Penn State vs. Michigan: Nittany Lions stomp Wolverines in Beaver Stadium

Zac Al-Khateeb

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Penn State vs. Michigan: Nittany Lions stomp Wolverines in Beaver Stadium image

No. 2 Penn State got revenge over No. 19 Michigan on Saturday in a dominating win.

The combination of Trace McSorley, Saquon Barkley and DaeSean Hamilton was too much for Michigan to handle in a 42-13 blowout, one that places Penn State squarely at the top of the Big Ten — barring an Ohio State win next week.

MORE: Penn State vs. Michigan: History of the rivalry

Barkley rushed 15 yards for 105 yards while pulling down five receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown, only strengthening his Heisman campaign. McSorley completed completed 17 of 26 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown. Hamilton had six receptions for 115 yards.

Michigan's defense tried its best to stymie the Penn State offense, but just couldn't keep up with the Lions' high-flying playmakers. John O'Korn led Michigan's struggling offense to 269 yards of offense on the night.

Here's how Penn State made its statement against Michigan: (all times Eastern):

Fourth quarter:

10:58 p.m.: And that does it. Penn State wins 42-13 in emphat

10:45 p.m.: Karan Higdon converts Michigan's fourth-and-1 with a 7-yard run. Wolverines driving at their own 45-yard line.

10:44 p.m.: John O'Korn is still in at quarterback for Michigan.

10:38 p.m.: Trace McSorley gets the hat trick with his third rushing touchdown of the night, this one from 9 yards out. Penn State leads 42-13.

10:34 p.m.: Trace McSorley hits Brandon Polk for 23 yards for a first down at the Michigan 25. Joe Moorhead definitely not taking the foot off pedal. Perhaps now's a good time to remind everyone that Michigan beat Penn State 49-10 last season in The Big House?

10:30 p.m.: John O'Korn sacked on fourth-and-11 at the Penn State 45. Nittany Lions get the ball back and this one is just about over.

10:27 p.m.: Mad props to John O'Korn who's still scrambling trying to keep plays alive for downfield throws. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, he's sacked by defensive lineman Parker Cothren on that last play.

10:22 p.m.: Saquon Barkley can do it all, folks. He scores on a 42-yard touchdown reception from Trace McSorley to make it 35-13 Penn State. (To be fair, he bobbled it into the end zone to make it even more spectacular).

10:15 p.m.: Christian Campbell causes John O'Korn to fumble on a corner blitz. The Nittany Lions take over at Michigan's 47-yard line. The play is under review.

10:14 p.m.: If we see things continue like this, the Nittany Lions might have a shot at getting that trophy.

Third quarter: Penn State 28, Michigan 13

10:08 p.m.: Did we mention it's really, really loud at Beaver Stadium right now?

10:05 p.m.: Another defensive stand from Michigan. Trace McSorley sacked by a host of Wolverine defenders. Nittany Lions punting on fourth-and-12 from their own 31.

10:02 p.m.: Michigan has to punt. Probably didn't get any help from the home faithful in Beaver Stadium:

9:57 p.m.: Michigan back at it and John O'Korn is trying to do everything he can to keep Michigan in this game.

9:51 p.m.: Touchdown Penn State! Trace McSorley rushes it in from 13 yards out for his second rushing score of the game. Who needs Saquon Barkley anyway? (Totally kidding by the way).

9:46 p.m.: And Penn State is back on the field. Two plays in, DaeSean Hamilton gashes Michigan AGAIN with a 26-yard reception out to the Penn State 48. That's his fourth reception (all for first downs) and he has 95 yards and counting.

9:42 p.m.: Third time's the charm for the Penn State defense, which finally gets the Wolverines off the field on third-and-16. Michigan punt upcoming.

9:40 p.m.: Ty Isaac gives Michigan its second third-down conversion of the half on third-and-2. Wolverines are driving at the Penn State 49.

9:38 p.m.: John O'Korn rumbling for a first down on third-and-4. He's the Wolverines' leading rusher so far this game, with 35 yards.

9:36 p.m.: And we're back! Michigan receives the ball to start the half. 

Second quarter: Penn State 21, Michigan 13

9:16 p.m.: Some stats from the first half: 

Total yards: Penn State 302; Michigan 141
Passing: Penn State 10 of 18, 159 yards, 1 INT; Michigan 7 of 8, 63 yards
Rushing: Penn State 18 rushes for 143 yards (7.9 yards per carry); Michigan 22 rushes for 78 yards (3.5 ypc)
Time of possession: Michigan 15:31; Penn State 14:29

Also, Saquon Barkley has rushed 11 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

9:15 p.m.: Penn State forces a punt from Michigan and is happy to just take a knee into halftime.

9:10 p.m.: Have you ever been so excited you hurdled your quarterback? Mike Gesicki has.

9:08 p.m.: And one play later, Trace McSorley runs it in from 3 yards out off the Saquon Barkley fake. Penn State leads 21-13.

9:07 p.m.: Third-and-3 and Trace McSorley hits Mike Gesicki for 17 yards to the 3-yard line. 

9:04 p.m.: DaeSean Hamilton is back at ig again. He pulls in a 36-yard reception from Trace McSorley to get it to the Michigan 27-yard line. He's pretty good.

8:59 p.m.: Michigan is right back in it! Ty Isaac runs it in from 6 yards out to make the score 14-13! 

8:58 p.m.: Another great play by John O'Korn with some serious help by Kekoa Crawford! O'Korn, under pressure, makes a fantastic over-the-shoulder throw and Crawford makes an even better catch to get it down to the 6-yard line.

8:56 p.m.: John O'Korn out here making some nice plays: He runs for 14 yards then completes an 18-yard pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones to get down to the Penn State 34-yard line.

8:53 p.m.: Interesting play call by Penn State right there. Fourth-and-7 from the 33-yard line, and Trace McSorley tries to hit DaeSean Hamilton on the long ball. Don Brown's defense makes another stop and Michigan gets the ball not backed up at its own goal line.

8:50 p.m.: Wow, Saquon Barkley drops a huge pass on a wheel route. Even Superman takes his eye off the ball every now and then.

8:48 p.m.: Huge play from Trace McSorley on third-and-8 at the Nittany Lions' 19-yard line. He hits DaeSean Hamilton who out-leaps the defender to pull down the 27-yard grab and get the ball near midfield.

8:45 p.m.: Not much doing for the Wolverines on that drive. They punt and Penn State takes over deep in its own territory. Also:

8:38 p.m.: Oh wow, Khaleke Hudson nearly gets an interception in the end zone! He drops it though, and Michigan will have to settle for the punt. Excellent drive from the Wolverines right there.

8:37 p.m.: And now Rashan Gary gets a tackle for loss on Saquon Barkley. Nittany Lions going backward, losing 9 yards on two plays.

8:36 p.m.: Michigan's Maurice Hurst makes an apearance, sacking Trace McSorley for a loss of 5 yards to the 10-yard line.

8:36 p.m.: We're back, and Saquon Barkley takes the ensuing kickoff out 15 yards. 

8:30 p.m.: Oh no. This game has been stalled while a sideline photographer is loaded onto a gurney on Michigan's touchdown play. She was reportedly hit in the action and couldn't get out of the way. 

8:28 p.m.: Aaaannd the kicker misses the PAT. Penn State leads 14-6, but Michigan showed it can still hang with the Nittany Lions. Apparently that broke a nation-leading streak of 301 made PATs.

8:27 p.m.: That's a big-time decision by Michigan. Fourth-and-inches from the goal line, the Wolverines toss it to Karan Higdon who sneaks it inside the pylon. 

First quarter: Penn State 14, Michigan 0

8:25 p.m.: Wow, Penn State holds Michigan from scoring at the goal line. It looks like fourth-and-inches upcoming for the Wolverines. Decision time for Jim Harbaugh.

8:23 p.m.: That is an impressive stat!

8:20 p.m.: So it's not all gloom and doom for Michgian. The Wolverines are still down 14-0 but are driving with first-and-goal at the Penn State 3-yard line. Now's a good time to keep the game from getting out of hands.

8:15 p.m.: Oh hey, we've got a game still going! David Long intercepts Trace McSorley and returns it 25 yards for Michigan. The Wolverines are driving inside the Nittany Lions' 40-yard line.

8:05 p.m.: Through two drives, Penn State has 153 total yards. Michigan has minus-5. That's ... not good for the Wolverines, and fantastic for the Nittany Lions.

8:03 p.m.: Saquon Barkley has 89 yards rushing in just two drives. Michigan has given up an average of 85 per game this season. It could be a long day for the Wolverines.

8:02 p.m.: Michigan's lone positive play so far was on a kickoff return. Of course, the Wolverines finished with negative yards on the ensuing drive.

7:56 p.m.: Touchdown No. 2 for Saquon Barkley, this time from 15 yards out. Incredible. The score's 14-0 Penn State, which has had the ball for less than three minutes of game time.

7:55 p.m.: And now Trace McSorley is making plays! He gets a 23-yard run off the zone read before hitting Mike Gesicki for 35 yards all the way down to the 15-yard line.

7:54 p.m.: Very impressive stat for Saquon Barkley:

7:49 p.m.: Curtis Cothran gets a sack on John O'Korn to give the Wolverines a three-and-out to start the game. Penn State taking over again.

7:46 p.m.: That play was the longest Michigan has allowed from scrimmage all season. Not a good start for the Wolverines.

7:45 p.m.: That didn't take long. Forty-three seconds into the game and Saquon hits a 67-yard touchdown against Michigan. Wow.

7:42 p.m.: Strength against strength to start the game.

Pregame:

7:41 p.m.: Penn State's going all out in pregame. This is going to be fun.

7:37 p.m.: People are getting riled up in Happy Valley. This should be a doozy.

7:30 p.m.: It's about that time. That is a lot of white, by the way.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.