Penn State football vs. Michigan: How to watch, what to look for in white out

Frank Bodani
York Daily Record

Penn State football could break another Beaver Stadium attendance record this weekend.

Last year's white out game against Ohio State set the mark at 110,889. But now? The Lions are undefeated heading into Saturday night's white out game against Michigan, and the weather looks about perfect for football.

"What technically can we fit in the stadium?" Franklin jokingly asked university staffers during his weekly news conference. "I mean, what can we really get in there?"

He threw out a 112,000 attendance goal as hyperbole, then kept rolling ...

"Then I think another 300,000 tailgating, another 600,000 alumni watching all over the country and the world, and then hopefully we can recruit another 500,000, maybe borderline Penn State fans, we can get on board with us this weekend."

He made a plea to make Saturday's game a "seismic event."

The last white out game against Michigan? That was two years ago and offensive lineman C.J. Thorpe takes it all in prior to that big Penn State victory.

Consider that Beaver Stadium is the third-largest in the world behind the May Day Stadium in North Korea (150,000) and Michigan Stadium (113,065).

The white out crowd may bring more energy than any other.

"I tell people, literally, I'll have that eight seconds where I'm standing there in the tunnel (before the game) and you see it and you hear it, but you literally feel it. You literally feel it."

Penn State, however, is only 5-6 in full stadium white out games since the first in 2007.

How to watch Penn State vs. Michigan

TV: Tune into ABC for the opening kickoff at 7:30 p.m. from Beaver Stadium. Chris Fowler will do play-by-play with Kirk Herbstreit on color. Maria Taylor will provide sideline updates.

Local radio: WSBA 910 AM, WHGB 1400 AM

Watch online: Check out the action here through ESPN3.

Listen online:Penn State Sports Online Audio

Weather: A near-perfect football day and evening. Sunny with a high around 60 degrees and just a slight breeze. Temperatures will drop into the 40s by the second half. 

Series: Michigan leads 14-8 and has won the past four of five. That includes landslide victories in Michigan Stadium in 2016 (49-10) and 2018 (42-7). 

Betting line: Penn State is an 8.5 point favorite. 

Rankings: The Nittany Lions keep moving up in both polls, sitting at No. 7 in the Amway Coaches and Associated Press polls.

Big show in town: ESPN’s College GameDay will air live Saturday morning (9 a.m. to noon) from the campus' HUB Lawn. 

More:Top signs from ESPN College GameDay: Penn State football vs. Michigan

Sep 29, 2018; University Park, PA, USA; A general view of Beaver Stadium during the fourth quarter between Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Under the lights: The Lions will be playing their fourth night game this season — the most in program history. They are on a 12-1 run in both night games and regular-season games televised by ABC. 

Up next for both: Penn State will travel to Michigan State for a 3:30 p.m. game on Oct. 26. Michigan will play No. 8 Notre Dame at home in prime time. 

Penn State

2019: 6-0

Penn State 79, Idaho 7

Penn State 45, Buffalo 13

Penn State 17, Pitt 10

Penn State 59, Maryland 0

Penn State 35, Purdue 7

Penn State 17, Iowa 12

Familiar faces: Receiver KJ Hamler was high school teammates with Michigan defensive back Tyler Cochran and offensive lineman Dan Jokisch at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s near Detroit. Hamler also played with Michigan linebacker Jordan Anthony and offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Defensive dominance: The Lions rank second nationally in scoring defense. They've not allowed more than 13 points in any game. They also are No. 2 in sacks per game (4.5), No. 3 in rushing defense (53.8 yards per game) and No. 4 in total defense (259.7 ypg).

Last three seasons

  • 2018: 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten) 
  • 2017: 11-2 (7-2 Big Ten)
  • 2016: 11-3 (8-1 Big Ten)

Top performers in 2019

  • So. QB Sean Clifford (102-of-159 passing, 64 percent, 1,560 yards, 13 TDs, 2 INTs; 59 carries, 252 yards, 4.3 ypc., 2 TDs)
  • So. WR KJ Hamler (26 receptions, 455 yards, 75.8 ypg., 5 TDs; 16 punt returns, 97 yards)
  • Fr. RB Noah Cain (57 carries, 310 yards, 5.4 ypc., 6 TDs) 
  • Jr. DE Yetur Gross-Matos (18 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks)
  • So. LB Micah Parsons (31 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 pass break-up)

More recent PSU coverage

Michigan

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh

Head coach: Jim Harbaugh (16th season overall, 145-61-1; 5th season at Michigan, 43-15)

2019: 5-1

Michigan 40, Middle Tennessee 21

Michigan 24, Army 21 (2 OT)

Wisconsin 35, Michigan 14

Michigan 52, Rutgers 0

Michigan 10, Iowa 3

Michigan 42, Illinois 25

Last three seasons

  • 2016 10-3 (7-2 Big Ten)
  • 2017: 8-5 (5- Big Ten)
  • 2018: 10-3 (8-1 Big Ten)

The best punter is ... Penn State's Blake Gillkin was just named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the week. He placed five of his seven punts inside the Iowa 20-yard line, three inside the 10.

Michigan punter Will Hart leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally, averaging 46.5 yards per punt. 

Zach Charbonnet of Michigan runs the ball during the first half against Illinois on Oct. 12.

Top performers in 2019

  • Sr. QB Shea Patterson (92-of-161 passing, 57.1 percent, 1,246 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs)
  • Fr.  RB Zach Charbonnet (79 carries, 376 yards, 4.8 ypc., 5 TDs)
  • So. WR Ronnie Bell (20 receptions, 361 yards, 60.2 ypg.; 8 punt returns, 67 yards)
  • Jr. DE Kwity Paye (21 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 1 fumble recovery) 
  • Sr. LB Khaleke Hudson (58 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1 sack)