When I left my place to go visit my daughter and her boyfriend at my (second) ex-wife's house it was 13-0 Michigan. When I got there, five minutes away, the TV was on, tuned to the game, and it was 13-7. I watched the rest of the first half and, I think, all of the 3rd Q. PSU actually led 14-13 midway through the 2nd Q, on a pick six that I missed. When next I looked it was 16-14 Michigan and a stat was flashed on the screen: 1st downs Michigan 18 PSU 1. It was 17-16 PSU at half-time but Michigan dominated the game, the whole game, everywhere but, for a short time, on the scoreboard. The Michigan O-line dominated the PSU D-line, blowing ginormous holes for "Wolverine" running backs. I saw the 67-yard run that gave MI the lead for good, 24-17, early in the third. Then Fourth Down Franklin came alive agayne. On 4th and 6 from the MI 39 PSU lined up to go for it but then took a TO. But having a chance to think it over James Franklin went for it again. Should have gotten it too, the ball went right through the receiver's hands on a short slant pass. The call goes in the category of Fourth Down Franklin notwithstanding. PSU had not stopped Michigan! Michigan had scored on four of its five first half possessions, the only exception was the PSU pick-six. They were not to stop Michigan all day. Michigan was faster, stronger, better, and had more belief than PSU. PSU's players did not look like they believed they would win this game. Not at any point.
Franklin could have pooched a punt on 4th and 6. If the kid punted it into the end zone Michigan would have taken over at their own 20, a 19-yard improvement from the PSU perspective. Why not try to lengthen the field for them when you can't stop them? Who knows, maybe you get another INT or a fumble. But going for it on 4th and 6 is very low percentage--and they beat the odds!--but the kid had the ball go through his arms. That happens in college ball! It was still a one score game. But Franklin went for it, it didn't work out and Michigan had the ball on a short field at their own 39. First play from scrimmage Michigan kid runs 61-yards through a huge hole and it's 31-17. Ball game. The final was 41-17. MI was a 7-point favorite. In two weeks Franklin has an excellent chance to get blown out again when Ohio State comes to Lasch.
psu had no belief.