Big Ten: No. 4 Michigan looks like No. 1 in 34-8 dismantling of No. 2 Penn State.

The game was n’t historic but the scene was: that red ribbon of taillights streaming out of the Beaver Stadium parking lot as if it was the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium.

Give Penn State fans credit for hanging in there until the third quarter.

The biggest Big Ten game in 24 years was over in 24 minutes.

No. 4 Michigan came, Michigan saw and Michigan conquered on Saturday, quickly disposing of No. 2 Penn State, 34-8, before a crushed crowd of 97,498.

No school had ever come to Happy Valley and so dismantled a Joe Paterno-coached team. It was the sort of thing that made you wonder if there was a better team in the country than Michigan.

That will be up to the pollsters.

With No. 1 Nebraska needing a mini-miracle in overtime to beat Missouri, Michigan may have won over enough voters to vault from fourth to first in the polls.

No. 3 Florida State’s 20-3 victory over No. 5 North Carolina was impressive, yet it may not have resonated as loudly with voters as Michigan’s dominating victory.

“I have no interest in polls,” Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said after his team’s overwhelming victory.

Here’s something that may interest Carr:

Michigan (9-0) handed Penn State (7-1) its fourth worst home defeat in school history and the worst in Paterno’s 32 seasons, eclipsing a 20-point defeat to Pittsburgh in 1981.

It was the most lopsided loss for the Nittany Lions since a 27-point defeat at Syracuse in 1987.

The worst part was there wasn’t a thing Paterno could do to stop it.

“They are as good as anybody and have as much right to be voted No. 1 as any team in the country,” Paterno said.

Did Michigan set a tone?

The Wolverines returned the opening kickoff 32 yards, drove 53 yards for a field goal, then ransacked the Nittany Lion backfield on their first possession, sacking quarterback Mike McQueary twice for minus-13 yards.

Michigan got the ball back on a punt, drove 55 yards in six plays, Anthony Thomas sweeping around right end for a 12-yard touchdown run.

It was 10-0 before Paterno’s glasses fogged up in the drizzle and there was nothing to indicate the Nittany Lions might penetrate Michigan’s No. 1 defense.

The good news for Penn State was the game was blacked out in 45% of the country.

Michigan, which you figured could be really something if it found an offense, found its offense.

Early in the second quarter, senior quarterback Brian Griese ran 40 yards, the run setting up a 37-yard scoring pass to Charles Woodson to put Michigan ahead, 17-0.

“That’s not his forte, believe me,” Carr said of Griese’s run.

With 6:10 left in the half, Griese threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jerame Tuman to put the Wolverines up, 24-0.

It was over at the half, considering Michigan had given up nine points after intermission all season.

The Wolverines had outgained the Nittany Lions, 259 yards to 38. Penn State punted six times and was held to no gain or minus yards on 13 of 24 snaps.

Drama?

Here was the drama: Michigan’s defense is so good it has to play little mind games to keep things interesting. The Wolverines had not given up a fourth-quarter point all season. They were leading, 34-0, when Penn State mounted a meaningless, 82-yard, 11-play drive, ending with Curtis Enis’ one-yard touchdown run with 6:12 left.

The way the defense acted, you would have thought the play cost Michigan the game.

Afterward, Wolverine strong safety Marcus Ray was asked if Michigan could have played better.

“Obviously, the fourth quarter, they scored,” Ray said. “We didn’t like that. We really, really, did not like that. I’m not smiling when I say that.”

He wasn’t.

It was the first time an opponent had scored a second-half touchdown against Michigan this season.

Defensive end Glen Steele, whose sack of McQueary on the game’s first play set an ominous tone, said the defense thought it could go all season without giving up a fourth-quarter point.

“We were mad, definitely upset in the fourth quarter,” he said. “How many teams do you know that have never given up a point in the fourth quarter?”

Michigan would have to settle for one of the most formidable victories in recent memory.

McQueary, Penn State’s senior quarterback, said before the game he was going to attack Woodson, Michigan’s standout cornerback/receiver.

“Basically, he called me out,” Woodson said. “Maybe he should have kept it to himself.”

Woodson’s assignment Saturday was Joe Jurevicius, the Nittany Lion standout receiver. Jurevicius finished with three catches for 20 yards.

McQueary was sacked five times, chased around the pocket, and never in rhythm. He completed 10 of 22 passes for 68 yards.

“They’re pretty good,” McQueary said. “They played awesome. They completely dominated every aspect of the game. They played straight up and took it to us.”

Penn State entered the game as the Big Ten’s top offense, averaging 464 yards per game. Saturday the Nittany Lions finished with 169, their fewest since gaining 169 at Alabama in 1988.

Griese, son of former Miami Dolphin quarterback Bob, played a near-flawless game, completing 14 of 22 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Tailback Chris Howard rushed for 121 yards in 22 carries.

The Wolverines finished with 416 yards and did not commit a turnover.

They played so well, their players were afraid to project how good they might be.

“If we go into next week’s game and lose to Wisconsin, all this is worth nothing,” Howard cautioned.

Michigan plays at Wisconsin on Saturday and then closes the regular season at home against Ohio State on Nov. 22, with the Rose Bowl and the national title at stake.

With two victories, Michigan wins the Big Ten and goes to the Rose Bowl with an 11-0 record.

But that would be looking ahead. “You have to fight self-satisfaction,” Carr said. “We have to get better. That’s not going to be easy. We had an outstanding performance today.”

AROUND THE NATION

* ACC SHOWDOWN

Florida State beats North Carolina, 20-3, to stay unbeaten. C16

* FORGOT TO DUCK

Huskies lose to Oregon, but they can still go to Rose Bowl. C17

* COUGAR ROUT

Washington State rolls to a 77-7 victory over SW Louisiana. C17

* BIG TEN

Wisconsin, without Dayne, knocks off Iowa. C17

* SPOTLIGHT: C16

* SUMMARIES: C20-21