The Michigan Wolverines hosted the Penn State Nittany Lions at The Big House on Saturday. Both teams sought to build momentum under first-year head coaches who failed to live up to expectations; both teams were also looking for their first conference win.
Michigan made some changes in the game and managed to stay on course in the end, winning this one 21-18. Here are three winners and three losers of the game:
Michigan made a quarterback change to start the second half, and it certainly helped. They didn’t ask freshman Tommy Carr to throw the ball too much, but the quarterback’s threat was enough to open up the running game. Carr looked pretty good in his second appearance this season, going 5 of 7 for 47 passing yards. He also ran for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Loser | First Quarter Defense
Michigan’s defense in the first quarter didn’t look too hot, as it kept Penn State on the field for 9:34. It’s not bad, as the defense has consistently held Penn State to just three points, but giving up that long drive early in the game isn’t great. The Wolverines allowed similar practices against Minnesota a few weeks ago. This is something you want to see fixed before the second half of the season.
Michigan’s safeties were crucial in this game, as interceptions from Rod Moore and Chris Bracy helped establish excellent field position for the offense. Hell, Bracy forced a fumble while I was writing about his interception. We expected defensive coordinator Jay Hill to use his secondary to put pressure on the quarterback, and it really worked for the Wolverines on Saturday. The game was still within Penn State’s reach late in the fourth quarter, but this huge play by Bracy helped the Wolverines take a two-score lead.
Loser | QB Bryce Underwood
Bryce Underwood only played in the first half and passed for just 43 yards and two picks on 11 throws. Although one of the picks (Andrew Marsh’s first) was a bit unlucky, he was also knocked down. Needless to say, this performance did not inspire confidence in the coaching staff.
We need to at least call out his attitude on the sidelines, because he was having a good time with his team and celebrating Carr, and that’s a really good look for the team.
We focused on the Michigan running game before this one, as Penn State’s defense has really struggled against the run this year. Michigan had over 200 yards rushing and had some of its biggest runs of the season. Freshman Savion Hiter rushed for 78 yards and averaged 7.1 yards per carry, while Bryson Kuzdzal also scored on a long touchdown run that helped Michigan get on the board. Jordan Marshall also got into the end zone and made some crucial points late in the game. Overall, not a bad day for the running backs.
Although the quarterback change provided a small spark for the offense’s running game, the Wolverines still only finished with 90 yards through the air. The quarterbacks combined were 10 of 18. Wideout JJ Buchanan led the team with three catches for 36 yards, followed by Marsh with three catches for 21 yards. Tight end Hogan Hansen had two catches for 31 yards. Although they recorded some first downs through the air, there is still plenty of room to grow with a new quarterback moving forward.
Who are your winners and losers in this game? Let us know in the comments below!
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