Michigan Football returned to the win column Saturday afternoon, defeating Penn State, 21-18, at The Big House to earn its first Big Ten victory of the season.
The victory improves Michigan to 4-2 on the season ahead of next Saturday’s matchup with Indiana. Here’s a closer look at how the Wolverines performed, according to PFF.
Offensive team grades
Michigan’s offense earned a 74.0 overall PFF grade, a significant improvement from its 58.9 grade against Minnesota in Week 5. The Wolverines’ biggest strength came in pass
protection, where they earned a season-best 91.5 grade. They also received a 77.6 rushing grade and a 71.2 run-blocking grade.
Offensive snap counts (snap count \ overall grade)
- Bryson Kuzdzal — 4 \ 90.7
- Manuel Beigel — 26 \ 82.2
- Hogan Hansen — 26 \ 79.7
- Tommy Carr — 31 \ 72.0
- Blake Frazier — 55 \ 71.3
- Savion Hiter — 22 \ 71.0
- Jake Guarnera — 55 \ 70.9
- Avery Gach — 55 \ 69.5
- Jordan Marshall — 30 \ 69.2
- Nathan Efobi — 55 \ 65.5
- Jalen Hoffman — 27 \ 62.5
- JJ Buchanan — 53 \ 61.4
- Bryce Underwood — 24 \ 60.5
- Marky Walbridge — 1 \ 60.0
- Evan Link — 55 \ 59.8
- Channing Goodwin — 17 \ 59.4
- Salesi Moa — 5 \ 58.1
- Eli Owens — 4 \ 57.4
- Andrew Marsh — 48 \ 52.3
- Travis Johnson — 12 \ 47.2
Five highest-graded offensive players (min. 5 snaps)
- Manuel Beigel — 82.2
- Hogan Hansen — 79.7
- Tommy Carr — 72.0
- Blake Frazier — 71.3
- Savion Hiter — 71.0
Beigel was Michigan’s highest-graded offensive player among those who saw the most action, earning an 82.2 overall grade across 26 snaps. His best marks came against the run, receiving a team-high 78.1 grade in that category. Beigel also earned a 74.6 pass-blocking grade without allowing a single pressure across seven pass-blocking snaps.
Hogan Hansen wasn’t far behind, earning a 79.7 overall and an outstanding 86.8 receiving grade. The tight end caught both of his targets for 31 yards, including 26 yards after the catch.
Tommy Carr’s performance was one of the biggest stories of the afternoon. The freshman earned a 72.0 overall grade, including 70.4 rushing and 62.3 passing on just four attempts. He completed 5-of-7 passes for 47 yards and added 37 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Blake Frazier earned a 71.3 overall grade, including an impressive 81.0 pass-blocking mark. Savion Hiter rounded out the top five with a 71.0 overall grade after rushing for 78 yards on 11 carries, including 40 yards after contact and two missed tackles forced.
Bryson Kuzdzal deserves an honorable mention after earning Michigan’s highest overall offensive grade at 90.7. However, he played just four snaps, excluding him from the top-five ranking. He received an 82.9 rushing grade and broke loose for a 43-yard touchdown run.
Five lowest-graded offensive players (min. 5 snaps)
- Travis Johnson — 47.2
- Andrew Marsh — 52.3
- Salesi Moa — 58.1
- Channing Goodwin — 59.4
- Evan Link — 59.8
Travis Johnson earned Michigan’s lowest offensive grade at 47.2 across 12 snaps, including a 48.7 receiving grade. He was targeted once but wasn’t able to come down with it. Fellow wideout Andrew Marsh also fell near the bottom this week, finishing with a 52.3 overall grade and a 54.5 receiving grade. He reeled in just three of his six targets for 21 yards and was dinged with one drop.
Evan Link’s performance was particularly interesting. Despite finishing among Michigan’s five lowest-graded offensive players with a 59.8 overall grade, he earned an outstanding 84.8 pass-blocking grade. His overall mark was largely dragged down by a 53.7 run-blocking grade.
Defensive team grades
Michigan’s defense earned a 68.8 overall PFF grade, a decline from its 79.6 grade against Minnesota. The Wolverines were particularly effective against the run, earning an 81.0 run-defense grade while limiting Penn State to just 65 rushing yards. Michigan also received a 76.8 tackling grade, but its pass rush and coverage numbers were considerably less impressive, finishing at 65.9 and 58.5, respectively.
Despite those inconsistencies, the defense delivered when it mattered most, forcing three second-half turnovers that helped fuel Michigan’s comeback victory.
Defensive snap counts (snap count \ overall grade)
- Rod Moore Jr. — 33 \ 88.4
- Benny Patterson III — 18 \ 76.7
- Chris Bracy — 80 \ 75.3
- John Henry Daley — 65 \ 70.3
- Jonah Lea’ea — 35 \ 68.2
- Tariq Boney — 34 \ 68.0
- Deyvid Palepale — 4 \ 67.3
- Troy Bowles — 67 \ 66.7
- Chase Taylor — 41 \ 66.5
- Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng — 9 \ 64.2
- Trey Pierce — 53 \ 62.3
- Dom Nichols — 24 \ 62.1
- Bobby Kanka — 9 \ 61.7
- Nathaniel Staehling — 59 \ 61.1
- Smith Snowden — 60 \ 60.5
- Enow Etta — 58 \ 60.5
- Max Alford — 1 \ 60.0
- Cam Brandt — 6 \ 59.4
- Mason Curtis — 36 \ 59.0
- Aisea Moa — 32 \ 58.7
- Jordan Young — 38 \ 57.3
- Carter Meadows — 8 \ 56.5
- Shamari Earls — 7 \ 51.1
- Jyaire Hill — 72 \ 49.7
- Zeke Berry — 30 \ 47.8
Five highest-graded defensive players (min. 5 snaps)
- Rod Moore Jr. — 88.4
- Benny Patterson III — 76.7
- Chris Bracy — 75.3
- John Henry Daley — 70.3
- Jonah Lea’ea — 68.2
Rod Moore was Michigan’s highest-graded defensive player by a considerable margin, earning an elite 88.4 overall grade across 33 snaps. He was particularly impressive in coverage, receiving an 89.0 grade while recording an interception that helped spark Michigan’s second-half comeback. PFF credited him with allowing three receptions on three targets for just 14 yards.
Chris Bracy was another major standout, earning a 75.3 overall grade across a team-high 80 defensive snaps. He received an 80.3 run-defense grade, an 84.5 tackling grade and an 84.4 pass-rush grade. He was also responsible for two of Michigan’s biggest defensive plays, recording an interception and forcing a fumble on a strip sack.
Benny Patterson III earned Michigan’s second-highest defensive grade at 76.7, including a 75.8 pass-rush grade. He played 18 snaps and was targeted twice in coverage without allowing a reception. Meanwhile, John Henry Daley posted a 70.3 overall grade and was one of the defense’s best against the run, finishing with a 75.1 run-defense mark. He also generated three pressures, including a sack, a hit and a hurry.
Lea’ea rounded out the top-five with a 68.2 overall grade and a 67.7 run-defense grade. He recorded two tackles and an assist against the run without a missed tackle.
Five lowest-graded defensive players (min. 5 snaps)
- Zeke Berry — 47.8
- Jyaire Hill — 49.7
- Shamari Earls — 51.1
- Carter Meadows — 56.5
- Jordan Young — 57.3
PFF took no mercy on Michigan’s corners. Zeke Berry had the Wolverines’ lowest defensive grade at 47.8 in 30 snaps, including a 52.5 coverage grade. He allowed one reception on one target for 10 yards and also had a 56.6 pass rush grade and 60.1 run defense grade working against him.
Jyaire Hill’s performance was another notable concern. He finished with a 49.7 overall grade and a 46.1 coverage grade, allowing seven receptions on nine targets for 85 yards, the most receiving yards surrendered by any Michigan defender on the afternoon.
Shamari Earls played just seven snaps but earned a 51.1 overall grade, including a 51.7 coverage grade. He also allowed two receptions on two targets for six yards. Even Smith Snowden sat right outside of the bottom five — posting a 59.6 coverage grade after allowing four receptions on nine targets for 59 yards.
