Penn State has plenty on line vs. Michigan
This team is back. That team is back. The practice of proclaiming that a struggling traditional college football power has returned to elite status after a big win is fraught with false steps.
The truth is that a return to glory can rarely be narrowed down to a single game. But if there ever was a “they’re back” moment in college football that turned out to be real, it was on Oct. 22, 2016, in State College, Pa.
That night, unranked Penn State — a month removed from getting demolished at Michigan — beat No. 2 Ohio State in a Beaver Stadium whiteout. For the first time under coach James Franklin, Happy Valley was euphoric TOP 25 SCHEDULE TODAY
No. 1 Alabama vs. Tennessee, 3:30 p.m.
No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 19 Michigan, 7:30 p.m.
No. 4 TCU vs. Kansas, 8 p.m.
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. Maryland, noon
No. 8 Miami vs. Syracuse, 3:30 p.m.
No. 9 Oklahoma at Kansas State, 4 p.m.
No. 10 Oklahoma State at Texas, Noon
No. 11 Southern Cal at No. 13 Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. No. 14 Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina, 3:30 p.m.
No. 15 Washington State vs. Colorado, 10:45 p.m. No. 16 South Florida at Tulane, 7 p.m.
No. 18 Michigan State vs. Indiana, 3:30 p.m.
No. 20 UCF at Navy, 3:30 p.m.
No. 21 Auburn at Arkansas, 7:30 p.m.
No. 23 West Virginia at Baylor, 8 p.m.
No. 24 LSU at Mississippi, 7:15 p.m.
about Penn State football.
The Nittany Lions have been one of the best teams in the country since.
One year after that victory,
the Nittany Lions have another whiteout scheduled and another Big Ten power visiting for a nationally televised game.
The difference is that it will be no upset if No. 2 Penn State (6-0) beats No. 19 Michigan (5-1) tonight.
The Wolverines have one of the best defenses in the country, but a lethargic offense (86th in the nation). Penn State looks like a College Football Playoff team right now with a Heisman Trophy contender in running back Saquon Barkley, a top25 offense (6.49 yards per play) and a top-five defense (4.01 ypp).
“They’re really good everywhere,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said.
It’s easy to point to last year’s Ohio State game as a turning point for Penn State in the post-Joe Paterno era, but the humbling loss to Michigan was also notable. The Nittany Lions looked light years from being able to consistently compete with the best in the country. They have not lost a regular-season game since.
Things to know about tonight’s game — the first since 2002 in which both teams are ranked:
I know you: Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown and Franklin worked together at Maryland under coach Ralph Friedgen in 2009 and ‘10.
Heisman watch: Barkley’s Heisman campaign slowed a bit the last couple weeks as he was held to a 121 yards rushing and 60 receiving. Still, he is the focus of Michigan’s defense.
Penn State’s offensive line has had issues keeping defenders out of the backfield and giving Barkley a chance to get rolling. The Nittany Lions rank 122nd in the nation in tackles for loss allowed at 8.33 per game.
Sluggish Wolverines: Michigan’s team passer efficiency rating is 114.41, better than only Illinois and Rutgers in the Big Ten. John O’Korn (one touchdown pass, four interceptions) is expected to start again at quarterback.
GameDay: For the first time since 2009, ESPN’s “College GameDay” pregame show will broadcast from State College. Beaver Stadium holds almost 107,000 people and when almost all of them are wearing white it can be hypnotic. The Nittany Lions are 6-7 in whiteout games.