Penn State news, notes, and updates for Sept. 23 include the early point spread for the Lions’ meeting with Illinois, headlines of the day, and more. It’s time to dive into Monday’s top tweets and stories about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.

Penn State tweets of the day

We start with the first point spread for Penn State-Illinois. The Nittany Lions welcome the 4-0 and top 25 Fighting Illini to town for a 7:30 p.m. Big Ten contest on NBC. Head coach James Franklin’s team opened as a 17.5-point favorite for the contest on FanDuel. The over/under total is 48.5. That suggests, roughly, a 33-15 victory for Saturday’s home side. The Lions are 21-6 all-time against head coach Bret Bilemema’s program and are amid a one-game winning streak. Dating back to 2017, Penn State is 28-2 straight up when favored by 17 or more points at home. However, it’s just 15-14-1 against the number over that 30-game stretch. Franklin is 4-2 straight up and against the number against Illinois over the last decade.

“We’re obviously going to enjoy this for a couple hours, and then get into next week,” Lions coach James Franklin said Saturday night. “The last thing I’ll say for the fans, we need this place rocking next week, I’m calling for White Out energy. Everybody got me? That could be all your headlines. I’m writing your headlines. I’m the editor – White Out energy. So that’s going to be big next week. We need this place rocking, but we’re going to enjoy this for a couple hours, and then, you know, grade film. And then get going on our next opponent.”

Headlines of the day

Penn State’s 5 who thrived: Wideouts come to life against struggling Kent State: Flounders, PennLive

PSU report card: Grading the Nittany Lions’ blowout win over Kent State: Pickel, BWI

Penn State’s James Franklin on Penalties: ‘It Embarrasses Me’: Wogenrich, SI

First Impressions from Penn State’s 56-0 win over Kent State: Fitz, BWI

PSU Offense Is an All-Time Total Success vs. Lowly Kent State: Poorman, Statecollege.com

Penn State coordinator Tom Allen called the defense from the coaches box Saturday; will he stay there?: Pickel, BWI

Analysis: Penn State football potential, promise finally arriving. Will it be in time?: Bodani, YDR

Quote of the day

“I would say these last two weeks, I had pretty good practice. So I just got some confidence off that and coming from last game. I had a nice catch in practice, so that gave me a lot of confidence also. It was a one-on-one and I kind of went overtop of the other guy and caught it.

“(My confidence is) very high right now. I’m ust looking to keep it going. Keep stacking days and getting better and getting ready for conference (play). Just keep stacking days.”

–PSU receiver Omari Evans.

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