Pat McCray had nine carries for 61 yards, Luke Altmyer completed 19 of 32 passes for 231 yards and Pat Bryant caught four passes for a career-high 135 yards and a TD in his final home game as the Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) ended a two-game losing streak.
Luke Altmyer was 20 of 33 for 226 yards and a TD for Illinois, but lost two fumbles.
The Fighting Illini (6-2, 3-2) hadn’t faced the top-ranked team in the nation since 2007, when they beat Ohio State 28-21 on the road.
The Illini have restocked their roster with talented transfers and freshmen for Coach Brad Underwood’s eighth season at the helm.
Illinois is now 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten after beating Michigan for the first time since 2009.
The Illini hadn’t beaten the Boilermakers at Memorial Stadium since 2010.
Illinois started fast but couldn’t make the adjustments necessary to escape Penn State’s speed on defense as the game wore on.
The last time Indiana and Illinois finished the same season with winning records was in 2007 — Indiana was 7-6, Illinois was 9-4. Illinois has big wins over Kansas and Nebraska.
The Illini are 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten and have beaten two ranked opponents in the same season for the first time since 2007.
Luke Altmyer threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns, both to Pat Bryant, to lead Illinois to a 30-9 win over Central Michigan on Saturday.
Texas A&M transfer Ethan Moczulski kicked a school-record 59-yard field goal as time expired in the first half gave the Illini a 13-6 lead at halftime.
Illinois (2-0) beat a ranked nonconference opponent for the first time since topping then-No. 22 Arizona State on Sept. 17, 2011.
The Fighting Illini Football team blasted past Eastern Illinois 45-0 Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
Four Eastern Illinois turnovers were turned into 24 points by the Illini.
The Illini welcome several key transfers and have quarterback Luke Altmyer heading into his second season as the expected starter.