The primer for Michigan football hosting Penn State is anything but exemplary. The Wolverines and the Nittany Lions were both ranked in the preseason polls, middling to be sure, but still with high expectations. And yet, both programs with a first-year head coach have floundered once they reached Big Ten play.
PSU enters at 3-3, and Michigan -- fresh off a bye week -- is 3-2. Thus, it's not the big-time matchup as was expected just a few short weeks ago.
ESPN broke down all things Week 7, and this game didn't even make the cut for intriguing matchups against struggling teams (as Rutgers and Maryland did). Instead, it was in the 'two-minute drill' section, relegated to 'oh, that game is still happening' territory.
There was
a time when this would've been a big game. Instead, we're an extra second away from this being a battle between two 3-3 teams with massive quarterback issues. In six games vs. Power 4 competition this season, Penn State's Rocco Becht and Michigan's Bryce Underwood have combined for a 1-5 record with a 55.7 QBR, 56.5% completions, four passing touchdowns and six interceptions. For reference, that's just one more passing touchdown in six games than Iowa's -- yes, Iowa! -- backup QB had last week alone, and frankly Iowa fans will not tolerate this type of cultural appropriation from fellow Big Ten members.
While the mention of Michigan's extra second remains true, the Wolverines also were one defensive stop (or a penalty on that same drive) away from giving Iowa its first of what would be two losses. The maize and blue look inept at times, to be sure, but it's mostly the turnovers and penalties that have hampered Michigan's ability to look like a coherent team.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: ESPN takes brutal shot at Michigan-Penn State after disappointing starts
