Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1138762
2 0 1 9 S E A S O N P R E V I E W 2018 RECORD 10-3, 8-1 Big Ten COACH Jim Harbaugh (38-14 in four seasons at Michigan; career record: 96- 41) SERIES RECORD The Wolverines lead the all- time series, 14-8. MOST RECENT MEETING Michigan held Penn State to 186 yards of total o>ense and had three takeaways, including a pick-six, in a 42-7 victory on Nov. 3, 2018, in Ann Arbor. OFFENSE The Wolverines will have a new o>ensive coordinator calling the shots this year in Josh Gattis. Maybe you've heard of him. The veteran assis- tant coach le? Penn State for Alabama in 2018, then le? the Crimson Tide a?er only a year in Tuscaloosa. Gattis has been looking to speed things up at Michigan, bringing a no-huddle look to an o>ense that had remained steadfastly old-school under Harbaugh. But in terms of its personnel, Michigan should look pretty familiar, with quarterback Shea Patterson headlining a contingent of eight returning starters. In his =rst season a?er transferring from Missis- sippi, Patterson completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,600 yards, with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Talented wideouts Donovan Peoples- Jones and Nico Collins are back, too, but the Wolverines need to =nd a new start- ing tailback with Karan Higdon having graduated. DEFENSE You don't lose players like Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich and Devin Bush and just carry on like nothing's changed. Or do you? The Wolverines still look to be loaded on defense. Josh Uche showed his potential with seven sacks last year, while Kwity Paye and Michael Dwumfour are both up-and- coming linemen, and January enrollee Mazi Smith has the makings of an early- impact freshman. The Wolverines also have solid returnees at linebacker (Khaleke Hudson) and in the secondary (Lavert Hill, Josh Metellus). This unit should be solid. SPECIAL TEAMS Quinn Nordin may have trouble regaining his starting job a?er Jake Moody hit 10 of 11 =eld goal attempts last year as a substitute when Nordin was sidelined by an illness. Punter Will Hart returns a?er averaging a very impressive 47.0 yards last year. SCHEDULE This is a good year to be a Michigan season-ticket holder, as the Wolverines are set to welcome Iowa, Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State to the Big House. Their toughest road games =gure to be visits to Wiscon- sin (Sept. 21) and Penn State (Oct. 19). If the Wolverines are to vie for College Football Playo> consideration, the make-or-break stretch could come in mid-October when they face the Nit- tany Lions and Fighting Irish on consec- utive Saturdays. GAME OF THE YEAR The annual sea- son-ending showdown with Ohio State will be Michigan's biggest game until the end of time. Harbaugh has yet to beat the Buckeyes, and while there's undoubtedly some disappointment in Ann Arbor that Urban Meyer stepped down without ever tasting defeat at the hands of the Maize and Blue, Michigan will take whatever kind of win it can get in this increasingly lopsided series. The Wolverines have lost 16 of their past 18 vs. Ohio State, so they would be quite happy to ruin Ryan Day's =rst head coaching appearance in The Game, especially a?er last year's 62-39 embarrassment at the Horseshoe. OUTLOOK Michigan's "Revenge Tour" ended with that disastrous showing in Columbus, and the hangover lingered for weeks, as the Wolverines fared little bet- ter in the Peach Bowl, losing 41-15 to Florida. That late-season collapse is likely one of the reasons why Harbaugh has relinquished control of the o>ense and allowed Gattis free rein to design a more up-to-date system that is ex- pected to incorporate elements of the o>ense that Joe Moorhead installed at Penn State. There's a lot riding on Gat- tis's success. Michigan hasn't won a Big Ten title in 14 years, the longest drought in the program's history. Moreover, Har- baugh is the =rst Wolverines coach ever to lose his =rst four games against Ohio State. He's pulled the program out of the RichRod/Brady Hoke doldrums, but he'll have to beat the Buckeyes to keep Michigan fans happy, and yesterday wouldn't be too soon. –M.H. TOP RETURNEES PASSING Shea Patterson 210 of 325 | 2,600 yds. | 22 TD | 7 int. RUSHING Tru Wilson 62 att. | 364 yds. | 1 TD RECEIVING Nico Collins 38 rec. | 632 yds. | 6 TD TACKLING Josh Ross 22 solo | 39 asst. | 61 total SACKS Josh Uche 7 sacks | 44 yds. WEEK 7 MICHIGAN T I M E T B A | O C T . 1 9 | B E A V E R S T A D I U M | U N I V E R S I T Y P A R K , P A . RETURNING STARTER Patter- son passed for 2,600 yards and ran for 273 in his first season with the Wolverines. Photo by Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog