Rockin’ the Big House
The good, the bad and the ugly of the Nittany Lions’ victory over Michigan — their 1st win of the season
For the first time since August — before the Big Ten initially postponed the football season, before Penn State kicked off its 2020 campaign against Indiana and before the Nittany Lions had a program-worst 0-5 start — James Franklin looked visibly happy Saturday afternoon.
The seventh-year head coach had just led Penn State to break its fivegame skid and get its first win at Michigan since 2009. And during postgame interviews, he was in a noticeably better mood.
“There’s been a lot of things going on this year,” Franklin said after the Nittany Lions’ 27-17 win. “And to see our team battle through that adversity and our program battle through that adversity, with all types of limitations and issues and challenges and [lack of ] depth, I couldn’t be happier.”
The Nittany Lions put together their most complete game of the season against the Wolverines.
For the first time all year, Penn State went into halftime with a lead. It also scored in double digits in a first half for the first time since its season opener against the Hoosiers.
Though it’s impossible to fully turn around a season in which the Nittany Lions began by losing five consecutive games, Franklin and his team finally had something to celebrate — even if it was only for one day.
“We’re gonna have Victory Monday dinner,” Franklin said, “which is going to be the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.”
GOOD
QB Sean Clifford found his groove: A large factor that contributed toward Penn State winning its first game of the season on Saturday was improved quarterback play.
After being benched in the second quarter against Nebraska in Week4and for almost three full quarters last week against Iowa, redshirt junior quarterback Sean Clifford was again the starter for the Nittany Lions versus Michigan. And it looked like he had regained the swagger that he played with in 2019, when he led Penn State to an 11-3 campaign.
Going into Saturday, Clifford had completed just 87 of his 152 pass attempts (57.2 completion percentage) for 1,070 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’d also had two fumbles returned for touchdowns.
OnSaturday, the 6-foot-2, 217-pound Ohio native completed 17 of his 28 pass attempts for 163 yards and no interceptions, while adding 73 yards and a touchdown on the ground on nine carries.
Clifford especially got it done with his legs. With 3:40 left in the first half, he broke through the line of scrimmage and out-ran two Michigan defensive backs to the left corner of the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown.
Clifford said he felt like he was “back to the Sean that I used to be.” Penn State might just be able to add a couple more wins to its 2020 record if Clifford can regain his 2019 form.
RB Keyvone Lee’s career day: Even in the absence of sophomore running back Devyn Ford, Penn State had its best game on the ground all season. That’s thanks to freshman running back Keyvone Lee, who got the first start of his career.
Lee finished with career highs of 134 rushing yards on 22 carries. He scored a touchdown, too.
W RP ar ker Washington leads receiving corps: Another freshman who helped lead the way for Penn State’s offense on Saturday against Michigan was receiver Parker Washington.
Even though junior receiver Jahan Dot son had an uncharacteristically quiet outing( three catches for 30 yards ), Washington helped make sure the Nittany Lions’ passing attack was a threat. The 5- foot -10,205- pound Sugar Land, Texas, native caught nine passes for 93 yards, both career bests. No other Ni ttanyL ions receiver had more than three catches or 30 yards.
BAD
Run defense: Though Penn State won, the Nittany Lions gave up 174 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. They also let Michigan running back Hassan Haskins have his way for the majority of the game. Haskins finished with 101 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.
The Wolverines went into Saturday’s game ranked No. 96 in the country in rushing yards per game, averaging 131 per contest, but their ground game looked formidable against the Nittany Lions.
If Penn State hopes to add a few more wins to its 2020 record, it will need to tighten up its run defense and not give up as many big plays on the ground.
Absence of RB Devyn Ford: After leaving Penn State’s game last week against Iowa after the first drive because of an apparent injury, sophomore running back Devyn Ford didn’t play Saturday against Michigan. According to the ABC broadcast, Ford didn’t even make the trip to Ann Arbor because of a death in his family.
If Ford’s injury is season-ending, he will be the third Nittany Lions running back to have to cut his 2020 campaign short. Star redshirt junior running back Journey Brown was forced to medically retire because of a heart condition, and standout sophomore running back Noah Cain was ruled out for the season after a foot injury in Week 1 against Indiana.
Through the five games he’s played, Ford has totaled 209 rushing yards (41.8 per game) and two touchdowns on the ground. The Virginia native was supposed to be Penn State’s new No. 1 option at running back in the absence of Brown and Cain.
And even though Lee demonstrated Saturday that he’s capable of leading the Nittany Lions’ running back room, another hit to the team’s depth isn’t what Penn State needs in an already tumultuous season.
UGLY
Redzoneoffense: Penn State’s inability to convert on opportunities to score touchdowns in the red zone has been one of the themes of this season.
Though the Nittany Lions had a slightly better than usual performance in this department, scoring on four of their five trips to the red zone, they still didn’t capitalize on key chances to put points on the board. Out of their five trips inside the 20-yard line, Penn State only scored two touchdowns.