TiVo Alert - 1994 Illinois Game

For those of you with the Big Ten Network, be sure to set your DVR for 5:30 PM ET on Thursday September 25. The BTN will be featuring the 1994 Penn State-Illinois game as part of it's "Big Ten's Greatest Games" series. Should be an excellent way to get pumped up for the primetime matchup this weekend. For those of you too young to remember the 1994 team, the Illinois game was a pivotal game in the season.

Penn State was 8-0 and ranked #2 in the country and appeared to have smooth sailing ahead to an undefeated record. But after giving up a few late touchdowns to Indiana the week before, which made the score look closer than it was, Penn State had dropped to #2 in the polls behind Nebraska. There was no BCS back then so the Big Ten Champion was obligated to go to the Rose Bowl no matter what thus preventing a #1 vs. #2 showdown at the end of the season. PSU needed to make a major statement in order to impress the voters enough to take Nebraska's place at the top.

I won't rehash the Illinois game for you, but I'll just say it featured a furious comeback and an amazing fourth quarter drive to win. The Illinois defense featured several players that went on to play in the NFL making it that much more impressive. It's a game every Penn State fan should go back and watch from time to time as it was truly one of the greatest games in our history.