Finally! Penn State wins in Ann Arbor, 35-10

"That was easy!"

ESPN announcer Sean McDonough couldn't have called it any better, as Penn State's Daryll Clark hit Graham Zug for the duo's second of three touchdown connections of the night against Michigan. The Nittany Lions cruised 35-10 to their first win in Ann Arbor since 1996, and remained in contention for the BCS, with a 7-1 record for the season.

Clark passed his way to what was easily the best performance of the season for the fifth-year senior quarterback, who completed 16-of-27 for 230 yards and four touchdowns.

But Clark didn't log this win all by himself. Penn State put together a solid team effort, using sure hands, good blocking, and menacing defense to stuff the Wolverines, a team coming in averaging a Big Ten-best 37 points per game on offense.

"Linebacker U" lived up to its reputation, as All-Big Ten candidates Navorro Bowman and Josh Hull made life miserable for the Wolverines offense. The duo finished as the top tacklers for the Lions, including a combined 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery, the latter two coming from Bowman. Along the defensive line, three players logged a sack, as sophomore Jack Crawford continued to haunt opposing backfields, finishing the day with three tackles for loss and a sack.

The game started out slowly enough for the Nittany Lions, as Michigan running back Brandon Minor tore apart Penn State's vaunted defense for a touchdown -- Penn State's first given up before halftime all season -- on an 11-play, 70-yard drive, eerily similar to the 2008 contest, when Michigan charged to a 17-7 lead.

However, this time, the Wolverine's momentum stalled almost immediately following the first score. Penn State launched an extremely impressive first drive of its own, soaring down the field on four plays for 63 yards and a Clark's first touchdown pass to Zug.

Penn State barely looked back, as Michigan couldn't get out of its own way. Leading 10-7, the Nittany Lions had Michigan pinned deep near its own end zone. Following two penalties that drove Michigan into the shadows of the goal posts, an errant snap flew past true freshman quarterback Tate Forcier. Penn State got two points, the ball, and didn't take long to capitalize on the swing, as Clark lofted a perfectly thrown bomb to tight end Andrew Quarless for 60 yards into the end zone. The rout was on in the Big House.

Michigan seemed to save face a bit going into the half, tacking on a field goal with a few seconds left in the second quarter. But it wouldn't be enough.

Penn State, which has been notoriously conservative on the road in the past, opened up the offense all afternoon. The pass was used to set up the run game. Quarless led the team in yards with 91, while Zug would haul in five for 59 yards and the three scores. Derek Moye pulled down six passes of his own for 53 yards. The production through the air allowed tailback Evan Royster to churn out 100 yards on the ground, as the Lions ran for 165 total yards on 40 carries. Penn State is now 10-0 when Royster tops 100 yards.

As good as it was for Penn State on offense, it was equally bad for the Wolverines. The Nittany Lions' vicious pass rush forced several bad throws, while sacking Forcier five times. Including the 10 points surrendered to Michigan, the Penn State defense is averaging a mere 8.8 points per game allowed.

While the loss was Michigan's worst of the season, the win was Penn State's best. Since the home loss to Iowa in September, the Nittany Lions have grown stronger each week, and it showed under the Michigan Stadium lights.

Penn State stays on the road next week, as the Lions travel to Northwestern for another nationally-televised matchup. The Wolverines hit the road to play an imploding Illinois team.

Official Stats, via GoPSUSports.com