Jed Donahue of the PA Sports Network knows all about Michigan-Penn State, and he weighs in on the showdown with senior editor John Borton.
Donahue talks about the match-ups for Saturday night's battle between the Wolverines and Nittany Lions, and gives his take on where Michigan football is headed under Jim Harbaugh.
Here's the podcast…
Here are some podcast highlights, including Donahue on…
• The mood in Happy Valley: "Beyond payback, when you're No. 2 like Penn State is, this is a gigantic hurdle along the way to the ultimate goal, and that's the college football playoff. If you talk to any Penn State fan, there's the utmost respect and their tradition.
"That's why tickets are going for about $225 to $300 apiece. I know somebody who sold four tickets on the 50 for $1,800. Even though they've got 107,0000-some seats, this is about as tough a ticket as I can remember here."
• Michigan as Penn State's biggest test to date: "Michigan's defense has got everybody's attention. You guys know that. It's one of the best defenses they play, and they've got Ohio State the following week.
"You can't overlook how good Michigan is up front. That's one of the areas where Penn State may have some issues, on the right side of the offensive line. If Michigan is going to pull this upset on Saturday in the whiteout up here, that is where Michigan is going to have to dominate. They're going to have to be able to neutralize [running back Saquon] Barkley. I think Michigan has got a big advantage there, up front.
"The Iowa game [a last-second, 21-19 Penn State win] was an escape. It was a walk-off win, there's no doubt about it. Penn State dominated that game, statistically, but they weren't able to convert in the red zone consistently enough, and their kicking game has been a real problem, as far as placekicking. I think they're going into this game 6-for-13. That's another area of concern.
"The schedule now, for the next three weeks, we're going to find out what they really have. Michigan, at Ohio State, and then at Michigan State. The whole season comes down to the next three weeks."
• How Penn State might try to attack Michigan's defense: "They'll run Barkley in wheel routes a little bit. They're going to try to create some mismatches with Michigan's linebacking, and try to get into space there.
"You guys know all about good tight end play. Nobody has had better tight end play over the last 30 years than Michigan, last year with Jake Butt. They've got a guy, Mike Gesicki, who I think is as good as anybody in the country at that position. That's a guy who Michigan is going to really have to keep track of.
"They've got to try and contain [quarterback Trace] McSorley, make sure he doesn't make plays in the middle of the field. He's going to run a little bit. Iowa batted down six passes.
"I think they're going to try to run intermediate routes, try and go deep now and then, if they can. I think they're going to have all kinds of problems getting something going consistently, because of that right side of the offensive line … Northwestern got to McSorley, in the first half. They made adjustments."
• Michigan's future under Jim Harbaugh: "I think he's as good a coach as there is, on any level. He proved it in the NFL, and it's coming soon where he's going to have the offensive personnel that's going to run the system that he wants to run. They're not there yet.
"You see what impact they're making defensively and in recruiting. If you're going to get Michigan, you'd better do it now, while this offense is struggling. Harbaugh is as good as it gets. He's [Bo] Schembechler trained, he learned offense from Ted Marchibroda, very underrated in the NFL, and look out.
"The sky is the limit as far as Michigan."
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