It was nice to get away from these after the USC game, but Penn State is back to producing ugly box scores. There wasn’t much to cheer about on offense besides a developing connection in the passing game. However, the defense came ready to play against Michigan and provided a few bright spots for the Nittany Lions.
They were able to completely shut down the Wolverines’ passing game and did everything they could to keep the team in the game. It was to no avail, but the effort was commendable given how much pressure has been put on them over the last month.
Here are a few key stats that helped swing the game in Michigan’s favor.
Turnovers
Turnover differential will always be one of the driving factors of a team’s record, and Penn State simply hasn’t been good
enough in that area. Quarterback Rocco Becht turned the ball over three more times on Saturday, and it directly led to 21 Michigan points. He has been putting his team in a precarious position for weeks now, and it has to stop if this team is going to win again.
Rushing yards
While turnovers were the main reason for Penn State’s loss, the discrepancy in the running game was a close second. It was outgained 211-65 on the ground, and Michigan scored its first touchdown of the day on a 43-yard rushing touchdown.
In a slow, grind-it-out game, the Nittany Lions were forced to air it out as much as possible, and it was likely the difference in the game. If they were able to run, perhaps Becht wouldn’t have turned the ball over as much, and the outcome of the game may have been completely different.
Sacks
A Wolverines team that has had a ton of trouble rushing the passer was in Becht’s face all night long. They sacked him three times and made him do more running around in the backfield than he is comfortable with.
It was a masterful game all around for Michigan’s defense as Becht struggled to find anyone to throw the ball to besides wide receiver Chase Sowell. It’s one of the best units in the nation, and it proved exactly why against Penn State.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State dominated by Michigan’s defense in fourth straight loss
