STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Hundreds of recruits lined the Beaver Stadium sideline before Penn State ’s Big Ten opener on Saturday night. James Franklin worked his way down the line, shaking hands and joking with younger siblings.

No. 9 Penn State arguably faced a test in its Big Ten opener, hosting No. 19 Illinois on Saturday. The Fighting Illini came into the matchup off a big win over then-No. 22 Nebraska in Lincoln, improving to 4–0 and looking like a possible factor in the conference race.

Penn State remained at No. 8 in the ESPN College Football Power Index, which boosted Notre Dame one spot above the Nittany Lions at No. 7. The FPI gives Penn State a 60.7 percent