... on Penn State-Michigan, the Big Ten East, and the future. He touched on...
• Penn State's strength since getting blown out by Michigan two years ago: "There's an interesting stat that a friend of mine who is on the beat has uncovered. Penn State, it's been 31 games since that date we're talking about. Penn State has led in the fourth quarter in 31 consecutive games.
"The only time they have not led in the fourth quarter was at your place back two years ago. How about that stat? They've lost five games by like 12 points, including the Rose Bowl in 2016.
"Last year, I thought they kind of ran it up, scoring with like four seconds left in the game. I think that's sticking in the craw of Michigan a little bit. They didn't handle [Saquon] Barkley really well. He went boom early. Penn State was just a little bit deeper and Michigan was struggling at the quarterback position.
"I think it will be closer. I certainly like Michigan because they're at home. The Michigan defense is the unit in the country that's the best, and that includes Alabama's defense. The Michigan defense, even without [junior defensive end Rashan] Gary, or he's questionable, is the best defense in the country, and the statistics obviously back that up.
"It's going to be tough to move the ball consistently against the Wolverines, especially at your place."
• Penn State's two losses this season: "Their defense wore out against Ohio State. They had a 12-point lead with like eight minutes to go. Ohio State hit the big play with [Binjimen] Victor to get them back in the game, and had the big drive. Then the questionable play call on fourth-and-five when they were driving in for a potential game-winning field goal. Ohio State stuffed that.
"And the Michigan State loss is still mystifying. They dropped an interception to clinch the game. They ended up giving it up on downs late in the fourth quarter. They just have not been able to close nationally ranked games on a consistent basis.
"You even go back to last year. They were up 38-20 in Columbus against Ohio State and ended up losing that game, 39-38. That ends up being a heartbreaking loss, but the Michigan State game is the one that really hurts. They hit the game-winning play with just 19 seconds left…
"Last week, they had a scramble with Iowa, but Penn State's defense kind of held the day. They've got a defensive end who is as good as anybody in the country, No. 99, Yetur Gross-Matos, and he had nine tackles, two tackles for loss. He's arguably the best prospect they've had at that position since Courtney Brown in 1999.
"I know that Brown didn't work out in the NFL, but this kid has got it going on. He is terrific."
• Penn State's offense versus Michigan's defense: "The biggest loss Penn State had, as great as Barkley was, and he's the Mt. Rushmore tailback here at Penn State — he's one of the four greatest they've ever had, and that's saying something — was the loss of [tight end] Mike Gesicki to the NFL. They've kind of replaced his production here lately with a true freshman, Pat Freiermuth, who wears No. 87.
"He's a 20-year-old freshman, so he's not a true freshman who is 18. He's a little more physically developed. He's been really good. [Quarterback Trace] McSorley has depended on him. The other guy that has really added a lot of carbonation and tonic is [wide receiver] KJ Hamler, a redshirt freshman. He hurt Ohio State with a 93-yard screen pass, yards after the catch. He'll also impact the return game in kickoff situations for the Nittany Lions.
"But the big problem that they've had is, they've really had a lot of drops. [Wideout] Brandon Polk, a lot of drops, [wideout] Juwan Johnson, looks like an NFL guy in warm-ups — like 6-4, 230 — but he's not consistent with his hands. He got on SportsCenter with a one-hand grab against Ohio State, but he's not making the easy plays.
"They've swapped a couple of true freshman wide receivers. Jahan Dotson, who wears No. 5, is a really good prospect from the Allentown area, same league as Saquon Barkley, and another guy, Daniel George. You're going to see a lot of these young receivers step in, because they just have had a lot of drop issues…
"McSorley on the read option, he got hurt last week. He still ran for a touchdown against Iowa in the second half. He's mobility and his quickness to get out of the pocket, with this ferocious Michigan pressure, will be one of the early keys to look for. I think they'll move a little bit, but I don't see Penn State getting more than 20 points Saturday. I just don't see it."
• The future of the Big Ten East: "Look at what Michigan and Ohio State have to deal with. They play each other. That's THE game. Both states stop what they're doing. They stakes have always been enormous, and then you've got to play the next week in Indianapolis. That's a brutal deal.
"Next year, Ohio State's got to finish with Penn State at home and then go to Ann Arbor and play Michigan. If you survive that, you've got to go play the Big Ten West winner in Indianapolis the following week. That's brutal.
"I don't think the league gets the dynamics. They've got to spread these games out a little bit. I think where this game this week is placed is very good for both Penn State and Michigan. Think if Michigan would have had to play Penn State the week before Ohio State. That wouldn't be very good.
"You've already got your instate rivalry with Michigan State. Notre Dame, when they're on the schedule, is a must-win game from a fan's standpoint, but it's not a conference game. Ohio State this year, even though they're 7-1, they haven't beaten anybody. They can't run the ball. Their offensive line has underachieved, and they can't stop the big play.
"Sounds like somebody you know? Michigan, six or seven years ago. I think Ohio State's got a real tough finish. I think they'll get past Nebraska, but Michigan State always plays them lights out. We'll see what happens here at the end of the year, but this Revenge Tour that Michigan is on … you've got to win this week, obviously, to set that up. It's going to be intense."
Here's the full podcast: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-wolverines-football-podcast-jed-donahue-with-john-borton
• Penn State's strength since getting blown out by Michigan two years ago: "There's an interesting stat that a friend of mine who is on the beat has uncovered. Penn State, it's been 31 games since that date we're talking about. Penn State has led in the fourth quarter in 31 consecutive games.
"The only time they have not led in the fourth quarter was at your place back two years ago. How about that stat? They've lost five games by like 12 points, including the Rose Bowl in 2016.
"Last year, I thought they kind of ran it up, scoring with like four seconds left in the game. I think that's sticking in the craw of Michigan a little bit. They didn't handle [Saquon] Barkley really well. He went boom early. Penn State was just a little bit deeper and Michigan was struggling at the quarterback position.
"I think it will be closer. I certainly like Michigan because they're at home. The Michigan defense is the unit in the country that's the best, and that includes Alabama's defense. The Michigan defense, even without [junior defensive end Rashan] Gary, or he's questionable, is the best defense in the country, and the statistics obviously back that up.
"It's going to be tough to move the ball consistently against the Wolverines, especially at your place."
• Penn State's two losses this season: "Their defense wore out against Ohio State. They had a 12-point lead with like eight minutes to go. Ohio State hit the big play with [Binjimen] Victor to get them back in the game, and had the big drive. Then the questionable play call on fourth-and-five when they were driving in for a potential game-winning field goal. Ohio State stuffed that.
"And the Michigan State loss is still mystifying. They dropped an interception to clinch the game. They ended up giving it up on downs late in the fourth quarter. They just have not been able to close nationally ranked games on a consistent basis.
"You even go back to last year. They were up 38-20 in Columbus against Ohio State and ended up losing that game, 39-38. That ends up being a heartbreaking loss, but the Michigan State game is the one that really hurts. They hit the game-winning play with just 19 seconds left…
"Last week, they had a scramble with Iowa, but Penn State's defense kind of held the day. They've got a defensive end who is as good as anybody in the country, No. 99, Yetur Gross-Matos, and he had nine tackles, two tackles for loss. He's arguably the best prospect they've had at that position since Courtney Brown in 1999.
"I know that Brown didn't work out in the NFL, but this kid has got it going on. He is terrific."
• Penn State's offense versus Michigan's defense: "The biggest loss Penn State had, as great as Barkley was, and he's the Mt. Rushmore tailback here at Penn State — he's one of the four greatest they've ever had, and that's saying something — was the loss of [tight end] Mike Gesicki to the NFL. They've kind of replaced his production here lately with a true freshman, Pat Freiermuth, who wears No. 87.
"He's a 20-year-old freshman, so he's not a true freshman who is 18. He's a little more physically developed. He's been really good. [Quarterback Trace] McSorley has depended on him. The other guy that has really added a lot of carbonation and tonic is [wide receiver] KJ Hamler, a redshirt freshman. He hurt Ohio State with a 93-yard screen pass, yards after the catch. He'll also impact the return game in kickoff situations for the Nittany Lions.
"But the big problem that they've had is, they've really had a lot of drops. [Wideout] Brandon Polk, a lot of drops, [wideout] Juwan Johnson, looks like an NFL guy in warm-ups — like 6-4, 230 — but he's not consistent with his hands. He got on SportsCenter with a one-hand grab against Ohio State, but he's not making the easy plays.
"They've swapped a couple of true freshman wide receivers. Jahan Dotson, who wears No. 5, is a really good prospect from the Allentown area, same league as Saquon Barkley, and another guy, Daniel George. You're going to see a lot of these young receivers step in, because they just have had a lot of drop issues…
"McSorley on the read option, he got hurt last week. He still ran for a touchdown against Iowa in the second half. He's mobility and his quickness to get out of the pocket, with this ferocious Michigan pressure, will be one of the early keys to look for. I think they'll move a little bit, but I don't see Penn State getting more than 20 points Saturday. I just don't see it."
• The future of the Big Ten East: "Look at what Michigan and Ohio State have to deal with. They play each other. That's THE game. Both states stop what they're doing. They stakes have always been enormous, and then you've got to play the next week in Indianapolis. That's a brutal deal.
"Next year, Ohio State's got to finish with Penn State at home and then go to Ann Arbor and play Michigan. If you survive that, you've got to go play the Big Ten West winner in Indianapolis the following week. That's brutal.
"I don't think the league gets the dynamics. They've got to spread these games out a little bit. I think where this game this week is placed is very good for both Penn State and Michigan. Think if Michigan would have had to play Penn State the week before Ohio State. That wouldn't be very good.
"You've already got your instate rivalry with Michigan State. Notre Dame, when they're on the schedule, is a must-win game from a fan's standpoint, but it's not a conference game. Ohio State this year, even though they're 7-1, they haven't beaten anybody. They can't run the ball. Their offensive line has underachieved, and they can't stop the big play.
"Sounds like somebody you know? Michigan, six or seven years ago. I think Ohio State's got a real tough finish. I think they'll get past Nebraska, but Michigan State always plays them lights out. We'll see what happens here at the end of the year, but this Revenge Tour that Michigan is on … you've got to win this week, obviously, to set that up. It's going to be intense."
Here's the full podcast: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-wolverines-football-podcast-jed-donahue-with-john-borton
