View from the other side: Michigan vs. Penn State

►Jones: It's about where the game will be decided. Penn State has managed to accumulate points, but it has not always been the same for each record. Most of the time, the teams did not charge them for it. I think Penn State's defense can keep this game as a game, but the time it will remain to play will depend a lot on how quickly the Penn State's offensive will be removed from the field. So far, this season, drops and mistakes have killed otherwise promising readers and (Penn State) has come out with less performing teams. This offense can move the ball, but it must go out of its own way. Obviously, the Michigan defense is an elite and that does not favor Penn State, but if I'm James Franklin, I'm more worried about self-inflicted injuries than Michigan. You can not beat your opponent if you fight yourself. I tend to think that the day will be long for the offensive, but in general, I do not count on what he has on hand.

►Question: What is the difference between the offense committed in the state of Penn without Saquon Barkley?

►Jones: This moment "wow" is over, but Penn State really misses Barkley, DaeSean Hamilton, Saeed Blacknall and Mike Gesicki more to a collective than to Barkley. Miles Sanders has been great for running this year and, although he does not have all the skills of Barkley, he scores points. On the other hand, the attack is not very different, but it did not bet so much on these games of 40 yards. At best, this offense is a tribute to 2016 and 2017 but much more methodical in its process. This is not all because Barkley is gone, but that certainly does not make the difference not to have it there.

►Question: The Nittany Lions have had problems with the special teams this season. Last week, against Iowa, there were some sloppy kick kicks that led to some safety and a false goal that allowed a touchdown. How bad were the special teams?

►Reply: KJ Hamler (Pontiac) is a fantastic player back in space, but other than that, this group made a mistake in a different field every week. The good news is that Jake Pinegar scored more than 40 rushing yards last week and seems to be in top form. And in theory, Blake Gillikin should be one of the best punters in America, but he was a little out of the way. On paper, this group should be much better than it has been. So it's a draw for the quality of a weekend.

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Players to watch

►Yehur Gross-Matos, DE: The sophomore leads the Big Ten in tackles for defeat and is tied for 16th place (1.6 per game) and has 19 tackles, including six for loss and four sacks in the last two weeks after having made 17 tackles, 6.5 TFL and two sacks the previous six weeks. In the Nittany Lions' win against Iowa last week, Gross-Matos had nine tackles, including seven solo, four defeat and two sack – his second consecutive match with two sacks – and was named the Big Ten's. Defensive player of the week. He is fourth in the Big Ten in bags with five.

►Trace McSorley, QB: The senior is just three yards from 9,000 career yards and two career touchdowns of 100 touchdowns for which he is responsible. McSorley is also 121 yards out of Penn State's quarter-career record of 1,637 yards held by Michael Robinson (2002-05). He has career records at Penn State for passing yards (8,997), 300-yard passing games (10), 200-yard passing games (26), quarterback touchdowns (27). ), touchdowns (71) and total offense (10,513). McSorley also currently holds Penn State's career efficiency record (147.1). This season, McSorley is responsible for 21 of Penn State's 42 offensive ground touchdowns this season. He has nine shots and 12 shots. He is second in the Big Ten and 18th national with 15.8 points per game.

Offensive midfielder Miles Sanders (24) from statewide IPenn State averaged 104.3 yards per game. (Photo: Doug McSchooler, Associated Press)

►Miles Sanders, RB: Sanders, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound junior, averages 104.3 rushing yards per game, placing him 19th overall and third overall. He is 12th nationally in the yards after contact (537). Sanders racked up 62 rushing yards against Iowa, bringing his career total to 1,209, climbing to 37th on the Penn State Career Roster. The 162-yard Sanders vs. Michigan State made him the 45th Nittany Lion with at least 1,000 rushing yards and the third game of his career in the 100 yard, and the first since a 200-yard effort earlier this season against 'Illinois. Sanders had a 78-yard career career in the first quarter against Michigan State. His previous long run was a 57-yard run at Rutgers in 2016.

Facts and figures

►Thin margins: The last four games of the Nittany Lions have been decided by six points or less. They fell in the state of Ohio and Michigan, but beat Indiana and Iowa in the past two weeks. The last time the Nittany Lions played four straight games, scoring six points or less, was 1894 (6 to 6 on November 10 in the Navy, 17 to 6 on November 12 against Bucknell, 6-0 in Washington and Jefferson on November 23, at Oberlin, the 9 and 6 of November 24). Penn State has played five games this season with seven points or less and a 3-2 record in those games. The Nittany Lions have won victories over the Appalachians (45-38, OT), Indiana (33-28) and Iowa (30-24) while leaning against Ohio State (26-27) and Michigan State (17-21).

►winners: Michigan has 950 wins in the NCAA and is No. 1 in the 0.730 win percentage. Penn State is No. 8 in all-time victories (884) and No. 10 in the winning percentage (0.688). Both programs are among the top ranked teams in the history of the NCAA, according to the Associated Press poll. Michigan spent 34 weeks in first place (11th all-time) and Penn State was first in the AP poll 21 times (tied for 15th all-time). Penn State was ranked 623 weeks in the top 25 AP, the ninth of all time, while Michigan, with 842 weeks, is No. 2.