Penn State and Michigan are almost at kickoff, and the latest Big Ten availability report didn’t bring many surprises.
For the Nittany Lions, the Friday update was unchanged from Thursday. Four players remain listed as probable: receiver Chase Sowell, defensive end Yvan Kemajou, linebacker Cam Smith and defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim. Smith has not played since Game 1, and Penn State still has no one tagged as questionable or doubtful.
Michigan’s report also stayed the same from the previous day.
Penn State and Michigan will have one more availability update before Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff, with the final report due at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday. The teams meet at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., with CBS carrying the broadcast.
Brad Nessler will handle play-by-play, Charles Davis will be the analyst and Jenny Dell will report from the sideline. Michigan is favored by seven points, according to Caesars Sportsbook.
Penn State’s out list is long. It includes WR Koby Howard, DE LaVar Arrington II, CB Joshua Johnson, DE Max Granville, LB Alex Tatsch, CB Christian Askew, CB Tyler Armstead, DE Mason Robinson, DE Dayshaun Burnett, OL Will Tompkins, TE Cooper Alexander, DT Liam Andrews and K Cristiano Rosa.
There were some shifts earlier in the week. Cornerback Josiah Zayas and running back Carson Hansen opened the week as probable on Wednesday, then were upgraded and removed from the report. Sowell was added Thursday and has 23 catches for 359 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Smith started the week as questionable before getting upgraded to probable Thursday night. That gives Penn State some needed help at linebacker. Rosa also began the week as questionable before being downgraded Thursday, which points to freshman Lucas Tenbrock handling kickoff duties again.
Zayas and Kemajou were both injured in the loss to USC but returned to the game, while Nnodim was listed as a game-time decision before that matchup. Hansen played a full workload against the Trojans.
Tatsch was ruled out for the season earlier this week, and Andrews was added to the out designation to open game week. The rest of the players on the list have missed multiple games this season, with Granville, Robinson and Tompkins already ruled out for the year.
Howard and Arrington could return after the bye, coach Matt Campbell said. Penn State hosts Purdue.
Michigan’s questionable group includes DE Dom Nichols, LB Aisea Moa, OL Jake Guarnera, OL Andrew Babalola, OL Brady Norton and DE John Henry Daley. WR Kendrick Bell is doubtful.
Marsh, Efobi, Nichols, Guarnera, Norton and Daley all started for the Wolverines against Minnesota two weeks ago.
The Big Ten introduced pregame availability reports before the 2024 season and expanded the process for 2026 to add three more reports during game week. Teams now submit updates by 8 p.m. ET three days, two days and one day before a game.
On game day, the final report comes out two hours before kickoff.
Per conference rules, midweek designations are probable, questionable, doubtful, out or out (1st Half). On game day, the categories shrink to game time decision, out and out (1st Half). Any player not listed is considered available.
For visiting teams, the conference says players are included if they were “either a) were part of the travel squad, or b) were not part of the travel squad but are (or have been) included in the two-deep on offense, defense, or special teams or otherwise regularly participate in games,” according to the conference.
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