Illinois stunned No. 7 Penn State 20-18 in a record nine overtimes on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, winning on a two-point conversion pass from Brandon Peters to Casey Washington after the Nittany Lions missed their attempt. Both teams exchanged field goals in the first two overtime periods, and the game moved to a two-point conversion shootout from the 3-yard line. It resulted in the longest game in FBS history.
After neither team successfully scored on any of their first five two-point tries, Illinois (3-5, 2-3 Big Ten) converted with Isaiah Williams to start the eighth overtime, and Penn State running back Noah Cain answered to extend the game. Penn State (5-2, 2-2) was then stopped to start the ninth period, and Illinois got the game-winning pass from Peters. Peters relieved an injured Artur Sitkowski, who was injured earlier in overtime.
The victory marked Illinois’ first road win against a ranked team since 2007, when it beat No. 1 Ohio State.
Alternating two-point conversions were implemented in 2019 following the 2018 LSU-Texas A&M game that went to seven overtime periods. The rule initially called for two-point attempts only starting in the fifth overtime. That was changed to the start of the third overtime period for the 2021 season.
Penn State forced three turnovers, but Illinois ran all over the Nittany Lions' defense, with 67 attempts for 357 yards, led by Chase Brown's 223 rushing yards.
Sean Clifford started at quarterback for Penn State after two weeks of uncertainty. Clifford left the Nittany Lions' last game on Oct. 9 at Iowa with an undisclosed injury, and his status had been unclear heading into the matchup with the Fighting Illini.
Clifford did not look 100 percent, however, and completed 19 of 34 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown with minus-28 rushing yards, including sacks. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 10-0 lead but did not score in the second half. They visit Ohio State next Saturday.
“I’m trying to get as healthy as I can be because we’ve got a big one next week,” Clifford said. “I’ll keep getting better and keep being able to push that (increased mobility) a little bit more.”
(Photo: Gregory Fisher / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Penn State takeaways: Sean Clifford's health, a run-game debacle and missed opportunities headline 9-OT meltdown
What does this say about Penn State's QBs?
Audrey Snyder, Penn State beat writer: Clifford was seen grabbing at his side as he worked his way to the sideline at one point. Coach James Franklin said the quarterback was limited, though Clifford said he was not. "We felt like Sean gave us the best opportunity to win,” Franklin said after the game.
That statement is not a ringing endorsement for either of the backup quarterbacks, Ta'Quan Roberson and Christian Veilleux, if the hobbled starter was Penn State’s best bet entering a game in which it was heavily favored.
What happened to Penn State's run defense?
Snyder: Penn State’s inability to stop the run against a one-dimensional team was an alarming development. Penn State heads to Ohio State next weekend and still must play Michigan and Michigan State. This run defense now looks like a liability, with the loss of defensive tackle PJ Mustipher dealing a big blow. Coziah Izzard started in the injured Mustipher’s place. Penn State’s defense was blown off the ball all game, as Illinois wracked up 357 yards on the ground.
Illinois’ winning points
We have a decision.@IlliniFootball upsets No. 7 Penn State in an FBS-record 9⃣(!) OTs. pic.twitter.com/I23CJ2ohIM
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 23, 2021