Michigan doesn’t have a game this week, but the break comes at a good time for a team that’s stumbled out of Big Ten play.
The Wolverines are off in Week 6 after dropping to 0-2 in conference action, and they’ll try to reset before returning to Ann Arbor for a Week 7 matchup with Penn State. Michigan enters the off week at 3-2 overall after back-to-back losses changed the mood around a season that had opened with real promise.
Through the first three games, Michigan looked like it was settling in again. The Wolverines started 3-0 and picked up a headline win over Oklahoma, a stretch that suggested things might be stabilizing after a run of off-field drama in recent years. Then Big Ten play arrived, and the results turned quickly.
Michigan’s first conference loss came in a 20-19 home defeat to No. 20 Iowa.
The next week brought more frustration, this time on the road against unranked Minnesota. That left the Wolverines needing time away before the schedule tightens again.
Michigan’s next game is Saturday, Oct. 17, against Penn State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Fans can watch it on Big Ten Network or stream it on Fubo.
For Week 6, Michigan is one of several teams sitting out while the rest of the college football slate rolls on Saturday, Oct. 10.
The day includes a packed lineup across the sport, headlined by No. 1 Texas vs.
Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. ET, No.
6 Alabama vs. No.
2 Georgia at 7:30 p.m., and Penn State vs. No.
19 USC at 7:30 p.m.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Have Every Right To Debate Whos Letting This Team Down
Penn States 31-23 loss to No. 19 USC in a record-attended day at Beaver Stadium left plenty to sort through beyond the final score. The game did have some bright spots on both sides of the ball, but it also exposed the kind of uneven play that has followed this team through Big Ten play, where the Nittany Lions are still searching for their first win.
The bigger issue now is how much blame belongs where, because the problems have not been isolated to one phase or one player. Offensive inconsistency and defensive lapses both showed up again, and with Penn State sitting 0-3 in conference play, the path to bowl eligibility suddenly feels a lot less secure than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State White Out Loss Came Down To One Brutal Late Mistake
Penn State had enough offense to stay in striking distance against No. 18 USC, with Rocco Becht throwing for 289 yards and a touchdown and Tony Rojas pacing the defense with 10 tackles and a forced fumble. The White Out crowd at Beaver Stadium had plenty to hold onto deep into the night as the Nittany Lions battled, but the margin for error was razor thin against a ranked opponent.
Brett Eskildsens late fumble became the turning point in a 31-23 loss, giving USC the chance to bleed away the final moments and close out the game. For Penn State, it was the kind of finish that stings because the performance was competitive enough to matter, yet one costly mistake proved decisive when the Lions needed clean execution most. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Record Crowd Saw A Loss Fans Won't Shrug Off
The largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history got a game worthy of the setting, even if the result left Penn State fans with plenty to chew on afterward. USC and Penn State traded momentum in a matchup that swung back and forth before the Trojans found enough offense to leave Happy Valley with the win, turning a marquee atmosphere into a difficult one for the home side to absorb.
Jayden Maiava was central to USCs answer, completing 21 of 33 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The game had the feel of one that might tilt either way deep into the night, with lead changes and scoring drives keeping the pressure high, but USC handled the decisive moments well enough to make sure the record crowd went home remembering a loss Penn State will not shrug off quickly. [Read more 🡒]