CBS analyst picks Illinois over Penn State after Week 2 performance

Just two weeks into the 2025 college football season, there have been a handful of teams to separate themselves as the top contenders in the Big Ten. Within that group, there is further room for debate. That includes an interesting look at the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Going into the season, most analysts and experts would place Penn State ahead of Illinois. However, following Week 2, Brian Jones of CBS has made the move to place Illinois ahead of the Nittany Lions and into that third slot within the Big Ten.

“I would probably have them definitely behind Oregon, Ohio State,” Brian Jones said. “I’d have them in front of Penn State right now.”

Going into Week 2, Penn State was ranked second in the AP Poll, behind just Ohio State. Oregon came in sixth, while Illinois was 11th. They’d all go on to win in Week 2, with the Ducks and Fighting Illini playing Power Four opponents. Neither one of those games were particularly close, with Illinois beating a Duke team that many thought could give them trouble in a road environment.

Penn State, meanwhile, got off to a slow start against what was an overmatched FIU team. That game was 10-0 at halftime, and the Nittany Lions would go on to win 34-0. However, after Penn State played Nevada in Week 1, the Nittany Lions don’t have a Power Four win yet. That means that Illinois has the more impressive win in the games played this season.

“I love the way they play on the line of scrimmage. You mentioned the type of approach Coach [Bret] Bielema employs,” Jones said. “And it’s about the line of scrimmage. Winning in the trenches. So, I would have them right ahead of Penn State right now.”

Penn State made it to the College Football Playoff last season, going on a run to the semifinal. The Nittany Lions then returned a significant amount of veteran talent, including quarterback Drew Allar, as well as running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. It’s no wonder why expectations have been so high for the Nittany Lions.

Illinois, meanwhile, has never made the Playoff. The Illini did, however, win 10 games last season and came very close to getting into the field. They also returned a veteran quarterback in Luke Altmyer. So, it’s not as if Illinois has come out of nowhere early this season.

Penn State and Illinois don’t meet on the field this season. However, Penn State is going to have games against Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana, all of whom made the Playoff in 2024. Illinois sees Indiana and Ohio State. So, there’s plenty of chances to prove themselves on the field in the coming weeks.