BAN ADDS FUEL TO MICHIGAN’S UNBEATEN RUN

Before the game, Blake Corum warmed up wearing a ski hat that summed up Michigan's attitude right now: “Michigan vs. Everybody.”

After the Wolverines were done pummeling Penn State, Corum wore a bloodied bridge of his nose and the satisfaction of knowing that everybody is still winless against Michigan this season.

With Jim Harbaugh banned by the Big Ten Conference, Corum, J.J. Mccarthy and the Wolverines played unfazed by a scandal that has hounded the program for weeks — and their toughest opponent yet — grinding past the Nittany Lions 24-15 on Saturday.

“We're one. It made us stronger,” Corum said. “Obviously, we wanted Coach Harbaugh to be here, but we did it for him today. We've been going through a lot lately, but it's only brought us closer together.”

Corum ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, Mccarthy made a few key plays with his arm and legs and the Wolverines (10-0, 7-0, No. 3 CFP) improved to 3-0 since it was revealed the program was under NCAA investigation for a sign-stealing scheme.

The timeline of the accusations cover the last three seasons of Michigan's surge to the top of the Big Ten and two straight College Football Playoff appearances.

Coincidence? Plenty of fans think not.

“People can say whatever they want,” fifth-year offensive

Michigan 24, Penn State 15 lineman Trevor Keegan said. “We know what's true. We know what's in this locker room. We trust each other. We're brothers, we're in this thing together. That's the way it's going to be.”

The struggles in big games continued for coach James Franklin and Penn State (8-2, 5-3, No. 10 CFP), which scored a combined 27 points in losses to Big Ten East rivals Ohio State and Michigan this season.

“We've lost to the No. 1 and the No. 3 team in the country, that's not good enough,” Franklin said. “We have to find ways to win those games.”

In a game Harbaugh no doubt loved from afar, after Michigan's attempt to reverse the ban legally failed, the Wolverines ran the ball on 32 straight plays, starting with the final two of the first half and ending with a couple of kneel-downs.

“Obviously the running game became a priority and I think our guys up front really asserted themselves to be dominant and those backs ran super hard,” said offensive coordinator/line coach Sherrone Moore, who took over as acting head coach.

Mccarthy said the team Facetimed with Harbaugh after the win.

“He was a jolly good fellow,” Mccarthy said, referring to the jingle Harbaugh likes to have the team sing to celebrate the star of a game.