Michigan Football: Penn State isn’t a bigger threat to the Buckeyes

Urban Meyer said that Penn State was the biggest threat to Ohio State this season, not Michigan football and he gave a curious reason why.

I get that Urban Meyer knows more about football than I ever will. But that doesn’t mean I have to buy his argument that Penn State, not Michigan football is the biggest threat to Ohio State.

Whether that question means this season or in the long term, he’s wrong, because Michigan football is every bit as good as Penn State this year and down the road, I’d much rather be the Wolverines than Penn State.

PSU’s 2021 class currently ranks 35th nationally and they haven’t had a top-10 class since 2018. Oh and Michigan had the best class in the Big Ten in 2019 and is looking at another top-10 class in 2021, which also includes a five-star quarterback in J.J. McCarthy.

Now, going back to this season, some of it might have to do with the fact that Ohio State plays Penn State on the road, while getting Michigan at home. But will home-field advantage matter as much without fans?

It’s a fair question to ask. Yet, Ohio State is probably glad it won’t have to play Penn State on a Saturday night as Meyer alluded to in his interview with Fox Sports:

"“That is ridiculous, to go in there and play,” Meyer said. “It’s just going to be a scrimmage atmosphere now in State College. So, from just pure talent, I would say the challenger of the East — and the challenger of the Big Ten — is Penn State.”"

That’s where I have the issue with that Meyer says — that Penn State provides a greater threat because of their talent. He also cites Penn State recruiting.

Penn State doesn’t have more talent than Michigan

However, from 2017-2020, Michigan football has ranked higher than Penn State three of out four years in recruiting class with 2018 being the exception.

Yes, Penn State ranks a few spots higher in the 2020 composite of talent, but remember that Michigan has three-star guys such as Kwity Paye and Ronnie Bell, who are now among its best players.

Those talent rankings are based on where those kids were ranked in high school, not what they have done in college. Besides, the best player Penn State has recruited over the past four years, isn’t playing this season as Micah Parsons has opted out.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines will feature 2018 recruits Aidan Hutchinson, Cam McGrone, Jalen Mayfield, Joe Milton, who could all be first-rounders down the road. The first three have all been projected as early-round picks, along with Paye, who has gone as high as top-10 in mock drafts. And they are all from what’s supposed to be Jim Harbaugh’s worst recruiting class.

It was also reported on Monday that Penn State could be without star running back Journey Brown for the season, which would be another blow to the Nittany Lions.  Edge rusher Jayson Oweh is talented and so is tight end Pat Freiermuth.

But I still think Michigan will have the better quarterback, the better defense and more NFL prospects when it’s all said and done.

Meyer also predicted that Penn State would win at Michigan, something the it hasn’t done under James Franklin and in fact, both games in Ann Arbor were total blowouts.

That won’t be the case this year, but I don’t see any reason to believe Penn State is superior to Michigan, particularly to the point of beating the Wolverines at the Big House, no matter what Urban Meyer says.