Michigan vs. Penn State: Game Grades, Analysis for Wolverines and Nittany Lions

The 12th-ranked Michigan Wolverines controlled the Penn State Nittany Lions en route to a 28-16 victory on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State tallied 70 yards on its opening drive but managed just 138 over the final 11 possessions. Michigan scored a touchdown in each quarter.

Pass Offense: Jehu Chesson, Amara Darboh and Jake Butt each recorded between 66 and 69 receiving yards, helping quarterback Jake Rudock become the first player in program history to throw for more than 250 yards in three straight games, per Chad Shepard of UM. Darboh and Butt scored one touchdown apiece.

Run Offense: Once again, the Michigan offensive line struggled in the running game. Average is an improvement over 2014, but it's still not good. De'Veon Smith managed 39 yards on 13 carries, though he and Sione Houma both notched one-yard touchdown runs.

Pass Defense: The secondary wasn't perfect, evidenced by the 25-yard touchdown and pair of pass-interference penalties. However, the Wolverines held Christian Hackenberg to a 41.9 completion percentage and sacked him five times.

Run Defense: When Saquon Barkley's first carry went 56 yards, Michigan fans may have worried the freshman running back was bound to duplicate Jordan Howard's 238-yard day last week. Following that long run, though, the defense surrendered just 14 yards on 21 attempts.

Special Teams: Despite a blocked punt, Michigan won the game on special teams. Chesson recovered a muffed punt, and the takeaway turned into Houma's touchdown. Jourdan Lewis' 55-yard kick return set up Smith's game-sealing score.

Coaching: Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin constantly dialed up pressure, and the Wolverines disrupted Hackenberg in the pocket throughout the day. But the coaching staff must address the penalty problem, as Michigan had a season-worst 14 flags.

Pass Offense: In what was perhaps the final home game of Hackenberg's college career, he finished 13-of-31 for 138 yards and one touchdown. The junior tossed a couple of NFL-caliber passes but mostly looked erratic and uncomfortable.

Run Offense: Barkley managed 68 yards, which ordinarily would be decent against the Michigan defense. Unfortunately, his 14 carries after the 56-yard scamper brought a meager 12 yards. Penn State failed to reach 100 rushing yards for the fourth time this season.

Pass Defense: Although Carl Nassib started the game, he exited early and didn't return. The Nittany Lions, who have one of the nation's most imposing pass-rushing units, managed two sacks but regularly failed to disrupt Rudock with the senior, Nassib, standing on the sideline.

Run Defense: Penn State basically shut down the Wolverines' running game, limiting Michigan to 87 yards on 30 carries. However, Saturday marked the first time Michigan didn't top the 100-yard mark in a game that it still managed to win.

Special Teams: DeAndre Thompkins muffed a punt, which led to what ultimately became the deciding score. Tyler Davis connected on a trio of field goals, while Daniel Pasquariello averaged an unimpressive 37.3 yards per punt.

Coaching: The Nittany Lions ventured inside the Michigan 10-yard line three times but came away with a field goal on each possession. The inability to finish drives with touchdowns cost Penn State the victory and is a reflection on the coaching staff—and that's not good.

 

Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.