LOOK: Michigan and Penn State get into halftime tunnel tussle
Michigan and Penn State were locked in battle during Saturday’s top-10 showdown in Ann Arbor with emotions running high. Despite first-half domination by the Wolverines, a few big plays by Penn State had the score at 16-14 at the half in Ann Arbor.
With both teams heading into the newly-minted Lloyd Carr Tunnel at Michigan Stadium, an altercation happened.
Recap through two quarters
First quarter
Penn State won the coin toss and elected to defer, putting the Michigan offense on the field to start the game. The Wolverines went 64 yards in 11 plays, but the drive stalled out. Graduate kicker Jake Moody put U-M on the board first with a 29-yard field goal with 9:43 to go in the quarter to take a 3-0 lead. Michigan’s defense responded with a 3-and-out with PSU punting down to U-M’s 17-yard line.
Michigan returned with a 13-play, 77-yard drive but again stalled in the red zone. Moody’s 24-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining in the quarter made it 6-0 in favor of the Wolverines. The quarter would end after Penn State’s 2nd 3-and-out of the day with Michigan up 6-0.
Second quarter
The Wolverines put together their first touchdown drive of the day thanks to a 13-play, 70-yard drive that ended in a 1-yard touchdown run from junior Blake Corum. Moody’s extra point was good, making it 13-0 Michigan with 8:29 remaining in the 2nd quarter. Penn State struck back quickly on a 62-yard run from 6th-year quarterback Sean Clifford, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman Kaytron Allen. PSU trimmed the deficit to 13-7 with 6:11 to play after the extra point.
After being dominated in the 1st quarter, Penn State took a 14-13 lead on the following drive after a pick-6. Sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy had a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage, which was grabbed by PSU linebacker Curtis Jacobs and returned 47-yards. PSU led 14-13 at the 4:27 mark.
U-M grabbed some momentum back before the half on an 11-play, 60-yard drive. However, the offense stalled in the red zone again, leading to a Moody field goal from 23 yards out. Michigan took a 16-14 lead into the locker room after a PSU kneeldown.
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Michigan ended the first half with 274 yards of offense, but only 1 touchdown in 4 red zone attempts. Two big Penn State plays kept them in the game.
Game time, TV channel: how to watch: Michigan football vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Venue: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Kickoff: 12:10 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Stream: Fox Sports or the Fox Sports app
On The Call: Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (color), Jenny Taft (sideline)
Radio: LEARFIELD Michigan Sports Network, anchored by WWJ 950 AM in the Detroit area, with Doug Karsch (play-by-play), Jon Jansen (color) and Jason Avant (sideline) on the call. Karsch and Jansen are regular contributors to TheWolverine.com. Click here for the full list of radio affiliates to find the station in your area. The radio broadcast can also be streamed through MGoBlue.com.
Series Facts: This will be the 26th meeting between Michigan and Penn State. The Wolverines hold a 15-10 advantage in the all-time series, including an 8-4 record at Michigan Stadium. Michigan has won three of the last four meetings with PSU at The Big House, the most recent being a 27-17 win during the 2020 COVID season. Last season, U-M defeated PSU 21-17 in State College, Pa.
Betting line
Michigan is a 7-point favorite over Penn State with the over/under set at 49 points.
The Wolverines are 3-3 against the spread this season, while the Nittany Lions are 3-2. The total has gone under in five of U-M’s six contests this year (the other was a push) and the total has gone over in three of PSU’s five tilts.
