Michigan
Penn State
Michigan Monday: Game 6 vs. Penn State
11/23/2020 1:30:00 PM | Football
Michigan (2-3 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (0-5 Big Ten)
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Mich.
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 • Noon EST
Television: ABC
Radio: Michigan/IMG Sports Network
Monday, Nov. 23
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Coach Harbaugh Weekly Press Conference | Watch
Inside Michigan Football Radio Show (7 p.m.) | Listen
• The Wolverines are seeking their 15th victory in 24 matchups with the Nittany Lions (14-9 record).
• U-M has compiled an 8-3 record against PSU at Michigan Stadium.
• Michigan is 29th nationally in passing offense (279 yards/game).
• Giles Jackson was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown at Rutgers.
• Gemon Green is second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally in passes defended (1.6 avg.).
• Hassan Haskins is paces Michigan in rushing yards (277) and rushing TDs (four).
Hail From Home
Game days may look different this fall, but the tradition of cheering on Michigan Football continues. Throughout the 2020 season, the Hail From Home virtual game day will bring the excitement of game day to fans in a variety of ways, including a second-screen pregame show (available for home games), fan cutouts at Michigan Stadium, a chance for #HailFromHome photos to be featured on the videoboard and MGoBlue.com, Go Blue Giveaway, trivia contest (available for home games), a season ticket giveaway presented by Farm Bureau Insurance, and more. » Hail From Home
Wolverines and Nittany Lions
• This will be the 24th meeting between Michigan and Penn State.
• The Wolverines own a 14-9 advantage in the all-time series, with an 8-3 record at Michigan Stadium.
• U-M has a 2-0 record against the Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
• This will be the 12th game played between the two schools at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines have compiled an 8-3 record against the Nittany Lions at the Big House, which includes victories in the past three matchups in Ann Arbor.
Series vs. Penn State: Michigan leads 14-9
Series Streak: Penn State won 1
Last Meeting vs. Penn State: 2019 (Penn State 28, Michigan 21)
Last Michigan Win: 2018
Television Coverage
ABC will broadcast the game to a national audience. Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Mike Golic Sr. (color) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline) will call the game.
Game Notes Nuggets
• Three Wolverines hail from the state of Pennsylvania: offensive lineman Kraig Correll (Easton), running back Gaige Garcia (Catawissa) and defensive tackle Donovan Jeter (Beaver Falls).
• Michigan is averaging 401.2 yards per game of total offense, 123.2 yards in the rushing game and 278.0 passing yards per contest. U-M is fifth in the Big Ten Conference and 29th nationally in passing offense.
• U-M has lost one fumble and thrown four interceptions. The one fumble leads the Big Ten and is ninth nationally.
• Ronnie Bell continues to lead the team in catches (22), receiving yards (361) and yards per game (72.2). His eight receptions of 20-plus yards are also more than any other two pass-catchers combined. Last week, Bell was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list, honoring the top pass-catcher in college football.
• With his 95-yard kickoff return against Rutgers, Giles Jackson now owns two of the seven longest return touchdowns in Michigan history, the other being his 97-yard return to open the Maryland game in 2019. He is also tied with Desmond Howard for the most kickoff return TDs in U-M history with two.
• Jackson lists 13th in the country and leads the Big Ten with his 27.2-yard kickoff return average. Michigan averages 24.8 yards per return between Jackson and Blake Corum, first in the Big Ten among teams with at least two returns per game.
• Jackson was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week by the conference on Monday (Nov. 23). He is the eighth Wolverine to win the honor under head coach Jim Harbaugh, joining Jehu Chesson in 2015; Kenny Allen and Jabrill Peppers in 2016; Quinn Nordin in 2017; and Jake Moody, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Ambry Thomas in 2018.
• The U-M youth movement continued last weekend. Sophomore center Zach Carpenter made his first start, and freshman defensive back Andre Seldon made his collegiate debut on special teams. Through five games, 22 Wolverines have made their college debuts this season.
• The biggest line from any receiver last weekend came from Cornelius Johnson, who caught five passes for 105 yards with two scores. Johnson has three games with four-plus catches this year and leads the team with an average of 17 yards per catch. It marked his first multi-score game as a Wolverine.
• Quarterback Cade McNamara entered the game and completed 27 of 36 pass attempts for 260 yards with four touchdowns. McNamara led five scoring drives on six possessions (four passing touchdowns, one rushing TD) after taking over the reins.
• Among players with 25-plus completions in a game, no one has a higher single-game completion percentage than McNamara (75 percent). Next on the list are Drew Henson (2000, Purdue) and Chad Henne (2005, Michigan State), who both went 26-for-35 (74.3 percent) passing. Tom Brady (1999, Alabama) went 34-of-46 (73.9 percent) in his final game as a Wolverine.
• Examined another way, Michigan quarterbacks have attempted 36 passes or more 60 times in program history. McNamara's performance features the highest completion percentage in any such game among just five showings with a figure north of 70 percent. The others were Devin Gardner (32-of-45, 2013, Ohio State) and Jake Rudock (33-of-46, 2015, Indiana) at 71.1 percent, John Navarre at 70.2 percent (33-of-47, 2003, Minnesota), and Brady's Orange Bowl game against Alabama.
• McNamara threw touchdowns to three different players (Cornelius Johnson, twice; Nick Eubanks; Mike Sainristil) and ran for one of his own.
• McNamara's touchdown percentage on the season is a lofty 10.8 percent with five aerial scores on 46 attempts. He is completing more than 67 percent of his passes.
• Running back Hassan Haskins had his best game of the season in Piscataway, racking up 109 yards on 25 carries with one touchdown. U-M rode Haskins into the end zone for the winning score in overtime.
• Haskins is up to a 5.9 yards-per-carry average, with a team-leading 272 yards and four touchdowns this year. He has lost only four yards all season on 46 carries.
Giles Jackson is just faster than every other player on the field
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 22, 2020
pic.twitter.com/PPoaeXMBoI
• Among the team's five leading tacklers, three are linebackers and two are safeties. Josh Ross (41) leads the way with safeties Brad Hawkins (39) and Daxton Hill (36) next, followed by Michael Barrett (32) and Cameron McGrone (26), who left the Rutgers contest with an injury.
• Ross tied a career high with 11 stops and six solos in Piscataway. He also had an 11-yard sack, one of two produced by the U-M defense last weekend.
• Gemon Green remains among the league leaders in pass breakups. After recording one at Rutgers, he is up to eight on the season through five games, second most among Big Ten players. His rate of 1.6 passes defended per contest ranks second in the league and 10th nationally.
• Hill's game-sealing interception in overtime was his first of the year and second of his career. Hill is up to four pass breakups on the season, second only to Green.
• Defensive lineman Christopher Hinton was credited with the first sack of his career -- a seven-yard loss -- at Rutgers. Hinton is the seventh different Wolverine with at least a half-sack so far this season and the fourth different defensive lineman.
• Fellow lineman Taylor Upshaw had his first career forced fumble in the game. It was U-M's first game with multiple turnovers this year.
• Punter Brad Robbins continues to be a special-teams weapon, leading the Big Ten and ranking sixth nationally in punting average (46.9). Among punters with 10-plus attempts, Robbins is third nationally.
• Robbins has forced six fair catches and has allowed only 12 return yards on 19 total punts after yielding a negative two-yard return at Rutgers. He and his coverage unit have Michigan as the No. 2 net-average team in the Big Ten (42.3 yards per punt).
Maryland Game Time, TV Announced
Michigan's game vs. Maryland on Saturday, Dec. 5, has been announced as a 3:30 p.m. EST start. Big Ten Network will televise the game live from Michigan Stadium.
