College football Week 8 watchability rankings: 5 best games of the week

COLLEGE PARK, MD – SEPTEMBER 27: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to throw a pass during a college football game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on September 27, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

The Big Ten battle in Happy Valley between Michigan and Penn State headlines the Week 8 college football games of the week.

No. 16 Michigan at No. 7 Penn State -7:30 p.m. – ABC

In the most exciting matchup of the week, the Wolverines and Nittany Lions will get together for a crucial game in the Big Ten East.

Penn State has impressed everyone this season coming into the game at No. 7 in the country and 6-0. Michigan, on the other hand, has been the complete opposite. After coming into the season picked by many to win the Big Ten, the Wolverines have had close battles with both Army and Illinois and suffered a blow out loss to Wisconsin. Still, the Wolverines are 5-1 and could change the narrative of their season with a big road win against Penn State in week eight.

For Penn State, they have been one of the best teams at stopping the run this season, allowing an average of just 63.8 yards on the ground this season. The defense is anchored by sophomore linebacker, Micah Parsons, who leads the team in tackles with 31.

On the offensive side of things, the Nittany Lions have largely been carried by the connection between quarterback Sean Clifford and wide receiver KJ Hamler. Hamler has caught 12 more passes than any other Penn State receiver this season and Clifford has done well in replacing Trace McSorely. Clifford is completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,560 yards, 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

For the Wolverines, the offense has struggled to get going this season as they have ranked No. 77 in total yards gained this season. Shea Patterson hasn’t seen a ton of improvement but the emergence of freshman running back Zach Charbonnet has helped the offense stay relevant in 2019. On defense, the Wolverines have looked impressive this season even after losing Chase Winovich, Devin Bush and Rashaan Gary to the NFL draft last year.

Whoever wins this game will have a leg up in the Big Ten East as it seems to now be a three-team race. A win for Jim Harbaugh would be just the type of win he has been lacking during his tenor in Ann Arbor.