Avery Gach

Michigan completed nothing that travelled more than 11 yards in the air, and won

Michigan beat Penn State 21-18 without completing a pass that travelled more than 11 yards past the line of scrimmage. By the catch spots recorded in Michigan Athletics' official play-by-play, its 10 completions covered 41 yards in the air and 49 after the catch, and the four throws that went 25 yards or more downfield were two Tommy Carr incompletions and both Bryce Underwood interceptions. Across six games, Michigan has completed five passes of 20 or more air yards, all against Western Michigan and Iowa. Penn State's deep passing game was one receiver: the stat crew marked five of Rocco Becht's 44 throws as deep, all five went to Chase Sowell, and three were caught for 76 yards. In the run game, the second half's 14 runs up the middle were Michigan's season habit producing 10.1 yards a carry instead of the 4.0 it had averaged there in the first five games, and the ball moved to Savion Hiter, who carried twice before halftime and nine times after it. PFF's grades, cited as rankings only, had Avery Gach first in run blocking among the five linemen who started at the conventional spots, Manuel Beigel's run-blocking grade highest of any Michigan lineman, Rod Moore Jr. the highest-graded Michigan defender despite leaving in the third quarter, and Jyaire Hill last in coverage among the eight defensive backs who made a tackle. Kyle Whittingham said Monday he will not name the Indiana starter.