Penn State Loses Again, This Time to Michigan

Michigan gave up a 10-point lead, then scored two touchdowns in less than two minutes to defeat No. 6 Penn State, 31-27, in a Big Ten game Saturday.

“We were down to our last two possessions,” Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said. “That’s what it came down to.”

It was the second consecutive loss for Penn State--a national title contender two weeks ago.

For No. 16 Michigan, 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten, the winning touchdown came on Tom Brady’s 11-yard pass to Marcus Knight with 1:46 left to play.

Brady said the Wolverines are getting used to these roller-coaster rides after up-and-down victories over Notre Dame and Indiana. He said he never gave up hope, even when Michigan fell behind, 27-17, with nine minutes to play.

“We’ve done that before,” Brady said. “We’re just battling and battling until that clock says 0:00. It might not always be pretty. You’re going to make a lot of mistakes. You just got to find a way to win.”

Brady started the comeback with a 12-play, 81-yard drive that ended with his five-yard touchdown scramble, pulling Michigan within 27-24 with 3:26 left.

After Penn State went three and out, DiAllo Johnson returned the punt 24 yards to the Penn State 35, and Brady passed to Knight for 17 yards on third down to set up the touchdown that won the game.

Penn State drove to the Michigan 34 with a minute left, but Ian Gold stripped Kevin Thompson of the ball and the Wolverines recovered.

Penn State (9-2, 5-2) rushed for seven yards in 20 carries.