Nate Bauer and Greg Pickel recap Penn State's loss to Michigan

Penn State came close to pulling the upset over No. 6 Michigan Saturday, taking a 17-14 lead over the Wolverines following a quick 10-point surge late in the fourth quarter.

QB Sean Clifford and WR Jahan Dotson connected for two fourth down conversions on Penn State’s final touchdown drive before Tyler Warren pulled in a two-yard score from Clifford. Dotson then made an excellent catch to tie the game on a two-point conversion, which gave the Nittany Lions hope after a dismal second and third quarter.

Beaver Stadium came alive then when DE Arnold Ebiketie stripped Michigan QB Cade McNamara, giving the Nittany Lions the ball at Michigan’s 16-yard line. A touchdown was an absolute must in that situation, but as was the case throughout the day, Michigan’s defense came up strong in the red zone, holding the Nittany Lions to a field goal.

They had the lead and a defense that, for the most, played well, but a 47-yard touchdown six plays into the drive gave the Wolverines the lead right back. Penn State went three-and-out then before throwing a questionable fade to wide receiver Cam Sullivan-Brown on 4th and 2. It fell incomplete and Michigan went on to convert two first downs, winning 21-17.

“We’re not going to punt it in that situation,” James Franklin said, when asked about the decision to throw a fade on 4th and 2. “We’re going to try to win the game and be aggressive like we did all game long. Obviously, we got to leave the ball on the field and give the guy a chance to make a play for it. Obviously, that’s not the time you want to lose Jahan Dotson because at that point in the game, you’re thinking players not play and trying to get the ball into your playmaker’s hands. That was a critical play in the game.”

Blue White Illustrated’d Greg Pickel and Nate Bauer give their thoughts on the loss in the video above.