Media Roundup: What The National Media Is Saying About Michigan Football After Defeating Penn State
Michigan got a signature win on Saturday against Penn State when it went into Happy Valley and left with a 24-15 victory. The Wolverines moved to 10-0 and did so on the ground.
The Wolverines ran 32 consecutive run plays in the second half -- not throwing a single pass statistically -- and dominated the trenches against the then-No. 2 ranked run defense. Blake Corum erupted for 145 yards and two scores and Donovan Edwards ran for 52 yards and a score.
The Michigan defense flustered Drew Allar who was extremely inconsistent in throwing against the Wolverines' secondary.
Here's what the national media is saying about Michigan after defeating Penn State.
CBS Sports' Barrett Sallee gave Michigan an A+ grade in win over PSU:
Remember when the knock against Michigan was a weak schedule? Well, the Wolverines put that narrative to bed with a resounding 24-15 win over Penn State by calling 32 straight runs to close out the Nittany Lions. Harbaugh's suspension has ushered in a "Michigan vs. the world" rallying cry from the team, and the world got a heavy dose of it in Happy Valley.
CBS Sports named Michigan as one of the 'winners' from Saturday:
Few in college football can understand the chaos that Michigan has experienced over the past 24 hours. The question of Jim Harbaugh's status hung over the program until, quite literally, moments before the game started. The coach's suspension was handed down on Friday while the team was on its flight to face No. 10 Penn State.
Yet amid all the drama, Michigan came out and stood tall. The Wolverines took a 14-3 lead in the second quarter against Penn State and would never surrender. Michigan rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns behind a breakout performance from senior Blake Corum, and needed just eight passes from quarterback J.J. McCarthy to pull off a win.
After the game, Wolverines players and coaches were emotional. The performance was focused and impressive. Michigan remains a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten, and a marquee matchup with No. 1 Ohio State remains circled to end the year.
Sporting News' Bill Bender says Michigan needs Jim Harbaugh in order to defeat Ohio State in two weeks:
........McCarthy is a leader. Corum (26–145, 2 TDs) and Edwards (10-52, TD) can grind on anybody. The defense now has allowed just 7.5 points per game.
But the Wolverines will not be able to beat Ohio State the same way they beat Penn State. That 20-yard box will stretch across the entire country, and it requires a coach ready to make those legacy-defining decisions. The Buckeyes have Heisman Trophy candidate Marvin Harrison Jr., and he was the separator when Ohio State beat Penn State 20-12 on Oct. 21. The Buckeyes have a top-five defense, too, and all of the back-and-forth rage between those rivals will reach a 1970s pitch – 1973 for those who know – as they barrel toward another 11-0 vs. 11-0 showdown at the Big House.
Who is the good guy? Who is the villain? Ohio State and Michigan locked in their answers a long time ago. More than 17 million people watched last year's matchup – a 45-23 Michigan victory where Stalions' involvement continues to be scrutinized through a double-barrel Big Ten and NCAA investigation. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti's ruling sent a shockwave through the conference Friday, mainly because the third game means Harbaugh will not be on the sideline for The Game. Early forecasts say 20 million will tune in for The Game this year.
Will Harbaugh really not be there? That is for the courts to decide, but Moore’s comments suggest Harbaugh, president Santa Ono and athletic director Warde Manuel are on a united front; consequences be damned in 2024 and beyond.
In the short term? The College Football Playoff committee could slide Michigan up to No. 2 now, and the debate with the Buckeyes and No. 1 Georgia is going to perk up more than ever. They are the three best teams in the country, but only one has uncertainty with the head coach.
Whether they admit it or not, Michigan still needs Harbaugh for those moments, especially in two weeks.
The reality is he might not be present for that one either.
ESPN's Matt Miller still has J.J. McCarthy as his No. 3 QB but the Wolverines' conservative nature hinders him.
• If he declares for the draft, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a junior I could see benefitting from the new NFL rule allowing underclassmen to participate in all-star games. The conservative nature of the Wolverines' offense means McCarthy doesn't get many opportunities to air it out or get into a rhythm. It's a run-first and run-second offense, with McCarthy often operating on play-action rollouts that cut the field in half. Evaluators will want to see McCarthy work outside that framework.
The potential first-rounder could really cement his stock in Frisco (Shrine Game) or Mobile (Senior Bowl) this January. McCarthy is my QB3 currently (with Shedeur Sanders falling with increased traction that he'll be back at Colorado), and while it's unlikely he would jump USC's Caleb Williams or North Carolina's Drake Maye, he can improve his individual standing as a potential top-10 pick during the pre-draft process.
ESPN's Jordan Reid says Blake Corum is making a case as being RB1 come draft day:
• The running back class lacks a true RB1 candidate, but Michigan's Blake Corum is making a strong case after 26 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns against Penn State. The rushing attack carried the Wolverines -- they didn't record a single passing attempt in the second half -- and Corum's tough running style and tackle-breaking ability were both on full display. He's up to 794 rushing yards and 18 TDs on the season, and will likely be a popular draft target in the middle of Day 2.
Yahoo Sports Ross Dellinger moves Michigan up to No. 4 in his rankings:
4. Michigan
This week: won 24-15 at Penn State
Next week: at Maryland
Best win: at Penn State
Up to this week, the Wolverines had played next to nobody. Their toughest test was a home game against a 6-4 Rutgers team. Finally, Michigan played a top-25 team this year. And it came without its head coach in a rocking Beaver Stadium and against one of the country’s best defenses. Have no fear, however. Interim coach Sherrone Moore and Michigan’s rushing game quieted the crowd plenty enough.
