Carter is also the second Nittany Lion to receive the Bednarik Award’s defensive player of the week honors, as now-injured safety Kevin Winston Jr. did so after Week 1. In the offseason, Carter was named to watch lists for both the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy. Both are given annually to college football’s best defensive player.

The coordinator had plenty of reason to be a ball of energy. After giving up a touchdown to Illinois on the opening drive of the game, he and his defense shut the Illini out the rest of the way to help the team earn a 21-7 victory.

Penn State remained at No. 8 in the ESPN College Football Power Index, which boosted Notre Dame one spot above the Nittany Lions at No. 7. The FPI gives Penn State a 60.7 percent