James Franklin knows that he still needs a big conference win to mark his arrival at Penn State. Beating No. 12 Michigan in Happy Valley would do the trick.
Michigan vs. Penn State 2015: Start time, live stream, TV schedule and 3 things to know
No. 12 Michigan needs a win in Happy Valley to keep their College Football Playoff dreams alive.
The Nittany Lions will host the Wolverines on Saturday with the opportunity to pick up their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 15 Wisconsin nearly two years ago. Franklin hasn’t toppled a top 25 program since he was coaching the Vanderbilt Commodores. A victory this weekend could help quell the dissatisfaction that’s begun to grow in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Michigan will be on high upset alert after nearly throwing their College Football Playoff chances away in a two-overtime win against Indiana. The Wolverines trailed 34-27 when they started their final possession of regulation with 2:46 left last Saturday. They needed a fourth-and-goal conversion with no time left on the clock just to stay alive. Despite their struggles against a 4-6 team, Jim Harbaugh’s program still managed to jump two spots in the official rankings. If they can win their final two games of the regular season and then dispatch an unbeaten Iowa team in the Big Ten title game, Michigan will make a strong case for one of the final spots in the playoff - but it all starts with a win over a solid but unspectacular Nittany Lion team.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 12 p.m. ET, ABC
Radio: Michigan, Penn State
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Michigan is favored by 3.5 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Maize n Brew (for Michigan fans) and Black Shoe Diaries (for Penn State fans).
Three big things to know
1. Return of the Hack? Christian Hackenberg has gone from a potential top overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to a mid-second rounder thanks to some suspect play in 2015. Though he's helped to limit his turnovers, his passing yardage and completion rate are both down in his junior year. However, he'll have a big opportunity to regain his value as a prospect when he faces a Jim Harbaugh defense that ranks second in the nation in total defense. If he can light up the Wolverines and add a few maize and blue highlights to his sizzle reel, then he'll cement his status as a first round quarterback.
2. About that Michigan defense. Last week, the Wolverines gave up 34 points in regulation to an Indiana offense that made it a point to run all over the visiting team. IU carved up a top five rushing defense en route to 302 yards on the ground. While Penn State’s Saquon Barkley isn’t as dynamic a back as Jordan Howard, he’s a powerful, compact back that could give Michigan fits while grinding out drive-preserving runs.
3. Speaking of giving Michigan fits, Carl Nassib is going to eat - the question is just how much? The senior defensive end has a sack in every game so far this season and leads the nation with 15.5 - three more than the next closest defender. Jake Rudock isn’t exactly the kind of fleet-footed scrambler who can dance around pressure, so the Wolverines are going to have to hope that their blocking can create enough space to keep their quarterback upright on Saturday.
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