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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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. More than just a Trace

Saquon Barkley gets a lot of the headlines out of Happy Valley and rightfully so.

But quarterback Trace McSorley deserves credit, too.

McSorley, who was the Offensive MVP of the Big Ten Championship game last season, accounted for 358 yards of total offense as Penn State began the second half of the season with a convincing win over Michigan, leaving the Wolverines in the dust as the race to December intensifies.

Last year, McSorley passed for 3,614 yards with 29 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. He’s been even better this season, throwing for 1,879 yards and 14 TDs with just five picks.

Next week, the Nittany Lions travel to Ohio State for a pivotal battle of top-10 foes, with Michigan State looming the following Saturday. If PSU can get through those two games unscathed and unbeaten, the remaining schedule clears up with Rutgers, Nebraska and Maryland before the league championship game.

Next: Latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft entering Week 8

If we are still talking about the Nittany Lions late in November as a national title contender, it might be a double-booking to New York City for the Heisman for Penn State.