Over the course of an unprecedented nine overtimes, Illinois survived Penn State's botched attempt at a trick play, lost its quarterback and a powerful running back to injury, and failed to gain just three measly yards again and again.
When Casey Washington finally came down with the winning catch Saturday, he hardly knew what to do.
“I actually cried,” he said. “It just felt good.”
The Illini came out victorious in the NCAA's first ever nine-overtime game, edging the seventh-ranked Nittany Lions 20-18 on Washington's 2-point conversion catch from Brandon Peters to end a string of goal-line stalemates under college football's recently rewritten overtime rules.
The sides were tied at 10 after regulation, exchanged field goals in the first two overtimes, then began to alternate one-and-done drives from the 3-yard line in the third OT as part of a format tweaked ahead of the 2021 season.
In the ninth OT, Clifford’s pass to Parker Washington was broken up by linebacker Khalan Tolson. Peters then found Washington near the back of the end zone for the winning completion.
Bullish backs Chase Brown and McCray blasted through wide-open holes and flanked Penn State’s defense for a combined 365 rushing yards and a touchdown and James McCourt kicked three field goals, including 39- and 32-yarders in overtime, on a soggy day at Beaver Stadium. The Illini (3-5, 2/3 Big Ten) outgained the Nittany Lions 370 yards to 207 in regulation and battled back from an early 10-0 deficit.
“To see our locker room right now is pretty special,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. “They fight for one another.”
KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught a touchdown pass and Jordan Stout added three field goals for the Nittany Lions (5-2, 2-2), who ran for just 62 yards and struggled to protect a banged-up Clifford.
Led by Brown’s 229 total yards, the Illini tied it 10-10 early in the fourth quarter with a 37-yard field goal from McCourt.
“We had other opportunities on offense, defense and special teams that we could’ve made big plays to end the game and we did not,” Penn State coach James Franklin said.
Clifford suffered an unspecified injury on Oct. 9 at Iowa and didn’t finish that game. He handled a light workload early Saturday.
The third-year starter attempted just nine passes in the first half and was slow to get to his feet after taking a sack on his first series. After two lackluster possessions and just 15 yards on seven plays, Clifford was able to rally his offense on its third try.
Working quickly, Clifford completed two straight passes downfield to top target Jahan Dotson, then fired a bullet to slanting KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 42-yard touchdown.
Stout added a 35-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 11:42 to play in the second quarter.
Led by Brown and McCray, the Illini ran the ball 12 times on a 15-play drive that ended when Brown bulled into the end zone from a yard out and cut Penn State’s lead to 10-7. Another 16-play, 70-yard drive led to McCourt's tying field goal. (recap courtesy AP)
*Random thoughts from Saturday's game......
*'Karma is a bitch'.....Illini football finally get pay back for that Illinois at Penn State game 2011 where the officiating, snowballs did then Ron Zook's team in....never forget then Illini AD Mike Thomas at the game in the visiting team box being implored by Loyalty Circle boosters to ask that the snowballs being thrown at the Illini players stop....Thomas didn't ask the Penn State AD/officials, reportedly saying to a few pro Zook boosters, 'well they really can't do anything to stop that'.
*Football a game about mental and physical toughness-After the game Penn State head coach James Franklin talked about how the Nittany Lions had a lot of players that played Saturday who hadn't practiced all week...’rainy day weather didn’t help’....Franklin took the blame admitting his team wasn't prepared/adjusted very well to Illinois running the ball so much 'heavy' with 6 plus linemen example....in reality, Franklin/team played like a squad that thought they could just throw their cleats out on the field, get a big lead early...coast...not prepared mentally or physically....Nittany Lions let Illinois hang around too long, gain confidence and in the end win on the road....sometimes teams 'win' the game, other times winning team stays out of the way, lets other team beat themselves....Illini stayed out of Penn State's way on Saturday in Not So Happy Valley.
*'Two ways to 'grade' a defensive coordinator? How well his defense does in the red zone, how well his scheme attacks oline pass protections ability to get a free rusher to the QB…..Illini defensive coordinator Walters/staff call/scheme majority of season...in the win Illini scheme very good job of pre snap movement on that had Penn State on offense confused all day while defenders were running free at Clifford.'-Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters and his staff majority of season have had their unit play well enough to keep the Illini in games going into the fourth quarter.......Only touchdown Penn State scored on Saturday was a busted assignment where the safety bit on play action leaving the middle of the field open for a slant/score.
*Can't complain about the game plan offensively with a QB that is 'challenged' throwing the ball...heavy/un-balanced line...trying to throw to the tight ends...passes by receivers off reverses that were open but not completed...all built around what became a single wing running attack 2nd half…..Penn State knew on defense what was coming but couldn't slow the Illini backs down....wasn't real impressed when Illini signed Plainfield East (Ill.) lineman Zachary Barlev (#68) but Saturday the true freshman was majority of the game the sixth linemen in the heavy set, showed a lot of bounce, power, athletic ability in his play....much better looking lineman than I had imagined.
*In my opinion.....Saturday's win now ranks up there with the classic 1980 Illinois vs. Ohio State game as the craziest Illini football contest....no national TV for that one kids….listened to the game on the radio while raking leaves/jumping up and down once in awhile excited Moline, Illinois November 1980.....fun fact, Nick Saban was the Buckeyes defensive backs coach that day in 1980 when Wilson/Illinois threw for all those yards in Columbus……..Illini QB Dave Wilson vs. Buckeye QB Art Schlichter.....Buckeye QB paced OSU, passing for 284 yards and four touchdowns and, along the way, breaking Archie Griffin’s school record for career total yardage. Receivers Doug Donley and Gary Williams were superb, as well. But the defense? Ugh. They made Wilson the man of the hour, allowing him to pass for 621 yards — an NCAA record at the time — while rallying the Illini from deficits of 28-0 and 35-7. Wilson, who threw six TD passes, matched NCAA marks by completing 43 of 69 passes.
Illinois’ comeback was quick against the defenseless Buckeyes, who were missing starting rover back Todd Bell because of injury. The Illini pulled to 35-28 in the third quarter and 42-35 with 11:49 remaining. But Ohio State scored less than a minute later to restore its edge to 14 points. Then defensive back Vince Skillings, who had an otherwise forgettable day, helped stymie Illinois with a forced fumble after a long pass play and an interception of Wilson with 3:06 remaining. The Illini scored their last TD with 11 seconds left. (recap courtesy the Columbus Dispatch)