Highs & Lows: Penn State bottoms out on offense in loss to Wolverines

By Nate Bauer

Penn State again struggled to produce offensively in its second highly anticipated matchup of the 2023 season, dropping a 24-15 decision to Michigan. This time, failing to put up anything resembling offensive effectiveness, the result was a second loss on the campaign.

Recapping the highs and lows from the game, here:

Highs & Lows: Penn State struggles offensively

PLAYER OF THE GAME Blake Corum wasn’t necessarily as prolific or electric as his performance in Ann Arbor, Mich., last season. But he didn’t need to be. Finishing with 26 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including dagger carries of 44 yards in the second quarter and a 30-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Corum was more than enough engine to get the Wolverines over the top in the 24-15 win. 

PLAY OF THE GAME Corum needed to bide his time against a Penn State defense that was largely effective in keeping him at bay on Saturday. But coming off a failed fourth-down attempt by the Nittany Lions, the Michigan tailback needed just one play to put the game away. His 30-yard touchdown on first down put to rest any last glimmer of hope for a Penn State offense that had proven itself inept all afternoon.

Offensive superlatives

BEST PASS There weren’t many to choose from for either Penn State or Michigan on Saturday. But, if we have to fill the space, we’ll give it to Drew Allar for his 8-yard touchdown pass to Theo Johnson over the middle late in the fourth quarter. The strike put Penn State at a 24-15 disadvantage with less than two minutes to play. 

WORST PASS On third-and-6 at Penn State’s 30, Drew Allar’s late pass to Kaden Saunders fell to the ground. He followed it with a pass over the middle of Michigan’s blitzing defense that landed with no Nittany Lions within 10 yards. 

BEST RUN The carry itself wasn’t all that remarkable, but its impact was undeniable. Facing a second-and-8 from the Michigan 35 midway through the second quarter, the Wolverines turned to Corum. The running back, in turn, popped outside Penn State’s packed-in defense, found an angle, and raced 44 yards deep into Nittany Lion territory for a first down in the fringe red zone. 

BEST CATCH Saunders hasn’t been in many critical situations this season, but on Saturday, he helped bail Penn State out of a do-or-die situation late in the first half. Running a short out on fourth-and-6 at the Michigan 37, with time running out on the second quarter, Saunders hauled in an errant throw from Allar to pick up 13 yards and a crucial first down. The possession would ultimately lead the Nittany Lions into the end zone.

WORST DROP Dante Cephas was called upon in a critical early moment in the game. With the Nittany Lions on the doorstep, a third-and-goal from the 3 was directed toward the transfer receiver on a perfectly placed fade. Though defended well, Cephas had an opportunity to reel in the pass for the touchdown, but couldn’t quite finish the play. The result was a Penn State field goal attempt to take a 3-0 lead. 

Defense/special teams superlatives

BEST SACK Third downs were a huge variable coming into the game. Michigan has been great offensively, and Penn State’s defense, the same. Following James Franklin’s formula like a script, the first iteration was a major win for the Nittany Lions. Forcing the Wolverines into a third-and-long, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton took advantage by tracking down J.J. McCarthy for a Beaver Stadium-shaking sack. The play went for a 10-yard loss and forced a Michigan punt.

BEST HIT Michigan’s first play of its second possession of the afternoon delivered the biggest bang of the day. On a handoff to Corum, Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter met the running back head-on in traffic. It forced an immediate stop and a fumble, though the Wolverines would recover. 

BEST KICK Needing to flip momentum and field position, Penn State punter Riley Thompson managed both. Punting on fourth-and-3 from the Nittany Lions’ 46, Thompson pinned Michigan against its goal line. The punt went for 51 yards before the end of the third quarter.

BEST DECISION Initially, Penn State looked like it was going to take an another roughing the kicker penalty. Dom DeLuca, nearly getting to Michigan’s Tommy Doman, was ruled to have been pushed into the punter, though. It negated the threat of the penalty and the automatic Wolverines’ first down that would have come with it. 

WORST DECISION Malick Meiga was tripped from behind on DaeQuan Hardy’s fourth-quarter punt return. But the officiating crew called it a hold. Instead of a 10-yard pickup on the return, the Nittany Lions moved back to their 28-yard line.