The Michigan Wolverines pulled off one of the most stunning wins in recent memory Saturday night. While there was some controversy surrounding the end-of-game scenario that added an extra second to the game clock and allowed them score a walk-off touchdown, the bigger story is that it happened against Western Michigan.
The Wolverines entered this year with one of the more talented rosters in college football, including five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and four-star wide receiver Andrew Marsh. They began the season ranked No. 16 – two spots ahead of Penn State — but now that position will be reevaluated.
Michigan struggled mightily throughout the game, going scoreless for more than 50 minutes of game time before connecting on the Hail Mary.
They ultimately pulled out the win, but that isn’t the type of performance you want to put on the field against a far inferior opponent.
There is a chance the Nittany Lions will be ranked ahead of Michigan in the next AP Poll, and more importantly, that mid-October battle at The Big House could become the biggest game of the season. With the Wolverines being one of only three ranked teams that Penn State is slated to play this season, a win in that game could have significant implications on their College Football Playoff odds.
Obviously, we are only one game into the season, and a lot can change in the six weeks until that game. But with no clear powerhouses on the schedule, the Nittany Lions need to begin recalibrating what this season can look like if they take care of business.
Even if they get over the hump in Michigan, that game would only be the second in a month-long gauntlet that also sees the Blue and White take on USC and Washington. The games played between Oct. 10 and Nov. 7 will likely be the defining point of this Penn State season, and for right now, they appear to have the upper hand against at least one of those teams.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Michigan’s stunning comeback could have big impact on Penn State
