under center with Eddie McGee and neither has had much success throwing the football, combining for just 155.7 ypg, with one TD pass between them and five interceptions. Once an explosive playmaker under center, Williams has struggled big time and Zook hopes his signal-caller hasn't lost confidence in his game.

"I hope not. I don't think so. I think, once again, you get to play this position (of quarterback) and you have to be the type of person where you can put it behind you and go. He's not the only quarterback out there in this country that's struggling a little bit right now. He understands that."

Jarred Fayson is the top options thus far on the outside, but he has just nine catches for 94 yards on the year.

It was Ohio State's rushing attack that did in the Illini last weekend, as the Buckeyes ran up and down the field to the tune of 236 yards. On the season, the team has struggled against the pass as well, allowing 253.7 ypg. The Illini have also lacked a consistent pass rush (three sacks) and have forced just five takeaways.

Sophomore linebacker Ian Thomas is a first-year starter, but currently leads the team in tackles with 24 stops. Junior strong safety Garrett Edwards is a close second at 22 tackles.

The Nittany Lions suffered a letdown against the Hawkeyes again and very well could pay the price at season's end. However, Illinois hasn't shown enough on either side of the ball to think that it has a chance to pull off the upset here.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Penn State 34, Illinois 14