Penn State had Michigan exactly where it wanted for one half, then watched the whole thing slip away.
The Nittany Lions carried a 3-0 lead into the tunnel at the Big House on Saturday, but the second half turned into a mess. Rocco Becht unraveled, the defense gave way, and Michigan, playing with a backup quarterback, stormed back for a 21-18 win at Michigan Stadium before an announced crowd of 110,731.
It was Penn State’s fourth straight loss, and the pattern is starting to define the Big Ten start to Matt Campbell’s tenure. Campbell is 0-4 in conference play, and while the Nittany Lions have found different ways to lose each time, three of those defeats have included second-half leads. At some point, the repeated collapse says plenty on its own.
The numbers from the second half tell the story. Penn State forced Michigan into two turnovers before halftime and got nothing out of them. After the break, the Wolverines flipped the script, turning three Penn State turnovers into 21 points while outgaining the Nittany Lions 221-180.
Penn State kept giving itself a chance in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to three points twice. Each time, Michigan answered enough to keep control.
The quarterback switch gave the Wolverines the lift they needed. Freshman Tommy Carr replaced sophomore Bryce Underwood after a rough opening half from Underwood, who went 5-of-11 for 43 yards and two interceptions while adding 11 rushing yards. Carr was sharper and more productive, completing 5 of 7 passes for 47 yards and running for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Penn State never found that kind of spark. Chase Sowell was the one bright spot, piling up a career-high 11 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown.
It was the sixth 100-yard game of his career. After that, the production dropped off fast.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Got A Court Decision They Will Have Strong Feelings About
A Centre County judge has declined to ease a parole restriction that keeps Braeden A. Phillips away from Penn State football games and wrestling matches, a decision that will resonate with plenty of fans who have followed the case. Judge Brian Marshall denied Phillips request to loosen the condition, which bars him from attending those events as part of the terms tied to his release.
Phillips pleaded guilty to making violent threats against State College Area High School and must stay at least 100 feet away from Penn State and other schools under his parole conditions. Marshall did leave the door open to a future request for a modification, but for now the restriction remains in place. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Just Got A New Twist In The Kayne Clary Saga
Kayne Clarys legal fight with Penn State has come to an abrupt halt, at least for now. The former Nittany Lions basketball captain has discontinued his federal defamation and unjust enrichment lawsuit against the university, coach Mike Rhoades and others, ending a case that had accused the program of intimidation, retaliation, slander and illegal use of his Name, Image and Likeness.
The move comes during the discovery stage, before the case had reached a courtroom test of those claims. Clary was suspended and dismissed from the team before moving on to Mississippi State and then Oklahoma State, and the latest development leaves Penn State with one less off-court issue to navigate even as the circumstances around his departure still linger in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Gets Encouraging Sign Before Tough Michigan Trip
Penn State heads into Ann Arbor with a familiar challenge in front of it, and the latest injury report at least gives both sides a clearer picture of who will be available for a game with real weight. The Nittany Lions are still dealing with several players sidelined, including some season-ending injuries, as they prepare for a matchup at the Big House, where their recent track record has not been kind.
Michigans report adds another layer of uncertainty, with two defensive ends listed as questionable ahead of kickoff. For Penn State, any edge matters on a trip that has not gone well lately, and the availability of a few key players could help shape whether this becomes another tough afternoon in Ann Arbor or a chance to finally change the feel of the series. [Read more 🡒]