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What was deemed as possibly the second toughest matchup for the Michigan football team this season, between two top 25 schools, is now between two schools that have had its 2020 year turned upside down. Michigan is 2-3 and is coming off a three-game losing streak, while Penn State is 0-5 as it hasn’t been able to defeat anybody this season.
You wouldn’t think Penn State is winless as on the opening drive, and it was moving the football with ease on the ground and through the air. In 10 plays, Penn State went 75 yards, led by running back Keyvone Lee, who moved the ball with ease between the tackles, finishing with seven carries for 39 yards that ended with a six-yard touchdown run to put Penn State up 7-0.
Michigan football moved the ball down the field but couldn’t convert on a fourth-down attempt and went out without a score. Penn State moved the ball and missed a 49-yard field goal to give Michigan decent field position to start on its second drive. On the opening play of that drive, running back Hassan Haskins broke out free for a 60-yard gain, and he would be the one to finish it. Haskins pounded it in from two yards out to tie the game up at seven.
Both teams continued to struggle on offense throughout the first half. Still, Penn State found some life with less than seven minutes to go in the second quarter as Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford kept finding wide receiver Parker Washington, as Washington leads the team in catches with seven catches for 79 yards in the first half alone. Clifford finished the drive with a 28-yard touchdown run to give the Nittany Lions the lead once again, up 14-7.
After a huge mistake by Michigan wide receiver Mike Sainristil as he muffed the punt, Penn State took advantage of the short field and scored on a 23-yard field goal attempt to make it 17-7 at halftime, a similar score to what Michigan was down last week against Rutgers.
Positives:
- Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara started well before leaving the game to get his shoulder looked at by the medical trainers. He was 4-for-5 for 25 yards, along with a carry for three yards. His only incomplete pass was a bad one as he threw it to a covered wide receiver. Besides that, McNamara was making good reads and throwing the ball well. Luckily the injury wasn’t serious as McNamara returned but only went 1-for-3 for six yards.
- Michigan has had some life running the football today, something it hasn’t had consistently this season. The team has 14 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown with Haskins as the leading carrier with nine carries for 81 yards and the score. Running backs Chris Evans had three carries for 21 yards, and Blake Corum had just one carry for three yards.
- Michigan has shut down the top wide receiver for Penn State in Jahan Dotson, as he has one catch for nine yards so far in the game. Dotson has emerged as the greatest option for either quarterback, but today that isn’t an option for the Nittany Lions. Michigan keeping him in check is huge, but it doesn’t seem to be the answer to beat Penn State so far.
Negatives
- Penn State is without its top three running backs due to injury and personal reasons, but despite being limited to just two running backs, Penn State didn’t have trouble moving the ball on the ground. Lee has done well with his chances, having 12 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown. Michigan’s defensive line got some help back in defensive end Kwity Paye, and while he has helped in getting to the quarterback and putting pressure on Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford, he hasn’t helped greatly on the run.
- Michigan football is struggling with missed tackles. On one play, cornerback Vincent Gray missed back to back tackles, giving Penn State more chances for yardage. Before that issue, safety Daxton Hill went for a booming hit, but the receiver bounced off him and gained extra yards. Missed tackles give the opposing offense extra chances to keep plays alive. Michigan can’t be giving its opponents more chances to be on the field.
- Sainristil made two mistakes, and both have had a change in the score. Sainristil dropped a simple second down throw, and McNamara went back at him, and it was a good coverage play by Penn State. Michigan forced Penn State to punt on its next drive, and Sainrsitil muffed the punt, turning it over and giving the Nittany Lions solid field position to score a field goal before halftime. Turnovers turn into points for the Nittany Lions.