No. 19 Michigan travels to No. 2 Penn State on Saturday in a showdown at Beaver Stadium that will go a long way in determining the Big Ten East champion.
It’s the third meeting between Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Penn State coach James Franklin, and the Wolverines come in having won the last two, including a 49-10 victory in Ann Arbor last season.
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Will the Nittany Lions get their revenge? Here are the five key matchups in the game:
Saquon Barkley vs. Devin Bush
Two Sporting News midseason All-Americans make up the best matchup within the game. Barkley is the Heisman Trophy front runner and leads the Nittany Lions with 1,044 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. Bush, a speedy linebacker, has taken off in Don Brown’s defense with 48 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks.
Penn State DEs vs. Michigan tackles
Penn State defensive ends Shareef Miller and Shaka Toney have combined for 5.5 sacks and can collapse a pocket in a hurry. Michigan right tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty played well against Indiana, and he'll need to be at his best along with veteran left tackle Mason Cole. They'll have even better against the “White Out” while trying to protect Michigan quarterback John O’Korn and open lanes for Karan Higdon, who rushed for 200 yards and three scores against Indiana last week.
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Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. Grant Haley
Peoples-Jones is Michigan’s best threat in the passing game, but the five-star freshman has just seven catches and is still looking for that first touchdown catch. Penn State cornerback Grant Haley seemingly is always in the right place at the right time. He has two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Who makes the big play?
Penn State WRs vs. Michigan CBs
Michigan hasn't allowed more than two offensive touchdowns in a game this season, and cornerbacks Lavert Hill and David Long have been excellent in coverage. Will Penn state quarterback Trace McSorley test that secondary with a deep group of receivers led by DaeSean Hamilton (16.6 yards per catch) and Juwan Johnson (12.6 ypc)?
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Mike Gesicki vs. Josh Metellus
Gesicki, Penn State's 6-6, 257-pound tight end, has four touchdowns despite averaging just 8.0 yards per catch. He's the go-to read in the red zone and will be shadowed by Metellus, who has taken off in the "Viper" role in the Wolverines' defense.
