Michigan 42, Penn State 7
It's fully operational.
A hale and hearty Michigan took a stumbling Penn State squad behind the woodshed until they were sure there was no movement left, then added a couple more shots for good measure. Before the Nittany Lions' Sad Touchdown Drive, PSU managed only 111 yards on 36 plays, barely cresting a three-yard average—and needing that final drive against M's backups to avoid a rushing Rutger. The Wolverines bested PSU's total yardage on the ground alone, churning out 259 yards with the rushing attack.
They were a motivated group looking to avenge last year's defeat. James Franklin's decision to run up the score stuck with this team, and they didn't shy away from mentioning that motivation afterwards.
"We wanted to make sure to turn the intensity up so there was no coming back from that," said Karan Higdon, who accounted for 132 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Michigan set the tone early, sacking Trace McSorley twice on the game's opening possession, then covering 76 yards on eight runs for the game's opening score, a read keeper that got Shea Patterson into the end zone untouched from a yard out.
[Hit THE JUMP for REVENGE.]
Josh Uche made life rough on Trace McSorley. [Upchurch]
From there, it was the revenge game Don Brown and Michigan fans have dreamed of when they were able to sleep at all this past year. The defensive front gave McSorley scant time to operate from the pocket, and even when he was able to stand in and fire, open receivers were hard to find. The defense finished with five sacks, two by emerging edge-rushing terror Josh Uche, and a pair of interceptions. Franklin spent much of the second half yo-yoing between McSorley and backup Tommy Stevens, who was healthier but also threw an inconceivably bad pick-six to Brandon Watson on his first attempt.
The offense, meanwhile, looked as complete as it needed to be in a blowout. The threat of Patterson's legs in the run game kept Penn State honest; he made strong reads on his way to 47 yards on ten carries, and the backs—especially Higdon—found plenty of room on the interior. But Higdon, fresh off a national-best seventh straight 100-yard performance, saved the plaudits for his offensive line.
"That's the first guys you credit," said Higdon. "They were out there playing their balls off."
That's a hell of a statement given where that unit was in week one.
Patterson hit DPJ on the run to start blowing the game open. [Bryan Fuller]
While the aerial attack wasn't much needed, it looked not only improved, but like it'll have a higher ceiling as Tarik Black works his way back into the lineup—while his long second-half touchdown was called back on a hold, the penalty didn't impact his route, long speed, or hands. The game was well over by then, anyway, and Patterson had already connected on a deep bomb to Nico Collins and a frozen rope touchdown to Donovan Peoples-Jones while rolling to his right. Patterson posted an efficient 11-for-17, 144-yard passing line with two touchdowns and no picks. Michigan even mixed in some run-pass options, which got them their other passing score when one such play sprung Zach Gentry wide open up the seam.
Penn State had so little hope of keeping up with Michigan's offense that James Franklin chose to have the Wolverines re-kick after Jake Moody's kickoff sailed out of bounds; instead of getting the ball at the 35 with the penalty, KJ Hamler took the return to the 22. It was, apparently, worth a shot. In fairness, they certainly had better odds of breaking a big play on special teams than in the running game; former five-star Miles Sanders led PSU's non-QBs with 14 yards on seven carries.
Feelin' good, feelin' great, how are you? [Fuller]
"The top thing, the most impressive thing to me, is Don Brown," said Jim Harbaugh. "I'm reminded of the old jingle in the '70s, 'When you said Don Brown, you said it all.' He's the king. He's the king of defensive coordinators. It's so great."
The king stayed the king today. Now Michigan has a clear path to a titanic, Big Ten East-deciding matchup with Ohio State. They look as good as any squad to wear the winged helmet since at least 2006 and they're not afraid to let you know it. They're mocking opponent celebrations and giving pithy quotes about bloody revenge.
"We just played ball," Hidgon said about any plans to run up the score. "Whatever happened happened."
Michigan football happened.
November 4th, 2018 at 6:18 AM ^
That seems like an insult... Budweiser?
November 4th, 2018 at 7:57 AM ^
For sure. At least go with the champagne of beers.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:26 AM ^
If Don Brown drinks, it’s definitely High Life or PBR
November 5th, 2018 at 8:56 AM ^
I don't think Don Brown drinks beer brewed for pussies...M43 all the way.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:39 PM ^
Big statement for a big recruiting weekend too.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:44 PM ^
Agreed, cheered my ass off start to finish with the thought of recruits loving the atmosphere. Can’t imagine they didn’t. Penn State fans said it was loudest at the end with the shutout on the line. Great game. Great atmosphere. Great team.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:40 PM ^
Love your writing Ace. It’s great to see it again.
Go Blue!
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:42 PM ^
Good teams win games. Very good teams win big games.
Elite teams play against other good teams and destroy them.
Michigan is destroying good teams right now.
Still a ways to go. 2016 felt really good for a while, too. But this team looks really, really good.
Nice to have you in the chair today, Ace.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
2016 was really good. That team destroyed everyone before running into the jinx that is Kinnick and some shadiness in Columbus.
Harbaugh has had two teams worthy of being Big Ten champions and included in the CFP. One fell a few inches short. I’m optimistic this one won’t.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:27 PM ^
Fuck yeah.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:28 PM ^
Also in 2016 we were just a bit short at QB and in the OL; slight improvement from either and we probably beat both Iowa and OSU.
Our QB is better than 2016, statistics aside. Our OL, incredibly, also appears to be better.
Defense is still 11 hungry wolverines smelling blood.
Beat Ohio.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:36 PM ^
Also, as tough a runner as De'veon Smith was, I think the 2018 version of Higdon is more explosive.
November 3rd, 2018 at 11:29 PM ^
Agree.
And while that year’s receivers were more polished (or Darboh was, at least) we have more talent this year. DPJ is really stepping it up, Collins is good, and we have Black back.
The weapons we have are what make me believe that our O should be better than it is. And it’s pretty good right now.
November 3rd, 2018 at 11:33 PM ^
we are a fully weaponized football death star. we are murderwolve with football weapons of mass destruction. we are headed to the promise land, and this time we aren't leaving any caananites to mess the deal up.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:31 AM ^
This Michigan Program is the Death Star II. Operational, and capable of mass amounts of destruction. However, it is also clearly not finished with construction. Which should be scary to all those that have to face it.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:52 AM ^
Can someone put Urban's face on Lando with "That blast came from the Death Star...that thing's OPERATIONAL!"
Chunkums, our resident Bubbaprog/LSUFreek, I'm looking at you...
November 3rd, 2018 at 11:13 PM ^
Let me help you with that:
Good teams win games. Great teams win games easily.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:42 PM ^
Time to go break Ohio State, revenge tour is still pumping baby!
Oh and also, please no injuries. We can’t afford someone else to go down during these two meaningless games with McCaffrey getting hurt.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:45 PM ^
What happened to DCaf?
Edit: nevermind, god dammit
November 4th, 2018 at 1:42 AM ^
So frustrated with McCaffrey getting hurt. There was no good reason to run up the score so high (yeah, they did it to us, but they're despicable).
At 28-0, late in the game, pull the starters and protect key second stringers like McCaffrey. Higdon and others were in way too long. Running McCaffrey was a huge blunder. Sigh.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:44 PM ^
Black torched the DB on his non-TD. Having 3 guys that can take the top off plus a bone fide read option run game is going to seriously stress opposing defenses.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:48 PM ^
Definitely. And remember that Patterson was a bit short on his long throws to Collins and DPJ. Nico caught his, the DB broke up the pass in the endzone to DPJ. That was has a little more air under it and it's another TD.
This team is so fun.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:01 AM ^
Pretty sure the swirling wind the announcers talked about mad the long passes tougher, but I have so much confidence in our receivers - throw the damn ball up when you've got single coverage.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:47 PM ^
Let’s continue the Budweiser reference to its logical conclusion:
Why is Don Brown coaching the defense like sex in a canoe?
It’s fucking near perfect.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:47 PM ^
I can't remember the last time I saw a Michigan team that wanted to punish their opponent the way that this one does. They are absolutely using the recent past as motivation, and they know what they're capable of. The scary thing is this: I'm not sure we've seen their best game yet.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^
agreed. The really really scary thing: is they're getting better and better.
November 3rd, 2018 at 10:36 PM ^
Im sure we havent seen their best game yet.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:49 PM ^
Beat Rutgers
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:51 PM ^
No...beat rutger...the other, other, other, other, other arch rival.
November 3rd, 2018 at 10:22 PM ^
How dare you demean our great rivalry with....umm....Purdue? Indiana? Illinois? Nebraska? Western?
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:50 PM ^
Great to hear from Ace.
Great Win. Go Blue
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:53 PM ^
Nice to see Ace doing the honors here. Just one comment:
2006? Geez. Could we aim a little higher? That team had significant weaknesses that were masked for most of the year. I'm going to be pretty disappointed if this Michigan team gives up 42 points to OSU or loses by 14 in its bowl game. (Yes, I know that team managed to hammer ND on the road.)
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^
Aaaaaaaace!! Welcome!!! Hope things are going well!!!
November 3rd, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^
This, of course, was the 3-game core of Michigan's schedule that would define their season. You know...the part which people debated whether Michigan would lose 1, 2 or 3 of these games.
Michigan came through the meat of their schedule with flying colors. Amazing performances! Certainly performances worthy of a CFP participant. Perhaps the quality of performances found in a champion.
Congrats, Michigan, on an amazing 3-game run!
November 4th, 2018 at 1:42 AM ^
I hate you.
November 4th, 2018 at 4:52 PM ^
That's fair.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:03 AM ^
That's FUCKING AWESOME!
November 5th, 2018 at 4:16 PM ^
Sorry for the crudeness of my artwork, but...I’m just not very good at it.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
Da Comrades! Ace great to see you back!
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^
You suck, Penn State!
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
Good see you on the byline Ace!
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:08 PM ^
ACE ACE ACE!!!!
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^
Who in CFB wants to play M now including ND?
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:52 PM ^
That's right. Bring on Alabama.
November 4th, 2018 at 1:41 AM ^
Nooooooooobody!!!
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^
Attaboy, Ace!
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
these be some bad mother fuckers
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:33 PM ^
Loved the write up Ace!
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