A rough year for the Michigan football team got even worse when they gave Penn State their first win of the season in The Big House.
Saturday was not what we have come to know when Michigan plays Penn State. Typically when the Michigan Wolverines take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in football, there are usually major implications in the Big Ten East and New Year’s Six bowl possibilities on the line. Well, 2020 is a completely different animal. Penn State got its first win of the season to improve to 1-5 on the year, while Michigan falls to 2-4 on the season. Here are five things you missed.
Cade McNamara did not throw for 100 yards at home
Saturday marked quarterback Cade McNamara‘s first start of the season for Michigan. After coming to the rescue vs. the Rutgers Scarlet Knights last week, McNamara completed 12-of-25 passes for 91 yards. If you add in his one rush attempt for three yards, McNamara was this close to getting to 100 total yards on the day. No wonder Michigan lost at home again.
There were more 100-yard runners (2) than 100-yard passers (1)
This was a painful game for everyone to watch. However, this was a solid day on the ground from both teams’ top rushers. Keyvone Lee had 22 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown for Penn State, while Hassan Haskins had 17 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns for Michigan. While Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford threw for over 100 yards, McNamara did not.
Michigan is now 0-3 in The Big House this season
While 2-4 is not the worst record in the Big Ten, the troubling part for the Wolverines is how they are not taking care of business at home. Their two wins on the year are at the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their season opener and at Rutgers last week in triple overtime. Michigan has lost at home to the Michigan State Spartans, the Wisconsin Badgers and now Penn State.
Michigan has given Michigan State and Penn State their lone wins of the year
While Michigan needs to win at home next week vs. the Maryland Terrapins next week to avoid going 0-for in the Big House this year, it is crazy to think Michigan State and Penn State only have two wins this season between them and they were road wins at Michigan. This is proof rivalry games are always important, no matter how terrible one or both teams are playing in the game.
This really feels like the end for Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor
At 2-4 and almost certainly looking at a 3-5 regular-season record, 2020 feels like it will be the last year Jim Harbaugh is the head coach of Michigan. If the Wolverines are looking for his replacement, how about Matt Campbell of the Iowa State Cyclones, who just won in Austin to essentially guarantee his team’s first-ever trip to the Big 12 Championship game in a few weeks?
Up next
Penn State plays at Rutgers, while Michigan hosts Maryland on Saturday, Dec. 5.
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