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The Illinois Fighting Illini upset No. 7 Penn State on Saturday afternoon. That sentence alone is an attention-grabber. But HOW Illinois pulled it off is even crazier. This contest didn’t have the theatrics of the 2019 Wisconsin or Michigan State games, but it was certainly heart-pounding and noteworthy in its own way.
It was a historic day in State College, as the Illini & Nittany Lions went toe-to-toe for a record-breaking NINE overtimes, with the Orange & Blue prevailing, 20-18. And the longer the game went on, the more people across social media were talking — fans, alumni, reporters, players, pretty much everybody was transfixed:
#Illini scoring a touchdown:
— Marlee Wierda (@WCIA3Marlee) October 23, 2021
Officials:
Having to watch this entire Illinois v. Penn State game might be a good litmus test of if college football is really for you.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 23, 2021
America does not need this much Penn State-Illinois
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) October 23, 2021
This would never happen if Illinois and Penn State had a runner on 2nd to begin extras
— Leila Rahimi (@leilarahimi) October 23, 2021
If this goes to 7 OTs Bielema and Franklin settle things with a hot dog eating contest.
— Todd Brommelkamp (@ToddBrommelkamp) October 23, 2021
ILLINOIS AND PENN STATE FOREVER AND FOREVER 100 OT’S
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) October 23, 2021
Illinois-Penn State OT feels like a dueling beer pong marathon when both sides have one cup left… and no one can hit it.
— Anish Shroff (@AnishESPN) October 23, 2021
The over-under in Penn State vs Illinois was 45.5. They played nine overtimes. And if they’d scored another touchdown, they still would have been under. — Dan
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) October 23, 2021
Illinois putting up a total of 20 points to win a 9 overtime game is peak Big Ten.
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) October 23, 2021
Engrave this somewhere immediately pic.twitter.com/nFYFXQM24r
— Alex Roux (@a_roux) October 23, 2021
I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW
— Martin O'Donnell (@MartinOD64) October 23, 2021
I L L
Oh the humanity, it’s over:
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 23, 2021
Illinois beats Penn State 20-18 in 9 OTs
Score in OTs
Illinois 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
Penn State 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
ILLINOIS PULLS OFF THE UPSET OVER NO. 7 PENN STATE IN THE 9TH OT pic.twitter.com/YGRhuAIAdO
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 23, 2021
History made -- the first 9OT game and the first time I've ever seen "nonuple" used on Twitter. https://t.co/tOPL4M9jGt
— Drew Pastorek (@kerotsap) October 23, 2021
They really did it. @IlliniFootball is BUZZIN' after the 9 OT upset over No. 7 Penn State. pic.twitter.com/vcRXdefbpG
— Illinois on BTN (@IllinoisOnBTN) October 23, 2021
Sad Valley…
— Kenenna Odeluga (@KOdeluga) October 23, 2021
Feeding off all the doubt. #ILL pic.twitter.com/dr3RWqJuS6
— CHASE BROWN (@chasebrown____) October 23, 2021
Gone remember this forever!!!!!! https://t.co/5BJp83ORbK
— Tony Adams Jr. (@Iwill_suceed20) October 23, 2021
As called on Russian TV: pic.twitter.com/PqQkB5d8rH
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 23, 2021
WHAT A GAME @IlliniFootball!! #ILL
— Mikey Dudek (@MDFlash_7) October 23, 2021
CLOSED CASE
— Daniel Barker (@DB9_Era) October 23, 2021
LFG. #ILLINI pic.twitter.com/dyAT5E7Pcp
— Josh Whitman (@IlliniAD) October 23, 2021
9 OT… + showed some guts today. Proud of y’all!
— Bennett Williams (@bennettw04) October 23, 2021
Seriously...when’s the last time people were talking this much about an Illinois football game? Even for a fleeting moment, it’s pretty cool.
I know I speak for many viewers & Illini fans when I say that I was exhausted watching this game. There was excitement, suspense, plenty of rage-inducing officiating. Illinois was able to produce in the clutch and find a way to win. Even if the game was comically bad, it’s still more fun when your guys win. And our guys did.