Michigan outlasts Penn State as backup QB Tommy Carr delivers after Bryce Underwood benching

FINAL: Michigan 21, Penn State 18

The Wolverines are now 4-2 after freshman Tommy Carr led a comeback effort in the second half to beat the Nittany Lions by three. Carr rushed for a touchdown and had another key run, as his legs were the difference in Michigan's offensive turnaround after benching Bryce Underwood at the half. 

While Carr is the story, Michigan's defense led the way by forcing three turnovers from Rocco Becht. While they allowed a late touchdown to make the scoreline more respectable for the Nittany Lions (and get them a cover), they were a dominant force throughout the game. 

4Q: Michigan 21, Penn State 18

The Nittany Lions get a late touchdown that is important to some, a Penn State trims the deficit to three with a wide open touchdown catch by Chase Sowell -- who has been the bright spot in an otherwise rough day for the team in all white. 

That gets Penn State inside the spread of 6.5, but after failing to recover the onside kick and allowing a Michigan first down, they'll come up short of an upset on the road. 

4Q: Michigan 21, Penn State 11

With under three minutes to go, Penn State is on life support in Ann Arbor after Tommy Carr's QB keeper on a third-and-9 option play found the end zone to put Michigan back up 10. 

The Wolverines have scored all three of their touchdowns after turnovers by Rocco Becht, and this latest one might be the back breaker that sends the Nittany Lions to 3-4 on the season and raises the spirits of Michigan fans after a successful quarterback change. 

4Q: Michigan 14, Penn State 11

The Wolverines forced their third Rocco Becht turnover of the second half, this time on a strip sack that Michigan recovered on the Penn State 13. 

It's been a disastrous afternoon for Becht, and Michigan will try to punch this in for a game-sealing touchdown, while seemingly guaranteed a field goal to go up six if they can avoid a turnover. 

4Q: Michigan 14, Penn State 11

After three straight drives have ended with punts, the Nittany Lions will get the ball back with 6:23 on the clock needing a field goal to tie and a touchdown to take the lead in Ann Arbor. If they're going to get there, they will have to go the length of the field after a penalty on the punt pins them back on their own 8 yard line. 

4Q: Michigan 14, Penn State 11

The Nittany Lions aren't done just yet. A desperately needed touchdown drive to open the fourth quarter has them within three after also successfully converting on a two-point conversion to make it a field goal game with 11:40 to play in Ann Arbor. 

Carson Hansen punched it in on a toss play on the first-and-goal to give Penn State life again and shift some pressure back onto Tommy Carr and the Michigan offense to continue its strong play in the second half if they are going to maintain a comfortable advantage. 

End 3Q: Michigan 14, Penn State 3

With the game on the brink of getting away from Penn State, the Nittany Lions will begin the fourth quarter just across midfield into Michigan territory, desperate for a touchdown to keep pace with the Wolverines. If they can't manage at least points on this drive, Michigan will have a chance to put the game on ice, and Rocco Becht needs to find a rhythm and avoid mistakes after throwing a pair of third quarter interceptions. 

The Michigan offense, meanwhile, has come to life with Tommy Carr at the helm. After 80 first half yards with Bryce Underwood leading the way, the Wolverines racked up 146 in the third quarter alone -- but only 36 of those came through the air. 

3Q: Michigan 14, Penn State 3

The Big House is alive after the best offensive drive of the day by the Wolverines. Following the defense's second interception of the game, Michigan marched down the field and eventually punched it in after a Tommy Carr-designed run got them to the goal line. 

Jordan Marshall paid it off on second-and-goal with an off-tackle run to pay dirt, and the Wolverines are suddenly rolling at home after the quarterback change. 

3Q: Michigan 7, Penn State 3

Things are starting to unravel for the Penn State quarterback, who just threw his second interception in two drives this third quarter. This time, the Nittany Lions had moved the ball into Michigan territory before a Becht pass down the left sideline got undercut by Chris Bracy to get the Wolverines the ball back. 

After a solid first half from Becht, the Michigan defense seems to be better keyed in on what the veteran quarterback wants to do and are jumping routes on the sidelines. It's the second consecutive week Becht has played well early and faded in the second half, and if Tommy Carr can lead another Michigan scoring drive, the Nittany Lions will be in some peril in the Big House. 

3Q: Michigan 7, Penn State 3

After being bottled up all game, the Wolverines finally made a big play on offense to pay off the defense's effort in forcing an interception that gave them great field position. 

Bryson Kuzdzal took a second-down handoff and broke through the middle of the Penn State defense before bending to the right side and outrunning the Nittany Lions secondary to the pylon for the first touchdown of the afternoon in Ann Arbor. 

While it's hard to pin this on the quarterback change, there is definitely some added life in the Big House after making the move to Tommy Carr, and now the Wolverines fans are roaring again with Kuzdzal finding the end zone. 

3Q: Penn State 3, Michigan 0

The Wolverines are suddenly in business after a diving interception by Rod Moore on a pass by Rocco Becht gives them the ball back on the Penn State 43. 

Tommy Carr will get his second drive of the game in the best field position Michigan's had to start a drive all game. Moore was injured on the play and was seen being helped back to the medical tent, but his interception was exactly what the Wolverines needed to try and create something positive to start the second half. 

3Q: Penn State 3, Michigan 0

After another dismal half offensively that saw the Wolverines gain just 80 total yards, Kyle Whittingham has made a quarterback change. Bryce Underwood is out, and Tommy Carr is in to start the third quarter, with Carr ripping a first-down pass to J.J. Buchanan for a first down to elicit a huge roar from the crowd in Ann Arbor. 

The offense then stalled near midfield after that first down, with Michigan electing to punt on fourth-and-2. 

HALF: Penn State 3, Michigan 0

Michigan's best drive of the game ends with another interception as Josiah Zayas went up with one hand to snag an incredible interception inside the 10 to preserve a first-half shutout for the Nittany Lions' defense. 

The Nittany Lions' offense hasn't done a ton since the first drive of the game when they marched down the field for a field goal, which remains the only points on either side through 30 minutes of play. However, that's been enough so far, thanks to an incredible defensive performance that's included a pair of interceptions in their own territory, preventing Bryce Underwood and the Wolverines from getting into scoring position. 

For the game, Michigan has 80 total yards of offense, and the frustration with Underwood and a stagnant group is building in Ann Arbor. Penn State hasn't fared much better with 154 yards -- 59 of which came on that opening drive -- but Rocco Becht has protected the football and gone 15-of-19 for 123 yards to move the ball some, win the field position battle and keep the defense fresh. 

The team that can figure anything out on offense in the second half will take control, but for now we are in the middle of a classic Big Ten rock fight in the Big House. 

2Q: Penn State 3, Michigan 0

After getting out of the shadow of their own goal post, Michigan tried to produce the first real explosive play of the game on a deep shot down the left side, but it became a disaster when Bryce Underwood's ball was a bit underthrown, and Andrew Marsh couldn't hold onto it as he reached back and went to the ground. The ball popped into the air and into the waiting arms of Zion Tracy, who was brought down at the 15 to give Penn State the ball back. 

Michigan was upset at a lack of pass interference on the Penn State corner who made contact as Marsh reached back for the ball, but with no flag on the play, it became a big play for the Nittany Lions. 

End 1Q: Penn State 3, Michigan 0

It's been a classic Big Ten battle thus far in the Big House, with Penn State taking the early lead after each team went on long, time-consuming drives in the first quarter. 

The Nittany Lions went 59 yards in 16 plays to lead to a go-ahead field goal to start the game, taking more than half the first quarter clock with them. Michigan followed that up with a 9-play, 38-yard drive that stalled out across midfield and took up more than five minutes of game time before accepting a delay of game in order to punt from the Penn State 41 rather than the 36. 

1Q: Penn State 3, Michigan 0

A strong start for the Nittany Lions ends in three points, as Rocco Becht led a 16-play, 59-yard drive that stalled out in the red zone and resulted in just a field goal for Penn State. It's still a confidence builder for a Nittany Lions' offense that faced questions about whether they could consistently move it on Michigan, but they would've loved to pay off a methodical drive with six points to really quiet the Wolverine faithful in Ann Arbor. 

1Q: Penn State 0, Michigan 0

Penn State's offense will begin the game on offense with Chase Sowell in the lineup after being noted as a game-time decision. The Nittany Lions will try and get the early advantage on Michigan in one of this week's Anxiety Bowls, with both Kyle Whittingham and Matt Campbell desperate for a win to snap losing streaks in Big Ten play to begin their tenures at Michigan and Penn State respectively. 

A year ago this week Penn State fired James Franklin, and both the Nittany Lions and their former coach have had a rollercoaster 12 months since. Early optimism and hope for both parties has turned into anxiety midway through the 2026 season, and we looked at what's gone right and wrong for both as they try to move on from a decade-long marriage. 

Who won the James Franklin-Penn State breakup? One year later, there are no winners

Chip Patterson

Saturday's showdown features two embattled first-year coaches on losing streaks, but who needs a win in the Big House more between Kyle Whittingham and Matt Campbell? Even in just Year 1, the pressure is amplified on both coaches to win now with lofty expectations in Ann Arbor and State College, and we explored which coach is under more pressure to get a win on Saturday. 

Who needs it more? Michigan vs. Penn State features two coaches desperate for signature win

Austin Nivison

The Penn State passing game has struggled in recent weeks without star receiver Koby Howard, and against Michigan they could have even more problems as their other top receiver, Chase Sowell, is listed as a game-time decision today. Howard and Sowell have combined for 703 receiving yards this season -- making up nearly half of Penn State's total receiving output. 

Without Howard, the Nittany Lions have struggled to produce explosives, but Sowell is their best downfield threat without him and they would face an even bigger challenge forcing Michigan to respect their passing attack if he can't play. Sowell transferred in from Iowa State alongside Rocco Becht, following Campbell from Ames to State College, and he would be sorely missed for a team desperate to snap a three-game losing streak. 

Bryce Underwood as a runner: In Michigan's biggest win of the season against Oklahoma, it was Underwood running the ball that was the difference for the Wolverines. He carried the ball 18 times for 87 yards and one touchdown, which was by far his most productive rushing game of the season. The Penn State defense has struggled this season, and both Aidan Chiles and Colton Joseph have rushed for touchdowns against them for Northwestern and Wisconsin. Throwing the ball consistently hasn't been a strength of the Michigan offense, and in a game they desperately need, look for the Wolverines to try and take advantage of Underwood as a runner at times -- especially in red zone opportunities. 

Can Penn State create explosive plays?: Moving the ball on Michigan's defense consistently is a difficult task, and in both of their losses, it was explosives that led to scores for Minnesota and Iowa. Penn State's offense ranks in the middle of the pack in explosive plays this season, but has not been as dynamic since Koby Howard's injury took away their top downfield threat. If the Nittany Lions are going to score against Michigan, they have to find a way to produce some explosive plays. That doesn't always have to mean on offense. Iowa's first touchdown against Michigan came on a punt return. Minnesota forced three turnovers that led to 13 of their 20 points. Penn State will need a handful of chunk plays from the offense and to create some havoc on defense and special teams if they're going to win this game. 

Michigan vs. Penn State prediction, pick, odds, spread: Wolverines, Nittany Lions in desperation mode

Robby Kalland