Penn State vs. Michigan Game Preview
No. 7 Penn State and No. 16 Michigan square off as AP Top 25 opponents for the 11thtime in series history for what will be a critical Big Ten showdown this weekend. Saturday's game marks the 12thPenn State White Out since the tradition started back in 2004. More than 110,800 have filled Beaver Stadium the last two Penn State White Out games. The Nittany Lions currently hold a 6-0 record (3-0 Big Ten) after collection a pivotal victory on the road at No. 17/18 Iowa last weekend.
Michigan holds a 5-1 record (3-1 Big Ten) and is coming off a 42-25 victory over Illinois. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is in his fifth season at Michigan and owns a 43-15 record during his time in Ann Arbor. The game will be televised on ABC and broadcasted on the Penn State Sports Network.
Penn State Spotlight
One of the more underrated stats this past weekend was Penn State's ability to flip its field position during critical points of the game. Senior Blake Gillikin averaged 42.1 yards per punt on seven punts against the Hawkeyes. The Georgia native placed five of those punts inside the 20 and matched a career high with three punts inside the 10. Gillikin hit a 62-yard bomb in the third quarter which marked his 47thcareer punt more than 50 yards and his seventh career punt of 60 or more yards. No. 93 earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors after playing one of the biggest roles in Penn State's 17-12 victory at Iowa.
"Honestly, that was the most confident I've been before a game," Gillikin said after practice Wednesday. "As a specialist, mental toughness is probably the most important thing. Confidence is a huge thing for us and as a team right now, we're ultra-confident and I think that shows on the field." With another top-ranked opponent coming to town, Gillikin will play a crucial role in the field position battle this Saturday.
Scouting Michigan
Michigan comes to Happy Valley ranked 16thin the country and bolsters premier playmakers on both sides of the football. The Wolverines have registered 25 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in the past two game, while also surrendering just 111 yards rushing since their 35-14 loss to now No. 6 Wisconsin. When watching Don Brown's defense this weekend, take note of No. 7 Khaleke Hudson and No. 19 Kwity Paye. Hudson is a senior linebacker who ranks third in the Big Ten with 9.7 tackles per game and has led Michigan in tackles five of their last six games this season. Paye is a defensive lineman who leads the Big Ten with seven tackles for loss. The junior has registered 4.5 sacks and three quarterback hurryies this season.
Offensively, Michigan is led by quarterback Shea Patterson who has thrown for nine touchdowns and completed 57 percent of his passes. The IMG Academy product was at his best last Saturday during a 10 play, 79-yard drive that helped the Wolverines take a 10-point lead with less that nine minutes remaining in the game. Michigan's offense has surpassed 450 yards of total offense three times this season. Keep tabs on freshman running back Zach Charbonnet who collected his second 100-yard rushing game of the season last weekend. Charbonnet is a dynamic back who averages 62.67 yards per game. Penn State and Michigan are the only two programs in the Big Ten with true freshman running backs who have recorded 100-yard rushing performances this season.
Michigan quick facts
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
Record at Michigan: 43-15 (.741)
vs. Penn State: 3-1
ESPN College GameDay
Penn State is also hosting ESPN's College GameDay for the third-straight year on Penn State White Out game day. The popular pregame show visits campus for a three-hour live show from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday on the HUB Lawn.
College Football Live will originate from the set with Maria Taylor, Desmond Howard and David Pollack and air Friday at 3 p.m. ESPN2. There will also be several segments originating from the set Friday morning and afternoon and early Saturday morning for a variety of ESPN's shows, including Get Up! and SportsCenter. ESPN will also have a number of activations throughout the day on Friday on the HUB Lawn.
On Saturday, Good Morning America is expected to have a presence in addition to ESPN's digital show – Countdown to GameDay Live - beginning at 8:30 a.m. with Jason Fitz, Taylor and Pollack.
Unrivaled Postgame
Former Penn State and NFL quarterback Matt McGloin will join Mitch Gerber for the Unrivaled Postgame Show. The all-access program can be found on Facebook Live via Penn State's official Facebook page. McGloin and Gerber will breakdown every home game by interviewing head coach James Franklin and select student-athletes. The show will start moments after the conclusion of the game.
Game Information
Fans are encouraged to visit Game Day Central for all information as it relates to Penn State football game day traffic, parking, clear bag policy and information on the match up.
Penn State Athletics is reminding patrons to arrive early! Beaver Stadium gates will open two hours before kickoff for all games. Penn State strongly encourages fans to be in their seats early for an exciting Penn State White Out pregame show. Early arriving fans will have an opportunity to receive up to a 20 percent discount at the concession stands.
Penn State-Michigan Game Preview
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