Michigan Football: 3 things to watch for against Penn State

Will Michigan’s run defense dominate again?

If there is one key to this football game, it’s probably which teams run the ball better. The running game has certainly been a key for the Wolverines in recent weeks and Karan Higdon will need another strong performance.

But whether or not Penn State can run the ball could be the difference between a close game and a lopsided win for the Wolverines. Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley is nursing a lower-body injury and if he’s forced to throw all over the nation’s best pass defense and one of its best pass rushes, it won’t be pretty.

Penn State needs to be balanced to have a shot against Michigan and that means both McSorley and Miles Sanders need to get going on the ground. The Nittany Lions racked up 225 yards rushing a season ago on its way to 42 points and it opened things up for McSorley throwing.

Yet, if the Wolverines can stymie the run, which will be much easier than a year ago without Saquon Barkley running it, the pass defense should be able to clamp down on the one-dimensional Nittany Lions.