UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In football, disaster can come in many forms.
An offense can short-circuit and combust before everyone’s eyes.
A defense can blow coverages and surrender yards in bulk.
Penalties can foil promising plays and extend drives for the opponent, helping deficits swell.
A receiver can drop a pass, extinguishing a remarkable comeback.
A strong effort defined by resilience can be squandered because of crucial mistakes.
All of this can happen at once, leading to another disappointing outcome.
For Michigan football, this was how a crisp Saturday night in central Pennsylvania unfolded, as a white-out crowd witnessed the Wolverines suffer a 28-21 loss to Penn State.