The Lions roughed up Illinois to improve to 7-2 and PSU seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. Anyway, here are my picks ...
OFFENSE: QB CHRISTIAN HACKENBERG (21 of 29, 266 yards, 2 TDs). And wait, the impressive numbers don't stop there. Hackenberg also caught a 14-yard scoring pass from running back Nick Scott on a third-quarter trick play and did not throw an interception. Effective AND efficient.
DEFENSE: LB TROY REEDER (three stops, INT, pass defensed). The redshirt freshman delivered arguably the big play, intercepting a Wes Lunt pass and returning it 44 yards to set up the Lions' second TD.