Watch CBS News

No. 5 Michigan Seeking Revenge At Home Versus No. 14 Penn St

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) 

Two down, two to go.

No. 5 Michigan is on a revenge tour, according to defensive end Chase Winovich . The Wolverines have beaten two of the four Big Ten teams they lost to last season, leaving No. 14 Penn State and No. 8 Ohio State on their list.

Michigan v Michigan State
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 20: Chase Winovich #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates on the sideline as the clock winded down on a 21-7 win over the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

"We're halfway there," Winovich said. "It's more than just beating certain teams. It's an attitude. It's a grittiness. We're done playing around."

Michigan (7-0, 5-0 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) gets its shot at the Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten, No. 14 CFP) on Saturday at home and will have to wait until Nov. 24 for its last tour stop against the Buckeyes.

Penn State beat the Wolverines 42-13 last year and tried to score even more points in the final seconds, a fact that has bothered Michigan for more than a year.

Michigan v Michigan State
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 29: Defensive Coordinator Don Brown reacts to a Michigan Wolverines goal line stance during the third quarter of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan defeated Michigan State 32-23. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Defensive coordinator Don Brown insisted he has thought about that game every day since the humiliating setback. The points and yards (502) given up in that game were the most allowed in Brown's two-plus years at Michigan. And just in case Brown's defensive players were not still stung by the rout, he showed them how the end of the game unfolded, with Miles Sanders taking a handoff from the Wolverines 6 in the closing seconds and getting stopped for a loss.

"Wanted them to be reminded of that feeling," Brown said. "I think the point was made."

Here are some other things to watch at the Big House:

GOOD TO GO

 

Ohio State v Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 29, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley is expected to start after missing part of last week's 30-24 win over No. 18 Iowa.

"Obviously, everybody knows he got dinged up in the game, so I'm not keeping that a secret," coach James Franklin said. "Well, literally by 7 a.m., he's done more than most people do all day to give him the best chance to be healthy, to practice at a very, very high level, and then also to make sure that he can go and be present and dominate in the classroom."

McSorley has 28 career wins, one short of the school record for a quarterback shared by Todd Blackledge and Tony Sacca.

"They have one of the best playmakers, besides (Michigan QB) Shea Patterson, in college football with Trace," Winovich said. "The dude knows how to win."

GARY WATCH

Nebraska v Michigan
ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 22: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines rushes the quarterback behind the block of Brenden Jaimes #76 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers on September 22, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 56-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Michigan might get defensive end Rashan Gary back in the lineup. He has missed three games with a shoulder injury.

"I think he's very, very close," Brown said.

Gary's teammates have bristled at speculation he will not return to play in college and instead choose to focus on getting prepared for the NFL draft as former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa decided to do last month.

"He's trying to get in the game," said Kwity Paye, who has started in Gary's place. "I feel for him on that."

NOT SO SPECIAL

Penn State has made numerous miscues lately on special teams. The Nittany Lions allowed two safeties on punts last week, giving up four points with a blocked kick and a poor snap. They also failed to recover an onside kick against Indiana and gave up a first down on a fake punt against Michigan State. First-year kicker Jake Pinegar has made all five of his field goal attempts over the last two games, but he has missed two of four field goals on the road.

WANT TO FIGHT?

Michigan v Michigan State
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 20: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball in the second half while playing the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan won the game 21-7. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Brown raved about Patterson's competitive spirit, recalling how fired up he was after Michigan lost a fumble at Michigan State.

"I kind of like guys like that," he said. "They'll fight you in the alley."

C-WEBB COMES BACK

Chris Webber is coming back to Michigan as an honorary captain, accepting an invitation extended by Harbaugh. More than five years ago, the reunion with the Fab Five star would not have been possible. The NCAA forced the university to dissociate itself from Webber from 2003-13 for his role in one of the biggest scandals in NCAA history. A federal investigation revealed now-deceased booster Ed Martin gave Webber and two other players more than $600,000 when they were student athletes.

Michigan v Villanova
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein said there have been discussions about reuniting Webber with the basketball program while he's in town.

"I don't know how much Chris wants me to say, but we hope we can get together this weekend," Beilein said.

Webber has not returned messages seeking comment this week from The Associated Press.

© 2018 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.