Even without head coach Jim Harbaugh, Michigan runs all over Penn State in 24-15 win

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was watching from anywhere but the sidelines, but he picked up a win in absentia.

His No. 2 Wolverines (No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings) all but dashed No. 9 Penn State’s playoff hopes following a 24-15 win, in a game dictated by questionable third-down play calling and other missed opportunities.

“We’ve lost to the No. 1 and the No. 3 teams in the country,” Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said. “That’s not good enough. We have to find ways to win those games.”

Harbaugh was suspended for the game after his motion for a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten and its commissioner, Tony Pettiti, was not resolved before kickoff. He was suspended for the remainder of the regular season on Friday in connection with his program’s in-person scouting and sign-stealing scandal.

Even without his head coach, Michigan running back Blake Corum ran over Penn State’s defense, finishing with 145 yards and two touchdowns. The Wolverines’ 227 total rushing yards were the most the Nittany Lions (No. 10 CFP) have allowed this season.

“Obviously, we were in a heck of a game, heck of a dogfight between two of the best defenses in college football, two of the best teams in college football,” Franklin said.

Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar ran 11 yards into the end zone just before halftime for the team’s lone rushing touchdown. Allar completed 10 of 22 pass attempts for a season-low 70 yards and a garbage-time touchdown to tight end Theo Johnson, who was in tears postgame.

“There are a lot of people that are counting on not just me, but this team,” he said. “I let a lot of people down.”

As was the problem Oct. 21 at Ohio State, Penn State (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) continuously came up short on third down, converting just four of 14 attempts. Despite holding one of the nation’s top scoring offenses to a season-low point total, the Nittany Lions failed to convert when given opportunities.

Led by 12 carries for 72 yards by running back Kaytron Allen, the Nittany Lions found some success on the ground in the form of a combined 164 rushing yards. Allar also rushed for 49 yards.

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As Michigan’s players and staff exited their team buses, Harbaugh never appeared, with his motion for a temporary restraining order still awaiting decision. The Wolverines (10-0, 7-0) entered a striped-out Beaver Stadium holding 110,856 fans, the second-largest crowd in the stadium’s 63-year history.

Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton brought down Donovan Edwards for a 3-yard loss that helped the Nittany Lions hold Michigan to a field goal in the third quarter. After making the tackle, Dennis-Sutton pretended to look through binoculars and take notes, a celebration that alluded to the ongoing sign-stealing investigation.

“My sack celebration, I just looked at our sidelines because I was happy, just trying to have fun out there,” Dennis-Sutton said.

Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson returned to action after missing the last two games against Indiana and Maryland and tallied one quarterback hurry. … Wide receiver Harrison Wallace III was inactive for a second consecutive game.

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The Nittany Lions return to Beaver Stadium to take on Rutgers (6-3, 3-3) on Nov. 18 (noon, Fox29 or FS1).

“Be honest, be transparent with ourselves as staff and with the players,” Franklin said. “Address it head on, and then move on to the next opponent and get ready to get another win next week.”