Jim Harbaugh: Michigan offense relishing in challenge of facing elite Penn State defense

Michigan Wolverines football is prepping for its first big home game of the season. It’ll play in front of a maize-out crowd Saturday against Penn State (noon ET on FOX), a top-10 matchup.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is 4-3 against Penn State and knows it’s always a battle facing the Nittany Lions. Last year’s 21-17 win in Happy Valley was no different.

“Really, last year’s game and every game that we’ve played — we’ve just got to be on point,” Harbaugh said on the Inside Michigan Football radio show. “We’re going to have to play really good, because they play really good. They always do. They’re always well-prepared, they’re always good in run defense, run offense, pass defense, pass offense, in the kicking game. They’re always really, really good.

“We say it a lot of the time, it’s the best unit that we’re going to play all year in some phases. Each year you kind of say that. And they always win games, and it’s a big-time matchup.”

RELATED

• Michigan football: Jim Harbaugh discusses ‘coming-out parties’ from Indiana win, ‘the journey to the promised land’

• Karsch: From the broadcast booth

That’s certainly the case in run defense. Penn State has allowed opponents to gain just 79.8 yards per rush, which ranks fifth in the country, and 3 yards per carry. Only one opponent — Auburn (119) — has registered more than 100 yards on the ground against PSU this year.

“So, we don’t need any more reminders, but if we did, all we had to do is watch the NFL games yesterday,” Harbaugh continued. “About every time they went to commercials, it seemed like they were advertising the Michigan-Penn State game in The Big House. We’re super excited about it, we’re fired up to have a great week of preparation and get ourselves ready to play this game.”

Penn State’s passing defense is also outstanding. The Nittany Lions have shut down the run so well and had big leads on most opponents so that they’ve faced more passes than any team in the nation (45.2 per contest). Opponents are notching just 5.8 yards per pass, which ranks tied for 12th in the country.

Penn State redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. headlines the defensive backfield. He was a third-team All-Big Ten pick last season and has raised his game this fall. Porter Jr. is tied first in the nation with 10 pass breakups on a defense that leads the sport with 51 breakups — 12 more than second-place Pittsburgh.

“They’re a really good run defense — maybe the best we’re going to play,” Harbaugh said. “And the secondary is really good, too. Some real big-time players.

“It’s a great challenge for our guys. Our receivers are excited about that challenge. That’s kinda the vibe I’m getting. We’re going to have to get prepared and be really on point, but early in the week here, that’s kinda the rallying cry. There’s confidence there that they want to test themselves, I’ll put it that way. But they’ve got some really, really top-notch guys on all sides of the ball.”

Michigan has immense respect for Penn State QB Sean Clifford

Penn State sixth-year senior quarterback Sean Clifford has been around the block once or twice. Saturday at Michigan will be his 44th career contest. Harbaugh and Co. have faced him as a starting quarterback three times already.

“He’s a strong runner and a strong thrower, as well,” Harbaugh said. “Very experienced; he’s been in a lot of games. He’s seen a lot of balls kicked off, as well.”

Michigan sacked Clifford 7 times last season, and he took some big shots that left him down on the field and slow to get up.

“Just a tough, gritty competitor. We have a ton of respect for him,” Harbaugh continued. “We played him last year, and I don’t know how he’s staying upright. [David] Ojabo, [Aidan] Hutchinson — he was really taking some hits, and he was making some throws, courage throws where he’s standing in there and threading the needle. We have a ton of respect for Sean Clifford and how he operates and handles his business.”

Jim Harbaugh hopes to ‘take in’ maize out crowd

As Harbaugh mentioned, FOX is sending out constant reminders about the big game at The Big House on Saturday. For all the talk of Michigan’s light schedule this season, that will be put to rest when the Nittany Lions come to town and serve as a major test.

“Mainly by getting prepared,” Harbaugh said of how his Michigan team will prepare for the magnitude of the matchup. “There’s no doubt, before the game and the ball is kicked off, before you take the first hit in any game, there are butterflies and especially a big game, maize out against a rival opponent. Those emotions are going to be sky high, and that’s great. That’s where you want them.

“Football is played by emotional people. But you feel good, and the confidence comes, I believe, from the practice and the preparation and getting to know your opponent as well as you possibly can.”

The Big House environment should be electric, and the Michigan coach has set out a goal to soak it in this weekend.

“I’ve got to remind myself to notice it more,” Harbaugh said. “Sometimes I get so locked in that I don’t. But I do remember that maize out from last year against Washington … from the pictures afterwards. Great pictures, and the blimp shot. There are times that I do — I did it at the end of the Ohio State game last year — but I’ve gotta remind myself more to take it in a little bit more during the game.”