UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Free Press sports writer Orion Sang offers his first-half observations for No. 16 Michigan football's game at No. 7 Penn State. The Wolverines trailed at the half, 21-7:
Mental mistakes piling up
Michigan simply looked unprepared for this game, right from the very start when the Wolverines had to call timeout on their very first play of the game.
In all three phases, Michigan committed crucial mistakes.
In the first quarter alone, the offense had three drops and a false start penalty.
The defense, meanwhile, had three offsides penalty — including two consecutive penalties that moved Penn State from second-and-goal at the five to second-and-goal at the two.