Michigan Football: Which QB should start against Penn State?

Michigan football has a dilemma on its hands at quarterback, so we ask the question, who should start against Penn State Saturday night?

From the outside looking in, it appears as though the Michigan football team is prepared to go with John O’Korn as the starting quarterback against Penn State. But just because Jim Harbaugh hasn’t announced any changes, doesn’t mean one isn’t being considered.

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At this point, Harbaugh would be foolish if he hasn’t at least considered turning to Brandon Peters. But doing so Saturday night in Happy Valley might not be the smart play. The Nittany Lions might have an elite offense, but their defense is legit too.

Penn State is giving up just 285 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten. Yet, against the pass, the Lions are even better, ranking second in yards allowed, while also giving up just three touchdown passes. They also lead the conference with nine interceptions.

The atmosphere will also be a factor. Few stadiums in the Big Ten are louder than Beaver Stadium. And on a Saturday night, it should be rocking. All in all, it might not be the best environment for a first-time starter.

At the same time though, should it really matter? If Brandon Peters is going to be a player, will he be that affected by playing on the road, in a tough atmosphere? I would think not.

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It’s understandable why Harbaugh might want to be conservative. Michigan football has a solid running game, plus an elite defense. So if the Wolverines play their cards right, they should have a chance in the fourth quarter.

Winning the game, however, will prove to be more difficult. It will certainly take more than 60 yards passing to beat Penn State. Michigan football also probably can’t count on 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Karan Higdon.

A solid running game will be required, so will a tremendous effort from the defense. But whether it’s O’Korn or Peters, the quarterback will have to make some plays too.

Even though coach Harbaugh hasn’t shown any signs of going to Peters, as far as Michigan football fans are concerned, the debate is about 50-50. We started a twitter poll yesterday and so far, Peters and O’Korn are neck and neck.

Weigh in and let us know your thoughts. There are plenty of reasons to argue for and against both quarterbacks, but at the end of the day, Michigan needs one of them to step up.

Starting O’Korn and giving him a chance to right the ship makes sense. He might be able to play his way out of the funk he’s in or at least manage the game well enough to keep UM in it.

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But Harbaugh and the Wolverines can’t settle for below average forever. On the road at Penn State might not be an ideal place for a redshirt freshman to start or play his first meaningful snaps, but at the same time, can the quarterback play be any worse?