Penn State football falls to MI in final home game of season

The Wolverines are virtually in a must-win situation if they want a shot at the title.

They find a way because they have a defense that buckles in the red zone and braces at the goal line.

The Wolverines had two game-winning defensive stops against Minnesota and IN to preserve the win, and they had multiple on Saturday that earned them another win.

The Wolverines (9-2, 6-1, No. 12 CFP) managed to stay one step ahead of those Nittany Lions (7-4, 4-3) on Saturday. “Whenever you win a road game, you’re overcoming the other team, you’re overcoming the other team’s fans. He has pushed us to our limit, when we face adversity, we can overcome it a little easier”. “We struggled around the rim tonight because they were so big”.

Not only did MI State ruin Ohio State’s unbeaten season, the Spartans did it without future NFLer Connor Cook at quarterback.

The Lions will take on Northwestern, a team that defeated Penn State earlier in the season, on Wednesday.

And the Wolverines haven’t exactly been slouches at home, going 5-1 at the Big House.

Kudos were given by Rudock to the defense, “Great job by our defense, first off by just holding them off to what they did… whenever they got in the redzone, they stopped them”. Perhaps most importantly, his vicious hits and fiery play regularly light a fire for the rest of the team. “We rely on each other”.

“There is no doubt there are a few issues that we have to get cleaned up”, Franklin said.

“There’s a breaking point that every team has”, UM defensive end Chris Wormley said. “The white-out, the atmosphere and it’s always nice being at home, playing in front of your home crowd in front of the recruits that come into town”. “We’re a tough team”. We’re a ‘Band of Brothers, ‘ and we stick together. He was thumping for most of the game, and found a way to be around the football when he was on the field. “Nothing changes there, and that’s all that counts”.

The Lions tried to run the ball three times after Barkley’s long run at the beginning of the game. MI football is unmistakable in this day of read option running games and spread the field five-wide passing attacks. Then, Trevor Williams was called for pass interference, giving the Wolverines a shorter march to the end zone a chance to use the ground game to its advantage. He’s also still leading the Big Ten with a 64.4 percent completion rate.

The running game is just not there, no matter who MI puts in the backfield.

And what’s the difference on game day on the road? “The offense has to get enough points on the board”. That will happen when your offensive line can not protect the quarterback. The Burlsworth Trophy goes to the best college football player who began his career as a walk-on. His huge block on the edge sprung Chesson for what basically turned out to be the game-clinching play.

De’Veon Smith gave MI one more touchdown with a one-yard rush with 5:12 left in the fourth quarter to finalize the score at 28-16. “He was just competing like a maniac throughout that return and just refusing to go down”. A victory against the highly-respected Wolverines would be huge for Penn State and the coaching staff in what has been a very up and down season despite the seven wins. “After that, I knew I was going to make it”. He was my coach, and it’s daily.

“He’s just an animated guy really in everything he does”, Butt said. If Iowa would beat Ohio State, it goes to the Rose and Ohio State hopes to be in the Top 11 for a New Years Six slot. The junior sat out NU’s last two matches with a knee injury, moving freshman Kenzie Maloney into the starting spot. I don’t know what was going on or what they were seeing.

Things worked out well. All of that being written, I am not ready to write off Jim Harbaugh yet. Where I think the game will be decided is when MI has the ball. I can’t speak for the play calling.