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Michigan Football vs Penn State: A look at the all-time series

By Christopher Mangum

ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Linebacker Ben Gedeon #42 of the Michigan Wolverines makes the stop on running back Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Penn State 49-10 (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Linebacker Ben Gedeon #42 of the Michigan Wolverines makes the stop on running back Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Penn State 49-10 (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 21: Jim Harbaugh head coach of the Michigan Wolverines runs onto the field prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on November 21, 2015 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Evan Habeeb/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 21: Jim Harbaugh head coach of the Michigan Wolverines runs onto the field prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on November 21, 2015 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Evan Habeeb/Getty Images) /

Current head coaches

Both head coaches inherited a mess when they were hired — though Franklin had to dig out of a deeper hole. Here is how the two stack up against one another.

Michigan football — Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh’s first season at Michigan was in 2015. The Wolverines’ previous two head coaches (Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke) combined for a 46-42 overall record and only one 10-win season between them.

In Harbaugh’s first season at the helm, he led Michigan to a 9-3 record before dismantling Florida in the Citrus Bowl and finishing the year 10-3. Here are Jim Harbaugh’s seasons and accomplishments since taking over at Michigan:

  • 2015: 10-3 (won Citrus Bowl)
  • 2016: 10-3 (lost Orange Bowl)
  • 2017: 8-5 (lost Outback Bowl)
  • 2018: 10-3 (lost Peach Bowl)
  • 2019: 9-4 (lost Citrus Bowl)
  • 2020: 2-4 (Covid season, opted out of post-season)
  • 2021: 12-2 (won Big Ten, lost in CFP)

James Franklin

Penn State football was a force to be reckoned with until 2011, when the Jerry Sandusky scandal rocked the program and school to its core. Many thought that Penn State would never recover, especially not the football team, yet it did. From 2012-15 Penn State went 7-5 or worse three times, and 8-4 once.

James Franklin gave Penn State football some life for the first time since the sanctions and scandal hit the school. Here is how Franklin has done at Penn State:

  • 2014: 7-6 (won Pinstripe Bowl)
  • 2015: 7-6 (lost TaxSlayer Bowl)
  • 2016: 11-3 (won Big Ten, lost Rose Bowl)
  • 2017: 11-2 (won Fiesta Bowl)
  • 2018: 9-4 (lost Citrus Bowl)
  • 2019: 11-2 (won Cotton Bowl)
  • 2020: 4-5 (Covid season, opted out of post-season)
  • 2021: 7-6 (lost Outback Bowl)

Both coaches have done a tremendous job at their current schools. Not including the Covid year (for the sake of the data set), James Franklin is averaging exactly nine wins per season, and Jim Harbaugh is averaging nearly 10 per season (9.83). Pretty good for two programs that everyone thought would be average for the rest of time.

Jim Harbaugh is 4-3 against James Franklin and is 2-1 against Franklin in the Big House. Franklin is 2-2 against Harbaugh in Beaver Stadium and 1-3 against Michigan in the Big House since taking over at Penn State. The last time Penn State and Michigan faced off in Ann Arbor, Penn State won, although it was the Covid year (no fans).

To make up for no fans the last time Penn State came to town, Michigan is giving the Nittany Lions a “Maize Out” game this weekend.

dark. Next. Who will be Michigan's 'X-factor' against Penn State?

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