10-22-2017, 04:35 AM
Last year, the Nittany Lions lost to Michigan 49-10 in The Big House. They recovered from that loss and go on to win the Big Ten, but Penn State was left out of the College Football Playoff in large part because of that 39-point loss to the Wolverines.
Penn State remembered that, and on Saturday night, it did something about it.
The Nittany Lions returned the favor by destroying Michigan 42-13 in front of a record crowd at Beaver Stadium, decked out in all white. Here are four things to take away from this game.
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1. It's a two-horse race in the Big Ten East: I don't want to disrespect Michigan State because, as far as the standings are concerned, it's still undefeated in the Big Ten. Yet, after watching what happened in Beaver Stadium on Saturday night, it's hard to believe that anybody other than Penn State or Ohio State is winning this division.
I knew Penn State was good coming into Saturday's game, but I still had some questions. After all, to this point the toughest team Penn State had played this season was either Pittsburgh or Iowa. Michigan was the most difficult test the Nittany Lions have faced so far this season, and they passed it as if somebody gave them the answer key before the game.
The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead early, and after letting Michigan get back into the game by making it 14-13 late in the first half, Penn State put its foot on the gas and never took it off.
Trace McSorley finished with 282 yards passing, 76 yards rushing and four total touchdowns. Saquon Barkley rushed for 108 yards, had another 53 yards through the air, and had three touchdowns of his own.
And Penn State reeled off five straight touchdowns to put the finishing touches on this one.
2. Saquon Barkley is special: Barkley did something no other Penn State player has ever done in the history of the program. When he pulled in a 42-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give the Lions a 35-13 lead, it put him over the 1,000 receiving yards mark in his career.
That makes Barkley the first Penn State player to rush for over 3,000 yards and have over 1,000 receiving yards during their career at the school.
He's still a favorite for the Heisman Trophy.
3. This Penn State defense is pretty good, too: Nobody will ever confuse Michigan's offense for a Big 12 team's, but it never had a chance against Penn State on Saturday, anyway. The Nittany Lions defense entered the game as one of the best units in the country, and it proved it again.
It held Michigan to 3.8 yards per play on Saturday night, finishing with seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.
Middle linebacker Jason Cabinda was everywhere, finishing with 13 tackles of his own.
4. Jim Harbaugh continues to struggle against Michigan's biggest foes: After losing to Penn State, Harbaugh's record against Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State drops to 3-5. Harbaugh is now 25-8 overall and 15-6 at Michigan.
On their own, those numbers don't seem too bad, but guess what?
At this same mark, Brady Hoke was 22-11 and 13-5 during his Michigan tenure. Sure, Harbaugh's been a step up, and the future looks brighter, but the results just haven't been good enough. Not for Harbaugh, not for Michigan, not for anybody.
The good news is it's a rebuilding year for the Wolverines. It's a young team and one that should get better. It just better do it soon, or the honeymoon in Ann Arbor might be over.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...statement/
Penn State remembered that, and on Saturday night, it did something about it.
The Nittany Lions returned the favor by destroying Michigan 42-13 in front of a record crowd at Beaver Stadium, decked out in all white. Here are four things to take away from this game.
.
1. It's a two-horse race in the Big Ten East: I don't want to disrespect Michigan State because, as far as the standings are concerned, it's still undefeated in the Big Ten. Yet, after watching what happened in Beaver Stadium on Saturday night, it's hard to believe that anybody other than Penn State or Ohio State is winning this division.
I knew Penn State was good coming into Saturday's game, but I still had some questions. After all, to this point the toughest team Penn State had played this season was either Pittsburgh or Iowa. Michigan was the most difficult test the Nittany Lions have faced so far this season, and they passed it as if somebody gave them the answer key before the game.
The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead early, and after letting Michigan get back into the game by making it 14-13 late in the first half, Penn State put its foot on the gas and never took it off.
Trace McSorley finished with 282 yards passing, 76 yards rushing and four total touchdowns. Saquon Barkley rushed for 108 yards, had another 53 yards through the air, and had three touchdowns of his own.
And Penn State reeled off five straight touchdowns to put the finishing touches on this one.
2. Saquon Barkley is special: Barkley did something no other Penn State player has ever done in the history of the program. When he pulled in a 42-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give the Lions a 35-13 lead, it put him over the 1,000 receiving yards mark in his career.
That makes Barkley the first Penn State player to rush for over 3,000 yards and have over 1,000 receiving yards during their career at the school.
He's still a favorite for the Heisman Trophy.
3. This Penn State defense is pretty good, too: Nobody will ever confuse Michigan's offense for a Big 12 team's, but it never had a chance against Penn State on Saturday, anyway. The Nittany Lions defense entered the game as one of the best units in the country, and it proved it again.
It held Michigan to 3.8 yards per play on Saturday night, finishing with seven sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.
Middle linebacker Jason Cabinda was everywhere, finishing with 13 tackles of his own.
4. Jim Harbaugh continues to struggle against Michigan's biggest foes: After losing to Penn State, Harbaugh's record against Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State drops to 3-5. Harbaugh is now 25-8 overall and 15-6 at Michigan.
On their own, those numbers don't seem too bad, but guess what?
At this same mark, Brady Hoke was 22-11 and 13-5 during his Michigan tenure. Sure, Harbaugh's been a step up, and the future looks brighter, but the results just haven't been good enough. Not for Harbaugh, not for Michigan, not for anybody.
The good news is it's a rebuilding year for the Wolverines. It's a young team and one that should get better. It just better do it soon, or the honeymoon in Ann Arbor might be over.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...statement/