CHAMPAIGN — Illinois needed to engineer comebacks in each of first two games. Start slow, finish better was the theme through wins against Kent State and Western Illinois.
Illinois' trip to Chicago switched the narrative. A better start against South Florida had the Illini in position to win that game at Soldier Field until the Bulls' fourth-quarter rally. Friday night's game against No. 10 Penn State played out in similar fashion. The rally was just bigger.
Illinois led Penn State in the third quarter. A trick-play touchdown pass from Trenard Davis to Ricky Smalling put the Illini up 24-21 just before the midway point.