Penn State Could Be The Best Measuring Stick For Michigan

2009 has really been up-and-down for the Michigan Wolverines.  This young upstart team already has two more wins after seven games then they did all last year. 

They began the year very impressively against Western Michigan.  They followed it with a nail biting victory over Notre Dame.  Then they throttled Eastern Michigan.

Then the Big Ten season started.  Michigan needed a last-minute rally to beat Indiana.  The Hoosiers aren't exactly a Big Ten power.  Then Michigan State shocked the Wolverines with an overtime victory.  The Spartans had previously lost three straight including dramatic losses to Central Michigan and Notre Dame.

Then Michigan went on the road to Iowa.  Michigan did show some positives in that game, but the Hawkeyes clearly showed that they are the class of the Big Ten.  Tate Forcier looked like a true freshman for the first time.  Denard Robison came in late and rallied them to nearly complete a comeback.

Then Delaware State came to the Big House and probably wished they never got off the bus.  As a result Michigan is 4-0 outside the Big Ten.

Unfortunately, as impressive as Michigan has been outside the conference they are only 1-2 in the Big Ten.  On top of that that one win was a comeback to lowly Indiana.

I also really hate to say this, but they were a little on the lucky side in the Notre Dame game.  A late non-call on a pass interference on Golden Tate would have iced the game for the Irish.  That takes nothing away from what Forcier did in the last minute.  I am just saying that game could have easily gone the other way.

Next up for the Wolverines is Penn State.  The Nittany Lions were expected by many to be the best team in the Big Ten.  Unfortunately for them, Iowa didn't read that message.  Even with that loss Penn State is 6-1 and on pace to receive a bid to a really good bowl game.

This to me is a really good measuring stick for Michigan.  The Iowa game indicated to me that Michigan is on the way back but not quite there yet.  Penn State is probably the next level down from Iowa in the Big Ten.  Although they only have the one loss, it was a pretty bad loss in which Daryll Clark and the offense only managed ten points.

The other thing with Penn State that indicates to me that they are a step below Iowa is their schedule.  Although they are 6-1, four of those wins are against a very weak non-conference schedule that featured Akron, Syracuse, Temple, and Eastern Illinois.  Those are not exaclty powerhouses.

Even with the soft schedule Penn State is one of the best teams in the Big Ten and will be a great game to assess where the young Wolverines are in the rebuilding process.  Hopefully, a much needed conference victory is on the way.