Michigan football shut down Penn State 42-7 as they continue their march to a Big Ten East title. At this point, it’s hard to envision much stopping the Wolverines.
Michigan smushed Penn State 42-7 in Ann Arbor in a game that was not even that close. Penn State could not get anything going against a ferocious Michigan defense. Michigan moved the ball at will against a Penn State defense that could not do much to stop them.
Michigan improves to 8-1 and stays undefeated in the Big Ten, the only undefeated team left in the conference. Penn State falls to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in conference. Here are three takeaways from the Michigan victory.
3. Michigan’s defense is for real
It was known before the game that Michigan had a punishing defense. But against Penn State, the Wolverines took it to another level and nearly earned their first shutout of the season, but a late Penn State touchdown negated it.
On their “revenge” tour for Michigan, the Wolverine defense has taken it to the opponents that beat them last year. Against Wisconsin, they got two turnovers and only allowed 13 points to the Badgers. Against Michigan State, the Wolverines allowed only 79 yards and seven points to the Spartans.
Against the Nittany Lions, the Wolverines produced three turnovers and allowed only 184 yards, but a lot of those yards came on the Lions final drive in garbage time. Penn State could not do anything on offense until the game was long over. Michigan pinned it’s ears back and hammered Trace McSorley and the Lions all game long.