STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — No. 2 Penn State beat No. 19 Michigan 42-13 in the "White Out" at Beaver Stadium on Saturday in a Big Ten showdown that lived up to the hype.
Saquon Barkley made a Heisman Trophy statement, and the Nittany Lions roar into a showdown at No. 6 Ohio State next Saturday. Michigan dropped a second game, and that likely knocks the team out of the Big Ten East race under third-year coach Jim Harbaugh.
MORE: What we learned about Penn State
Here are five things we learned from Saturday's game:
Big plays galore
It comes down to this. Penn State can make big plays on offense. Michigan can't. The Nittany Lions had eight plays of 20 yards or more, including three on the first two drives that helped Penn State jump out to a quick 14-0 lead. Saquon Barkley rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter, including a 69-yarder on a direct snap on the second play from scrimmage.
Trace McSorley added a 23-yard run up the middle then threw a 35-yard pass to a leaping Mike Gesicki. The Nittany Lions couldn't have scripted a better start on the first two possessions. Michigan, meanwhile, couldn't make the big plays with John O'Korn under center. The Wolverines had three plays of 20 yards or more, but two of those came after Penn State had a commanding lead.
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Heisman-clincher?
Barkley added to his highlight-reel clip with those two touchdown runs and ran up his totals with 108 rushing yards against one of the nation's best defenses. He also provided the dagger with a bobbling catch that fell into his arms for a 42-yard touchdowb with 13:11 remaining that put the Nittany Lions up 35-13. Barkley is the Heisman Trophy front runner, but that's an always-fluid, week-to-week discussion. Barkley, however, can make an even bigger statement on the road at No. 6 Ohio State next week. If Barkley can be the star in Columbus and again when Penn State travels to Michigan State on Nov. 4, then he will clinch the Heisman before November is even over.
Key drive
Michigan fought back in the game and took the momentum for most of the second quarter after a David Long interception. The Wolverines pieced together two touchdown drives and cut the deficit to 14-13 with 1:45 left in the half. That's when Penn State took control for good with a seven-play, 75-yard drive just before halftime, in which McSorley completed big passes to DaeSean Hamilton and Mike Gesicki. McSorley scored on a 3-yard run to give the Nittany Lions a 21-13 lead at halftime. Penn State outgained Michigan 302-141 in the first half and never looked back from there.
MORE: Penn State-Michigan live blog
Big-game Lions, too
The Nittany Lions are good enough to run that three-game gauntlet, and this victory sets up a fantastic showdown with Ohio State next week. Barkley's big game was notable, but McSorley's performance was the key. He'll have to be just as good — especially in the passing game — against Ohio State's loaded defensive line. Look for McSorley to keep leaning on DaeSean Hamilton, who made big catches on the touchdown drives at the end of the half and the start of the third quarter. That's the bridge the Wolverines couldn't overcome. That's why Penn State looks like a team fully capable of defending the Big Ten championship.
What now, UM?
The loss is going to turn up the heat on Harbaugh now that the Wolverines appear to be out of the running in the Big Ten East race with five games to play in the regular season. It's easy fodder, but the Wolverines simply don't make the plays on offense behind O'Korn to support a defense that was stressed early. Michigan can build confidence with games against Rutgers, Minnesota and Maryland before finishing the season at Wisconsin and home against Ohio State. A third straight 10-3 season under Harbaugh seems like a best-case scenario. A third straight third-place finish in the Big Ten East is questionable. That's going to sting for a while, and it should.
