ANN ARBOR — Michigan so thoroughly dominated Penn State on Saturday that by the end of the third quarter, even the Nittany Lions were looking forward to Michigan-Ohio State. This was hammer hitting thumb for 60 minutes, a beatdown so thorough that the final score of 41-17 doesn’t quite capture it.
Michigan ran 55 times for 418 yards, never punted and never turned the ball over on downs. Total yardage on the day: Michigan 563, Penn State 268. Penn State did not gain a first down until there was 7:51 left in the second quarter—and had just 10 first downs all day. This was such an obliteration that even though Michigan only led 16-14 at halftime—thanks to a tipped pass that led to a pick-six and one long Penn State run—the outcome still felt inevitable.
