Penn State has a habit of falling short in big games against top 10 opponents, and the Nittany Lions didn’t break that habit Saturday against Michigan at Beaver Stadium, falling 21-17 to the Wolverines, who rank sixth in the college football playoff poll. Now, Penn State, who was once 5-0 and ranked fourth in the country, is 6-4.
Like the previous three losses, Penn State could have changed the outcome if a few more plays had gone their way.
“We want to look at what we did out there and how we can see how we executed,” sophomore receiver Parker Washington, who caught four passes for 92 yards, said. “If it was effective, if it was pretty good, we just need to take those steps in that direction. I feel like the only thing we can do right now is move on and get ready for next week.”
Next week should be much more manageable for Penn State. The Nittany Lions host 5-5 Rutgers, a school that hasn’t beaten the Nittany Lions since joining the Big 10 in 2014.
With two regular-season games left and then the bowl game, Lee still has hope the Lions can show their full potential in what’s been a disappointing campaign.
“We have the potential to be the best in the nation,” running back Keyvone Lee, who gained a season-high 88 yards on 20 carries, said. “We can finish as the best in the nation.”
Also hear from senior safety Jaquan Brisker and junior linebacker Brandon Smith.
