After punting twice on the first two series, the Michigan Wolverines faced third-and-10 on their own side of the field in the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions. The offensive line had been dominated through the first two series, getting immediate pressure on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in every passing down. That’s when McCarthy took a designed run around the right side for a gain of 13 as the quarter ended.
This sparked the game plan the Wolverines would run with (pun intended) throughout the remainder of the game.
The Nittany Lions entered play with the nation’s No.