ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Jim Harbaugh needed no reminders that Saturday’s upcoming contest against Penn State was a big one. But he got several on Sunday as he spent the day watching NFL games.
With those games being on Fox, as will Michigan’s game in Week 7, Harbaugh was frequently alerted over and over again that after weeks of middling competition, this is a big one.
“Oh, yeah. Big, big, big game,” Harbaugh said. “And if anybody was watching football yesterday, on television, the pro game, it seemed like every commercial break, there was an advertisement for the Michigan – Penn State game. So if, anybody wasn’t realizing that this was a big game, there were constant reminders yesterday.”
It’s not just that the game will be on Fox — Michigan’s last three games have all been on the network with the Big Noon Kickoff crew in tow. It’s more about the team that’s coming to Ann Arbor, an unranked Nittany Lions squad that’s pushed the Wolverines to the brink or even won in recent years.
“It’s just always good. You know, they’re always prepared, they’re always ready,” Harbaugh said. “They always win a lot of games. Always, always good on all sides of the ball, always well-coached. in great shape and tough physical, sound football team and exceptional in many areas.
Since Harbaugh arrived in 2015, he’s compiled a 4-3 record against James Franklin’s Penn State team, having won twice in Happy Valley, with the sole home loss coming in the COVID year, 2020. That marked the first time that Michigan had lost two in a row to PSU, though the Wolverines have won two in a row against the Pennsylvania State school early in Harbaugh’s tenure, with the 2015-16 wins extending the winning streak to three.
That 2020 season finale featured injury-laden Wolverines squad, with first-time starter Cade McNamara knocked out of the game in the first half, both of Michigan’s defensive ends out for the season, as well as both offensive tackles. The maize and blue canceled the next three games due to COVID outbreaks on the team.
Penn State hasn’t quite lived up to its expected glory in recent years, with that 2020 game being its first win that season, despite it being Week 6. An injury last year to quarterback Sean Clifford at Iowa stymied the team’s progress, as it limped to a 7-6 record after having started 5-0.
This year, the Nittany Lions are 5-0 once again and ranked No. 10 in the country.
When it comes to facing this team, which has a rejuvenated run game, a sound offense, as well as defense, Harbaugh knows his team must be on point.
“They’re good all the time, as I said. I’ve always thought — they always have, it’s just facts. They’re always good,” Harbaugh said. “They always win a lot of games. Running the ball, throwing the ball, defending the run, defending the pass. They’re really good on special teams and have good specialists, talented players, well-coached. The quarterback is really good, we’ve gone against him for a lot of games and have a ton of respect for what he can do. Always throwing great backs at you and tight ends and offensive linemen. Just always good football. Always expect a real big game and you’re playing Penn State.”
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The defense will certainly be challenged.
A year after having the 118th-ranked rushing offense, the Nittany Lions rank 33rd in the nation running the ball, thanks to a pair of talented freshmen. The offensive line has allowed just 7 sacks and 23 tackles for loss this season, putting that unit in the upper echelon of college football.
But the likely bigger test will come on offense for the Wolverines.
One of the things that Penn State has been particularly good at this year is run defense, as it boasts the nation’s No. 5 attack on that front through five games, allowing just shy of 80 yards per game. The best that Michigan has seen to date is Iowa, who has now allowed an average of 110 yards per game, though it was only allowing 73 yards per contest before the Wolverines arrived in Iowa City.
Still, not all teams are the same, and Harbaugh is aware that the maize and blue will need to play perfectly across the board if they intend to remain unblemished.
“We’re gonna have to play really good,” Harbaugh said. “And not just run defense. pass defense is really good. They’re really good at both. So, the biggest challenge of the year, so far, in our opinion.”
Michigan and Penn State will kick off at noon EDT at The Big House.