Without Jim Harbaugh, No. 2 Michigan grinds past No. 9 Penn State with 32 straight runs in 24-15 win
Associated Press
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy scrambles while being chased by Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton during the first half Saturday in State College.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) scores a touchdown against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Michigan running back Blake Corum (2) runs against Penn State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Michigan acting head coach Sherrone Moore and running back Blake Corum (2) celebrate a 24-15 win over Penn State following an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Fans display a sign about Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh outside of Beaver Stadium before an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Fans display a sign about Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh outside of Beaver Stadium before an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore arrives for an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Michigan acting head coach Sherrone Moore looks over his play sheet during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Michigan acting head coach Sherrone Moore celebrates a touchdown with tight end AJ Barner (89) during an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Michigan running back Blake Corum (2) celebrates a touchdown in front of Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr. (21) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Michigan running back Blake Corum (2) scores a touchdown as Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac (20) attempts to tackle him during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates a 24-15 win over Penn State in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in State College, Pa.
STATE COLLEGE, 无毛视频� Before the game, Blake Corum warmed up wearing a ski hat that summed up Michigan无毛视频檚 attitude right now: 无毛视频淢ichigan vs. Everybody.无毛视频�
After the second-ranked Wolverines were done pummeling No. 9 Penn State, Corum wore a bloodied bridge of his nose and the satisfaction of knowing that everybody is still winless against Michigan this season.
With coach Jim Harbaugh banned by the Big Ten Conference, Corum, J.J. McCarthy and the Wolverines played unfazed by a scandal that has hounded the program for weeks 无毛视频� and their toughest opponent yet 无毛视频� grinding past the Nittany Lions 24-15 on Saturday.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e one. It made us stronger,无毛视频� said Corum, who carried 26 times. 无毛视频淥bviously, we wanted Coach Harbaugh to be here, but we did it for him today. We无毛视频檝e been going through a lot lately, but it无毛视频檚 only brought us closer together.无毛视频�
Corum ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, McCarthy made a few key plays with his arm and legs and the Wolverines (10-0, 7-0, No. 3 CFP) improved to 3-0 since it was revealed the program was under NCAA investigation for a sign-stealing scheme.
The timeline of the accusations cover the last three seasons of Michigan无毛视频檚 surge to the top of the Big Ten and two straight College Football Playoff appearances.
Coincidence? Plenty of fans think not.
无毛视频淧eople can say whatever they want,无毛视频� fifth-year offensive lineman Trevor Keegan said. 无毛视频淲e know what无毛视频檚 true. We know what无毛视频檚 in this locker room. We trust each other. We无毛视频檙e brothers, we无毛视频檙e in this thing together. That无毛视频檚 the way it无毛视频檚 going to be.无毛视频�
The struggles in big games continued for coach James Franklin and Penn State (8-2, 5-3, No. 10 CFP), which scored a combined 27 points in losses to Big Ten East rivals Ohio State and Michigan this season.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e lost to the No. 1 and the No. 3 team in the country, that无毛视频檚 not good enough,无毛视频� Franklin said. 无毛视频淲e have to find ways to win those games.无毛视频�
It无毛视频檚 the same old story for Penn State. Under Franklin, the Nittany Lions are 3-17 vs. top-10 teams, including 1-14 vs. Ohio State and Michigan teams ranked in the top 10.
In a game Harbaugh no doubt loved from afar, on what turned into a chilly and gray day in Happy Valley, the Wolverines ran the ball on 32 straight plays that counted, starting with the final two of the first half and ending with a couple of kneeldowns.
无毛视频淎s we got in the game, obviously the running game became a priority and I think our guys up front really asserted themselves to be dominant and those backs ran super hard,无毛视频� said offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore, who took over as acting head coach with Harbaugh out.
McCarthy bounded off the field after doing a couple of postgame interviews, pumping his fists and flexing while being cheered by the Michigan fans in the stands.
He said the team FaceTimed with Harbaugh after the win.
无毛视频淗e was a jolly good fellow,无毛视频� McCarthy said, referring to the jingle Harbaugh likes to have the team sing to celebrate the star of a game.
The 27th of the 32 straight runs was Corum无毛视频檚 30-yard touchdown to seal it with 4:15 left.
McCarthy无毛视频檚 lone throw during the streak drew a Penn State pass interference flag. He finished 7 for 8 for 60 yards for the game 无毛视频� officially 0 for 0 in the second half.
It was a matter-of-fact victory for the best scoring defense in the country on a day that began anything but normal.
The Wolverines left their hotel just outside of State College without their head coach Saturday morning but did not know for sure he would not be with them until after they arrived at Beaver Stadium. About 90 minutes before kickoff, the school confirmed that a judge had not made a ruling on its request for a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten and Commissioner Tony Petitti.
Petitti and the conference handed down what amounted to a three-game suspension of Harbaugh on Friday as punishment for Michigan for an in-person scouting and sign-stealing operation the Big Ten determined violated its sportsmanship policy.
Moore led the Wolverines onto the field to start the game and was in tears doing a postgame TV interview that turned out to be PG-13 as he dropped a few naughty words.
无毛视频淒id this for you. For this university, the president, our AD. We got the best players, best university, best alumni in the country. Love you guys,无毛视频� Moore said.
Fans who didn无毛视频檛 know Michigan was playing without its head coach probably would not have noticed a difference in the Wolverines.
Penn State, Michigan无毛视频檚 first ranked opponent this season, got on the board first and became the first team to produce a first-and-goal situation against Michigan. The Wolverines were ready for it, forcing the Nittany Lions to kick a 21-yard field goal with 2:17 left in the first quarter.
It was rare deficit for the Wolverines and it did not last long. Corum capped a 75-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run less than four minutes into the second quarter to make it 7-3 Michigan.
After Michigan forced another punt, with Penn State facing fourth-and-foot from its own 35, the Wolverines went on the march again. They beat the Penn State blitz on third-and-long with a run by Donovan Edwards that went for a 22-yard touchdown.
The Nittany Lions responded with a touchdown drive, converting twice on fourth down along the way before Allar went 11 yards on a draw for a TD. The 2-point play failed and it was 14-9 Michigan at the half, the closest game at the break of the season for the Wolverines.
Michigan turned Allar无毛视频檚 lost fumble at midfield into a 45-yard drive 无毛视频� all runs 无毛视频� that only resulted in a field goal but took 8:04 off the clock in the third quarter and put the Wolverines up eight.
That was enough for Michigan无毛视频檚 nasty defense. A late touchdown by Penn State marked the first time this season the Wolverines have permitted more than one TD in a game.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檒l say it: It无毛视频檚 the best defense in the country,无毛视频� Moore said.
UP NEXT
Michigan: The Wolverines go to Maryland, with or without Harbaugh.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions play their final home game of the season against Rutgers.
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