Penn State’s nightmare Big Ten campaign continues in a nailbiting loss to Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Saturday marked just the fourth time Penn State and Michigan entered a game against each other unranked, with both programs searching for a first Big Ten win under a first-year head coach who came from the Big 12.

It was Kyle Whittingham who broke through, as the Wolverines defeated the Nittany Lions, 21-18, at The Big House. Michigan (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) scored all 21 points off Penn State turnovers to pull away and send the Nittany Lions back to State College with a 0-4 record in the Big Ten (3-4 overall).

The Wolverines’ offense ignited after Whittingham benched Bryce Underwood, a top recruit said to be bringing in roughly $12 million in earnings. Underwood, completed just five of his 11 passes in the first half for 43 yards and two interceptions.

Michigan backup Tommy Carr finished with 47 passing yards, 36 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown.

“I don’t think we prepared to the extent that we were going to see [Carr] for an entire half of the game, but we definitely talked about him a little bit,” defensive end Caleb Bacon said postgame. “We were maybe a little surprised that they made that change.”

For the second straight week, Rocco Becht had a good first half followed by a poor second — but it was more costly this time around.

In the first half, Becht, who threw for 267 yards, had six straight completions to open the game. It would set up a Nittany Lions field goal. He ended the half 15-for-19 with 123 yards.

In the second half, Becht had interceptions on back-to-back drives. Michigan scored a 43-yard rushing touchdown off the first, while the Wolverines put up another seven points after the second, completely flipping the game in the home team’s favor.

Becht’s worst turnover wasn’t an interception, though. With Penn State down by three with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Becht was sacked and fumbled, giving Michigan the ball at the Nittany Lions’ 13-yard-line.

The Wolverines put the game away there with a third rushing touchdown, from Carr.

Becht finished with a late touchdown, two interceptions, and a fumble. He has now thrown five interceptions in conference play with just three touchdowns after having no turnovers in Penn State’s three non-conference matchups.

“I think you watch the football game, and obviously Rocco wouldn’t be the first guy to say he’s got to do a better job taking care of the football,” coach Matt Campbell said postgame.

In wide receiver Koby Howard’s absence, Iowa State transfer Chase Sowell has emerged as a reliable and important presence in Penn State’s passing game, putting up his best game of the year against Michigan.

Sowell had 10 catches for 151 yards and a late touchdown. He has team-high 510 yards.

The fifth-year could’ve had even more yardage if his 27-yard catch late in the second quarter wasn’t called back for offensive pass interference on wide receiver Brett Eskildsen.

Sowell’s shin was dinged up last week against No. 19 USC at the end of the first half, but he returned for the whole second half and said postgame it wasn’t anything to be worried about. He was a game-time decision ahead of Saturday’s matchup.

“Having a game like that, I think I was just trying to find a way to kind of get the momentum going and kind of find ways to get our spark back,” Sowell said. “That was something that I was trying to feed into our offense, was trying to get that swagger, trying to get some confidence back in us and get some rhythm.”

He had another injury scare in the first half, going to the medical tent with a noticeable limp. Sowell would return, snagging a 26-yard catch on his first play back.

Sowell stood as the team’s primary target, specifically in the second half, with five targets in the third quarter alone. He had 14 targets by the end of the game.

Penn State has a bye week in preparation for Purdue at Beaver Stadium on Oct. 31. Time and television are still to be determined.

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