Saquon Barkley named Hornung Award Finalist. Photo by Antonella Crescimbeni (The Daily Collegian & Wikipedia).

Record crowd of 110,823 at Beaver Stadium; McSorley and Barkley each score three times

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In front of a raucous, Beaver Stadium-record crowd of 110,823, Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley scored three touchdowns each to lead No. 2 Penn State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) past No. 19 Michigan (5-2, 2-2 Big Tenin Big Ten football action Saturday night), 42-13. Michigan entered the game boasting the FBS’ top total defense (223.8 ypg), but Barkley set the tone early, scoring two rushing touchdowns in the first five minutes, highlighted by a 69-yard touchdown on the game’s
second play from scrimmage. He also helped put the game away in the fourth quarter, catching a 42 yard touchdown pass from McSorley. The catch gave him the yards necessary to become the first Penn State player and the fourth in Big Ten history to total 3,000 career rushing yards and 1,000 career receiving yards.

McSorley was ultimately responsible for four touchdowns, rushing for a career-high three scores, in addition to his fourth-quarter toss to Barkley. McSorley finished with 358 yards of total offense, as he connected on 17-of- 26 passes for 282 yards and rushed for 76 yards on 11 carries.
The Nittany Lions outgained the Wolverines, 506-269, in total yardage. The points and yards allowed by Michigan’s defense were its most since 2015, while Penn State’s defense was relentless, with eight different players contributing to a season-high seven sacks.

Penn State led the game from Barkley’s first score until the end. Michigan battled back in the second quarter, cutting Penn State’s lead to one (14-13), but the Nittany Lions covered 75 yards on seven plays in 52 seconds to score before the halftime break for a 21-13 halftime advantage. Michigan was unable to score in the second half, while McSorley took over with a pair of rushing touchdowns and his touchdown pass to Barkley.

Penn State is 16-1 in its last 17 games for its best stretch since going 20-0 from 1993-95, and 7-0 at the start for the first time since starting 2008 at 9-0. The Nittany Lions have also won their last 13 games against Big Ten opponents for their longest conference winning streak ever.

Difference Makers

Penn State

 RB Saquon Barkley – Barkley totaled 176 all-purpose yards, with 108 yards rushing on 15 carries, 53
yards receiving on three catches and 15 yards on one kickoff return. Barkley rushed for two touchdowns
and had one receiving, posting his 12 th -career multi-touchdown game and extending his FBS-leading
games with a touchdown streak to 14. Barkley is the first Penn State player with 3,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in his career, and also the fourth Big Ten player to accomplish the feat. Barkley now has 3,329 rushing yards in his career, which is the most rushing yards by a Penn State player in his first three seasons.

 QB Trace McSorley – McSorley totaled 358 yards of total offense, throwing for 282 yards and a touchdown by completing 17-of- 26 passing attempts and rushing 11 times for 76 yards and a career-high three touchdowns – the most by a Penn State quarterback since at least 1982. His touchdown pass marked his 22 nd consecutive game with a touchdown throw. McSorley is now the fifth Nittany Lion with 6,000 career yards of total offense, moving up to fourth all-time at Penn State.

 WR DaeSean Hamilton – Hamilton helped move the chains, catching six passes for 115 yards. It was his seventh career 100-yard receiving game and second this season.

 LB Jason Cabinda – Cabinda finished the game one shy of his career high for tackles, tallying 13. He
assisted on a pair of sacks and forced a fumble.

Michigan

 RBs Karan Higdon and Ty Isaac – Higdon and Isaac accounted for Michigan’s lone touchdowns. Higdon gained 45 yards on 15 carries, while Isaac totaled 36 yards on six carries.