Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Wolverines

Injuries noted

Penn State Nittany Lions: Koby Howard (out) — WR; Friday report; return targeted after the bye.; Max Granville (out for season) — DE; season-ending absence reaffirmed in current-week reporting.; LaVar Arrington II (out) — DE; Friday report; condition unspecified.; Cooper Alexander (out) — TE; Friday report; condition unspecified.; Dayshaun Burnett (out) — DE; Friday report; condition unspecified.; Joshua Johnson (out) — CB; Friday report; condition unspecified.; Tyler Armstead (out) — CB; Friday report; condition unspecified.; Alex Tatsch (out for season) — LB; season-ending absence confirmed in current-week reporting.; Mason Robinson (out) — DE; Friday report; condition unspecified.; Will Tompkins (out for season) — OL; season-ending absence reaffirmed in current-week reporting.; Christian Askew (out) — CB; Friday report; condition unspecified.; Liam Andrews (out) — DT; Friday report; condition unspecified.; Cristiano Rosa (out) — Kickoff specialist; downgraded Thursday, remained out Friday.; Armstrong Nnodim (probable) — DT; designation unchanged Friday; condition unspecified.; Yvan Kemajou (probable) — DE; designation unchanged Friday; condition unspecified.; Chase Sowell (probable) — WR; added Thursday, remained probable Friday.; Cam Smith (probable) — LB; upgraded Thursday, remained probable Friday.

Michigan Wolverines: Braydon Alford (out) — WR; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified.; Micah Ka'apana (out) — RB; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified.; Julius Holly (out) — DE; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified.; Ace Hamilton (out) — OL; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified.; Andrew Sprague (out) — Starting tackle; remained out in Friday's report.; Kendrick Bell (doubtful) — WR; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified.; Dom Nichols (questionable) — Starting DE; designation unchanged Friday.; John Henry Daley (questionable) — Starting DE; designation unchanged Friday.; Aisea Moa (questionable) — LB; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified.; Jake Guarnera (questionable) — Starting center; designation unchanged Friday.; Andrew Babalola (questionable) — Potential starting tackle; designation unchanged Friday.; Brady Norton (questionable) — Starting guard; designation unchanged Friday.; Andrew Marsh (probable) — Starting receiver/punt returner; designation unchanged Friday.; Nathan Efobi (probable) — OL; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified.

QUARTERBACK

• Rocco Becht is PSU's projected starter

  8.42 Y/A

  Rocco Becht is PSU's projected starting quarterback. Jon Sauber's October 15 Michigan preview discusses Becht continuing at quarterback and considers a change unlikely. This establishes a projection rather than an explicit game-specific starter announcement. 2026 line: 1397 passing yards, 62.7% completions, 8.42 yards per attempt, 11-3 TD-INT over 6 games.

• Bryce Underwood is MICH's confirmed starter

  7.80 Y/A

  Bryce Underwood is MICH's confirmed starting quarterback. On October 12, Kyle Whittingham confirmed Underwood remains the starter entering the Penn State game. 2026 line: 881 passing yards, 59.3% completions, 7.80 yards per attempt, 5-4 TD-INT over 5 games.

TRENCHES

• MICH: 94.6 rushing yards allowed per game to PSU's 165.8

  71.2 YPG

  Michigan allows 94.6 rushing yards a game over 5 games, a solid run defense. Penn State gives up 165.8 over 6. The sheet doesn't say who either side has played, so schedule may explain part of the gap. In a game like this, the team that runs it better usually controls the clock, and Michigan looks better positioned on that front.

PACE & SCRIPT

• PSU @ MICH carries a 42.5 market total

  42.5

  A 42.5 total, 8 points below the 50.5 slate median, says the market expects defense and a grinding pace to win out. No player or unit stats are supplied. The expectation cracks if either offense hits explosive plays early and forces the other to open up. Low totals like this tend to hinge on whether red-zone trips end in sevens or threes.

MISMATCH

• PSU: 0.67 turnovers a game to MICH's 1.8

  0.67 VS 1.8

  Penn State gives the ball away less than once a game, while Michigan coughs it up almost twice a game through five games. Last season Michigan sat at 1.31, so this year's rate is higher than its usual self and could settle back some. Penn State was at 0.77 last season, so its ball security looks real. In a road game, Penn State winning the giveaway battle is the most likely way it controls field position and steals extra possessions.

REPLACEMENT

• Max Granville (DE) is out for the season for PSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  DE; season-ending absence reaffirmed in current-week reporting. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16) Penn State, Michigan Release Initial Availability Reports (2026-10-14)

• Alex Tatsch (LB) is out for the season for PSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  LB; season-ending absence confirmed in current-week reporting. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Will Tompkins (OL) is out for the season for PSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  OL; season-ending absence reaffirmed in current-week reporting. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16) Penn State, Michigan Release Initial Availability Reports (2026-10-14)

• Mason Robinson (DE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  DE; Friday report; condition unspecified. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Christian Askew (S) is out for PSU

  OUT

  CB; Friday report; condition unspecified. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Liam Andrews (DT) is out for PSU

  OUT

  DT; Friday report; condition unspecified. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Dayshaun Burnett (DE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  DE; Friday report; condition unspecified. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Joshua Johnson (CB) is out for PSU

  OUT

  CB; Friday report; condition unspecified. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Tyler Armstead (CB) is out for PSU

  OUT

  CB; Friday report; condition unspecified. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Koby Howard (WR) is out for PSU

  OUT

  WR; Friday report; return targeted after the bye. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• LaVar Arrington II (DE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  DE; Friday report; condition unspecified. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Cooper Alexander (TE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  TE; Friday report; condition unspecified. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Cristiano Rosa (PK) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Kickoff specialist; downgraded Thursday, remained out Friday. Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

• Braydon Alford (WR) is out for MICH

  OUT

  WR; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified. Penn State, Michigan Release Initial Availability Reports (2026-10-14)

• Micah Ka'apana (RB) is out for MICH

  OUT

  RB; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified. Penn State, Michigan Release Initial Availability Reports (2026-10-14)

• Julius Holly (DE) is out for MICH

  OUT

  DE; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified. Penn State, Michigan Release Initial Availability Reports (2026-10-14)

• Ace Hamilton (OL) is out for MICH

  OUT

  OL; October 14 availability report; condition unspecified. Penn State, Michigan Release Initial Availability Reports (2026-10-14)

• Andrew Sprague (OL) is out for MICH

  OUT

  Starting tackle; remained out in Friday's report. Penn State, Michigan Release Initial Availability Reports (2026-10-14) Penn State-Michigan Friday injury reports: What did we learn less than 24 hours before kickoff? (2026-10-16)

SITUATIONAL

• MICH has 7 more days of rest

  7d vs 14d

  Michigan had the bye and gets 14 days to prepare at home for Penn State, who is on a standard 7-day week. In a big game, a second week to rest and build a specific plan is a real edge for the Wolverines. Penn State's week is normal, so this is about Michigan's extra prep rather than PSU being worn down.

• PSU: 251.2 team passing yards per game to MICH's 180.8

  70.4 YPG

  Penn State has opened up its passing game to 251.2 a game, up from 187.6 last season, while Michigan is near its usual level at 180.8 versus 186.8. Over 6 games, Penn State's jump looks like a real style change. In Ann Arbor, the Nittany Lions throwing more could force Michigan to keep pace, which affects how you think about the total.

TEAM RECORD

• Big Ten game: PSU 0-3, MICH 0-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big Ten. PSU is 0-3 against it, MICH is 0-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-17.