Penn State football 27, Michigan 17: What happened and what we thought
CDT staff reports
Follow along as Centre Daily Times writers Parth Upadhyaya and Jon Sauber critique the Penn State vs. Michigan college football game. Both struggling teams are looking for the chance to turn their seasons around.
Penn State beat Michigan 27-17 for its first win of the 2020 season and first win at Ann Arbor since 2009.
Here’s what’s happened:
FINAL: Penn State 27, Michigan 17
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
The Nittany Lions finally pick up their first win of 2020 to move to 1-5 on the season.
Will "The Thrill" Levis pic.twitter.com/MpJzLPFkNW
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 28, 2020
The fumble is overturned because DE Shaka Toney batted the ball back inbounds as it was rolling out of bounds, which is illegal. First down for Michigan. https://t.co/DgTaNakijf
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Levis checked in with 2nd-and-goal at the two-yard line for PSU. Levis runs into the end zone for the score.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
PSU 27, Michigan 17 w/ 8:12 to play in the game
Lee having himself a game. The freshman RB is now up to 100 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Keyvone Lee has earned himself a chunk of carries even when Penn State's running back room is fully healthy.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 28, 2020
PSU DE Jayson Oweh's offsides penalty kept the Michigan's drive alive, and the Wolverines scored three plays later on a two-yard run from Haskins. Haskins is now up to 100 yards and two TDs on 16 carries.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
PSU 20, Michigan 17 w/ 13:12 left in the game
End of 3Q: Penn State 20, Michigan 10
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Pinegar makes a 33-yard FG.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
PSU 20, Michigan 10 w/ 40 secs left in 3Q
Great run by Clifford there to avoid the sack and keep the drive alive. He slipped out of the pocket for a 29-yard scramble to get PSU inside the Michigan 25.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
After Michigan hit a 40-yard FG on its first drive on the second half, PSU's first drive of the half lasts just five plays before Clifford gets sacked on 3rd-and-4.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
PSU 17, Michigan 10 w/ 6:29 left in 3Q
HALF: PSU 17, Michigan 7
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
The Nittany Lions have a halftime lead for the first time this season and have scored double digits in a first half for the first time since their season opener against Indiana.
Jake Pinegar (@jpinegar10) connects to extend Penn State's lead to 17-7 late in Q2! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/FmIvxneq3J
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 28, 2020
Oh look, a fade.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 28, 2020
That last catch by WR Jahan Dotson was his first of the game. After three 100-yard games through PSU's first five, its odd that the Nittany Lions haven't found a way to get him more involved.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
PSU S Drew Hartlaub recovers a fumbled punt by Michigan. Nittany Lions now deep in Wolverine territory — about a minute left in the first half and now two TOs remaining.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Clifford overthrows Washington down the left side of the field, and PSU can't add to its seven-point lead before halftime.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Nice pass breakup by CB Joey Porter Jr. on 3rd-and-4 to force Michigan to punt. PSU will get the ball back with 2:47 left in the first half with three TOs remaining.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
McNamara back in at QB for Michigan now
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
After a 22-yard catch by Washington and 26 yards on the ground by RB Caziah Holmes, Clifford takes off for a 28-yard rushing TD.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
PSU 14, Michigan 7 w/ 3:32 left in the first half
Clifford is back in at QB for Penn State.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Clifford walking on the sideline. Was on the bike on the sideline, according to ABC. Levis in now.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Sean Clifford is down on the ground and grabbing his knee.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 28, 2020
Washington now up to six catches for 57 yards early in the second quarter.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Third-and-Will Levis.
— Elton Hayes (@EHDC12) November 28, 2020
Levis back on for 3rd-and-1
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Michigan RB Chris Evans gained 22 yards on the first two plays of that last drive, but PSU defense held its own eventually with a tackle for loss by LB Lance Dixon on 3rd-and-2
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Joe Milton checks in at QB for McNamara for Michigan
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
End of 1Q: Penn State 7, Michigan 7
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Instead of the Nittany Lions taking a two-score lead, the momentum quickly shifted and the Wolverines used just four plays to tie the game.
Michigan QB Cade McNamara getting looked at by trainers — seems to be an issue with his right shoulder, according to ABC broadcast
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Three plays later and Michigan has tied the game. Hassan Haskins ran for 60 yards to take Michigan into the red zone and then punched it in two plays later.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 28, 2020
Haskins plows through the goal line for a two-yard rushing TD.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Michigan 7, Penn State 7 w/ 30 secs left in 1Q
Michigan RB Hassan Haskins gashes the PSU defense for a 60-yard run. Down to inside PSU's 10-yard line.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Will Levis comes in on 4th-and-1, but a false start moves the Penn State offense back. Then Jordan Stout can't connect from 49 yards out and Michigan will get the ball back down 7-0.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 28, 2020
ABC just said RB Devyn Ford had a tragic death in his family and didn't make the trip to Ann Arbor.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Penn State keeps the ball after Parker Washington was ruled down and goes right back to Keyvone Lee, who has been really good in this one.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 28, 2020
After review, the call's reserved. Washington was down. PSU dodged an early bullet there. https://t.co/Mg3OfV6nGB
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
That was the first time Penn State stopped an opponent from scoring on an opening drive since Week 1 against Indiana
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Great coverage by Marquis Wilson to break that pass up and get the ball back to the Penn State offense.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 28, 2020
#PennState last scored on opening drive in opener at Indiana.
— Richard Scarcella (@nittanyrich) November 28, 2020
Impressive start.@PennStateFball had no problem finding the end zone on the opening possession. pic.twitter.com/TMKWN9JHZu
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 28, 2020
PSU offense looked great on that opening drive. Freshman RB Keyvone Lee caps off the 10-play, four-minute drive with a 6-yard run for a TD.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
PSU 7, Michigan 0 w/ 10:50 to go in the 1Q
KJ Hamler was really good.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 28, 2020
Jahan Dotson is really good.@PennStateFball has another really good one in true freshman Parker Washington (@cpw_3). pic.twitter.com/N8caCr8XWB
This is the best Penn State's offense has looked all season and it's not particularly close.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 28, 2020
Mike Golic said on ABC that QB Sean Clifford will start for #PennState today
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
RB Devyn Ford is out for #PennState today. That leaves freshmen RBs Caziah Holmes and Keyvone Lee as the only two scholarship RBs remaining for the Nittany Lions.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 28, 2020
Penn State QBs warming up. Sean Clifford with first-team center Michal Menet. Good indicator Clifford is back as the starter. pic.twitter.com/xhGrP97t4X
— Mark Brennan (@MarkXBrennan) November 28, 2020
Almost that time... #WeAre pic.twitter.com/tYel7U79ZB
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 28, 2020
STORIES WORTH YOUR TIME
Here’s 5 things to watch in Saturday’s Penn State vs. Michigan college football game
Can Penn State stop its slide toward rock bottom with a win over Michigan? Here’s 2 key matchups
Penn State’s James Franklin wants players to remember what it felt like to win, amid 0-5 season
James Franklin on Penn State football’s QB battle: ‘We’re gonna need them both’
This story was originally published November 28, 2020 at 11:57 AM.