Penn State Football: 3 takeaways from victory over Michigan in Week 8

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 21: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after stopping the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 21, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 21: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after stopping the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 21, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

2. Wolverines might need defensive help

At times this year, the Michigan offense has sputtered and looked a mess.

Saturday night, that happened once again.

But the defense was not there to come to the rescue.

Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley exposed the Wolverines, racking up 28 unanswered points and 42 overall. That included two touchdowns by Barkley of 69 and 42 yards.

The Nittany Lions finished with 506 yards of total offense and 25 first downs in handing Michigan a second Big Ten loss with Top-10 teams Wisconsin and Ohio State remaining on the schedule.

Nobody had scored more than 20 against the Wolverines this year, as Indiana did that in overtime last week. However, Michigan was able to pull out the win, just like they did vs. Florida, Cincinnati, Air Force and Purdue before falling to rival Michigan State.

If there is any consolation in Ann Arbor right now, it is the schedule. Michigan plays host to Rutgers and Minnesota the next two weeks before traveling to Maryland. Those three games present a great opportunity for Harbaugh and his coaches to get things corrected in time to close out vs. the Badgers and Buckeyes.