Tate | Illini not ready for big stage just yet

Cornerback Nate Hobbs was among the five Illini to return from a three-game suspension ahead of Friday night’s 63-24 loss to Penn State at Memorial Stadium. Hobbs had two tackles.For the first time in two seasons, Illinois used some fancy offensive schemes to grab the second-half lead on a Big Ten opponent — however briefly — Friday night.

But Lovie Smith's Illini aren't quite ready for prime-time.

They weren't ready for the bright lights of Chicago when they were outscored 18-0 in the fourth quarter by South Florida. And they were badly outclassed as Penn State turned a 24-21 deficit into a 63-24 embarrassment at Memorial Stadium.

Oh, and it was such a marvelous evening ... literally pleading…