Penn State and Michigan meet in Ann Arbor on Saturday with both programs far removed from the preseason expectations that once surrounded them.
What was supposed to be a showcase between Big Ten heavyweights has turned into a search for traction. Neither team is ranked now, and both are trying to stop the bleeding under first-year coaches.
Penn State arrives at 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten, riding a three-game losing streak that has all come against conference opponents. The Nittany Lions lost 31-23 at home to then-No.
19 Southern California last Saturday, following a 34-13 defeat at Northwestern on Oct. 2 and a 24-20 loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 26.
Quarterback Rocco Becht did his part against USC, finishing 21 of 32 for 289 yards and a touchdown, but that wasn’t enough to change the mood around a skid that has not matched what Penn State fans expected when Matt Campbell was hired away from Iowa State over the offseason.
Campbell pushed back on the idea that his staff has had trouble adjusting to the grind of Big Ten football.
"We'll see another really physical football team again this week," Campbell said of Michigan. "We've got great respect for the opponent that we play, but the reality of it is we have really good football players that have the ability. We have to do a better job fundamentally and structurally to get our guys in the best position to be the most physical group they can be."
Michigan is coming off a bye, but the break doesn’t change the fact that the Wolverines are struggling too.
Kyle Whittingham’s team is 3-2 and 0-2 in the conference after consecutive losses: a 20-19 home defeat to then-No. 17 Iowa on Sept. 26, when Michigan gave up a touchdown on the final play, and a 20-14 loss at Minnesota on Oct. 3.
The biggest concern has been sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood, the much-hyped five-star recruit who reportedly makes $3 million a year in NIL money. He was 10 of 21 for 101 yards with two interceptions against Minnesota and has totaled 881 passing yards and five touchdowns with four interceptions through five games.
Still, Whittingham made it clear on Monday that he is staying with Underwood and sticking with offensive coordinator Jason Beck.
"Bryce is still starting," Whittingham said. "Jason will call plays, and Bryce is our guy, and we move forward."
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Whittingham said the turnover battle has to turn, and its already led to a change at punt returner after recent mistakes in that area. Michigan has lost the turnover margin in four of five weeks, a stretch that has lined up with its losses, and the frustration now goes beyond a bad stat sheet. For a team trying to stabilize itself, the margin for error keeps getting thinner. [Read more 🡒]
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For Michigan, the timing matters because the Wolverines meeting with UCLA was already part of a pivotal part of the schedule, and now it comes with an entirely new layer of uncertainty. A defense that prepared for one quarterback will have to recalibrate for another, while the Bruins try to keep their momentum going under different circumstances. It is the sort of development that can alter game plans on both sides, and it gives this upcoming trip an even more intriguing edge than it had a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Former Wolverines Made Their Presence Felt In An Electric MNF Battle
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The plays mattered in a game that had the feel of a showcase, even if the Rams ended up falling in overtime. For Michigan, it was another reminder that former Wolverines are carving out roles on the NFL stage, with Corum contributing as a weapon in the passing game and Stewart getting after Josh Allen when the moment called for it. [Read more 🡒]