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Rank and file
Illinois is 3-13 against Penn State, the worst record percentage-wise (.188) against any Big Ten school. Here is the list:
SCHOOL    ILLINOIS W-L    PERCENTAGE
Indiana    43-20-3    .674
Iowa    38-29-2        .565
Northwestern    52-45-5    .534
Purdue    41-37-6    .524
Wisconsin    36-34-7    .513    
Minnesota    27-32-3    .460
Michigan State    17-23-2    .429
Ohio State    30-62-4    .333
Michigan    22-66-2    .256
Penn State    3-13    .188

By BOB ASMUSSEN

Actually, the answer starts with a guy from Illinois. Who might soon be the school's president. Again.

As chairman of the Council of Ten in the late 1980s, then-Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry was instrumental in Penn State joining the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions didn't start playing football in the league until 1993.

Initial concerns about a dominating Penn State football program never materialized. But Joe Paterno's team has been good, especially against Ikenberry's school. Since 1993, the Nittany Lions are 10-2 when playing Illinois. The average margin in the 10 wins: 34-14. Only one of the games was decided by less than double digits, the 1994 classic.

"I suppose I deserve my share of the blame at least," Ikenberry said.

"Hopefully, (today) when all the dust clears, we will have rebalanced the scales and Illinois will come out on top."

Ikenberry doesn't feel guilty. He points to the big crowds the Nittany Lions draw at Illinois, including today's sellout. And he points to the way Penn State has acted since joining the Big Ten.

"They're a class act," Ikenberry said.

Penn State was a good fit for the Big Ten from an academic standpoint, Ikenberry said. But what about the Big Ten appealed to Penn State from an athletic standpoint? Ikenberry said then-Penn State President Bryce Jordan wanted to think about life A.P. (After Paterno).

"(Jordan) said, 'We think we've got to begin to plan for the post-Paterno era because you know Joe's not going to be around forever and he's getting up in years,' " Ikenberry said. "Here we are, how many years later?"

Sixteen years of football. And 20 years since the first conversations.

The initial meetings were extremely private. Bordering on secretive. Paterno, then-athletic director Jim Tarman and then-CFO Steve Garban visited with Ikenberry on the Illinois campus. Now a member of the Penn State board of trustees, Garban will be at today's game.

The group asked Ikenberry if he thought the Big Ten would be interested. Ikenberry's enthusiastic response gave them their answer.

The idea didn't go over very well in State College. Penn State fans enjoyed life as a football independent, with frequent games against nearby Pitt, Maryland, Temple, Syracuse and Rutgers.

Within the Big Ten, Ikenberry said, Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State expressed reservations about the addition. Northwestern and Minnesota had some qualms too, Ikenberry said.

Now, the qualms are gone. Penn State is as much a part of the Big Ten as Illinois, Ohio State, Wisconsin and the rest.

"I think actually it's been great for Penn State," Ikenberry said. "But I think it's been great for the Big Ten Conference."

Penn State was added without the idea of a 12th Big Ten school, Ikenberry said. But he did think, at some point, a 12th school would be considered.

"The problem is that we really have not been able to identify a school, with the possible exception of Notre Dame, in which we had a serious interest," Ikenberry said. "Notre Dame has not shown any serious interest in the Big Ten Conference. Folks have gotten pretty comfortable with 11 institutions in the Big Ten."

Percentagewise, nobody has been harder on the Illini than Penn State. The overall record is 3-13. All three wins came in Champaign.

"It must be our time then," Ikenberry said.

The Illini hope so. The last Penn State visit to Memorial Stadium was one of the three Illinois wins. Thanks to a big day by Arrelious Benn, the Illini beat No. 21 Penn State 27-20 in 2007.

"It was a huge game," Illinois tight end Michael Hoomanawanui said. "A big turning point. If we can get guys to play as hard as guys on the team played that year, we'll have a great chance to be successful."

"It did go a long way," Illinois defensive end Clay Nurse said. "That was a school that two years before blew us out (63-10). It was really good for us to come in and have a good game against them."

The modern-day Penn State players don't know what it's like to play as an independent. They don't have memories of the pre-Big Ten days.

"I'm not quite sure what it would be like prior to the Big Ten," Penn State linebacker Josh Hull said. "We take a lot of pride in playing in the Big Ten."

"Obviously, it's really cool to belong to a conference," Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark said.

Penn State's series dominance against Illinois helps the current players, Hull said.

"I think it's a sense of confidence," Hull said. "It's the same way as Iowa has had their way with us the last seven or eight years. They have a lot of confidence coming into the game, regardless of preseason rankings. I think that might play in our favor going to Illinois."

Illinois co-defensive coordinator Curt Mallory played at Michigan before Penn State joined the league. Mallory was working for his dad, Bill, as a graduate assistant at Indiana during the 1993 season. The Nittany Lions beat the Hoosiers 38-31 that first season.

"Having them in the conference is great," Mallory said. "In my opinion, the Big Ten's the best and you've got to have the best teams in the conference. With Coach Paterno and the tradition they have, it's a great addition."

The Hoosiers are winless against Penn State since 1993. But Indiana did get its pound of flesh in Mallory's second season as a grad assistant. A 35-29 win against Indiana in 1994 caused poll voters to drop Penn State from No. 1. The Nittany Lions never regained the position despite finishing 12-0. The Rose Bowl appearance against Oregon that season was the first of just two for Penn State.

Penn State has 12 winning seasons since joining the Big Ten, including six with at least 10 wins. The Nittany Lions are 139-61 as a Big Ten member.

The Illinois players like having Penn State in the league and on the schedule. Paterno is a big part of the appeal.

"JoePa is a great guy," Illinois quarterback Juice Williams said. "I look forward to shaking his hand after the game. It's an honor to be able to play against him."

"Playing against a legend like Joe Paterno is something you dream of growing up," Illinois defensive tackle Josh Brent said. "It definitely adds a lot of excitement to it."

Looking up
Penn State's Joe Paterno has 386 career wins, more than any coach in Division I-A history. In fact, it would take the following to come close - but not surpass - Paterno's I-A total.  
COACH, SCHOOL    WINS
Ron English, Eastern Mich.    0
Mike Haywood, Miami (Ohio)    0
Mike Locksley, New Mexico    0
Gary Andersen, Utah State    1
Dave Clawson, Bowling Green    1
Danny Hope, Purdue    1
Tim Beckman, Toledo    2
Dave Christensen, Wyoming    2
Rich Ellerson, Army    2
Lane Kiffin, Tennessee    2
Doug Marrone, Syracuse    2
Dan Mullen, Mississippi State    2
Stan Parrish, Ball State    2
Steve Sarkisian, Washington    2
DeWayne Walker, N. Mex. St.    2
Chip Kelly, Oregon    3
Paul Rhoads, Iowa State    3
Paul Wulff, Washington State    3
Todd Dodge, North Texas    4
Frank Spaziani, Boston College    4
Robb Akey, Idaho    6
Mario Christobal, Fla. Int.    6
Dabo Swinney, Clemson    6
Mike Sherman, Texas A&M    7
Neil Callaway, UAB    8
Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois    8
Gene Chizik, Auburn    9
David Elson, W. Kentucky    9
Greg McMackin, Hawaii    9
Steve Fairchild, Colorado St.    10
Larry Fedora, Southern Miss    10
Ken Niumatalolo, Navy    10
Tim Brewster, Minnesota    11
Al Golden, Temple    11
Kevin Sumlin, Houston    11
Jim Harbaugh, Stanford    12
David Bailiff, Rice    13
Bo Pelini, Nebraska    13
Mike Sanford, UNLV    13
Bill Stewart, West Virginia    13
Randy Shannon, Miami    14
Derek Dooley, La. Tech    15
Turner Gill, Buffalo    16
Butch Jones, Cent. Michigan    19
Mark Snyder, Marshall    19
Troy Calhoun, Air Force    20
Rick Stockstill, Middle Tenn.    20
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern    21
Total    377

Catch me if you can
Joe Paterno has 386 wins and counting. Here is what it would take for three current coaches to track down the Penn State legend:

COACH    SCHOOL    WINS    COMMENT
Mack Brown    Texas    199    The 58-year-old needs can get there by averaging 12 wins for the next 16 seasons.
Urban Meyer    Florida    87    If the 45-year-old can win 13 games a year, he'll pass Paterno in 23 seasons.
Bill Snyder    Kansas State    138    Stay on the sidelines until age 95, averaging 10 wins per season, and he'll have a chance.