Michigan Falls Short Against Penn State

Saturday, November 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

2-4 , 2-4

Penn State

1-5 , 1-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Penn State

Michigan

Hassan Haskins (Michigan Photography)

11/28/2020 3:44:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Player Participation PDF Boxscore In the Trenches Podcast: Penn State Postgame Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Penn State 27, Michigan 17
Records: U-M (2-4), PSU (1-5)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Dec. 5 -- vs. Maryland (Michigan Stadium), 3:30 p.m. (TV: Big Ten Network)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior Hassan Haskins ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough as the University of Michigan football team lost to Penn State, 27-17, on Saturday (Nov. 28) at Michigan Stadium.

Penn State (1-5) got the ball to start the game and took advantage, taking a quick 7-0 lead on a six-yard touchdown run from Keyvone Lee. The Wolverines moved the ball some on the next drive in an attempt to respond, but the drive stalled across midfield after a pass from sophomore Cade McNamara to sophomore Cornelius Johnson fell incomplete on fourth-and-two.

On the next play, Penn State wide receiver Parker Washington appeared to fumble after a reception and the ball was picked up and returned for an apparent touchdown by junior Gemon Green. However, the call on the field was overturned by replay, and Penn State kept the ball. The Nittany Lions faced a fourth-and-one from the Michigan 26-yard line and elected to go for it, but Lee was flagged for a false start, backing them up five yards. The ensuing 49-yard field goal attempt by Jordan Stout was no good, turning the ball over to Michigan.

The defensive stop gave a boost to Michigan (2-4), which needed only four plays to tie the game at 7. Haskins played a big part, reeling off a 59-yard run on the first play of the drive to set up the offense inside the Penn State 10-yard line. Three plays later, he punched it into the end zone from two yards out.

The two teams traded empty offensive possessions until Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford busted out a 28-yard touchdown run to put the visitors up, 14-7, with 3:32 left in the first half. Michigan was primed to get the ball back just before halftime, but a punt was muffed by sophomore Mike Sainristil, giving the ball back to the Nittany Lions at the Michigan 27-yard line with 1:15 left. Penn State turned that turnover into a 22-yard field goal from Jake Pinegar, and the Nittany Lions led, 17-7, at the break.

On the first drive of the third quarter, Michigan got the game back to a one-possession contest on a 40-yard field goal from junior Jake Moody. But Penn State answered and went up 20-10 on a 33-yard field goal by Pinegar.

The Wolverines needed a spark in the fourth quarter and got one on a 28-yard pass from McNamara to freshman A.J. Henning, flipping the field to Penn State's 37-yard line. With U-M facing a third-and-four on the 31-yard line, Penn State's Jayson Oweh jumped offsides, a five-yard penalty that gave Michigan an automatic first down. Back-to-back runs for 24 total yards by freshman Blake Corum set up the Wolverines on the doorstep, with Haskins finishing off the drive with a two-yard touchdown to bring the score to 20-17.

Penn State rebounded with a long drive of its own, going back up by 10, 27-17, on a two-yard rush by Will Levis with 8:12 to play.

On the ensuing drive, Michigan got the ball into Penn State territory with one final opportunity. Facing a fourth-and-one from the 37-yard line, junior Joe Milton, who had entered the game for McNamara, was stopped short and U-M turned the ball over to Penn State with 5:37 left. The Nittany Lions then ran out the clock to close out the game.

The Wolverines are slated to be back on the field next Saturday (Dec. 5), when they will host Maryland at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.