FOX Analyst Defends Michigan Football Following Penn State Win

Heading into last weekend’s slate of football games, one matchup stood out to many as a crucial factor in this year’s Big Ten title and College Football Playoff race: No. 3 Michigan football at No. 10 Penn State. The Nittany Lions have one of the toughest environments in the sport — Beaver Stadium — and Michigan was without Jim Harbaugh due to the conference’s 3-game suspension, meaning Sherrone Moore needed to step up. After Blake Corum led Michigan to a two-score win, some at ESPN tried to discredit the win, though FOX analyst and announcer Joel Klatt stepped in and defended the Wolverines.

Michigan football beat a top-10 Penn State team on the road without Jim Harbaugh… and some still don’t think it proved anything

Last weekend’s road win over the No. 10 Nittany Lions was the first time since 1999, when No. 16 Michigan beat No. 6 Penn State 31-27 in State College, that the Wolverines beat a top-10 team in Beaver Stadium.

Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines impressive with 9-point win in Happy Valley

After the game, analysts at ESPN were all over the place in their assessment of Michigan football, with some trying their hardest to discredit the win by stating Penn State is simply not that good and the Wolverines still are yet to be tested. That said, top college football analyst Joel Klatt of FOX Sports used his platform to argue Michigan’s case.

“Some people will knock Michigan for this one which is absurd,” FOX analyst and color commentator Joel Klatt said. “It is an absurd and clownish take to knock Michigan for what went on on Saturday. Number one, it takes a play caller who, with clear eyes, can analyze what’s going on around him and adjust and is willing to do whatever is best. 32 straight run plays for Michigan and (interim coach/offensive coordinator) Sherrone Moore — 32. It takes an incredibly disciplined play caller, a guy that is willing to not get bored taking a profit.”

Joel Klatt shouts out JJ McCarthy for taking the back seat to Blake Corum and the running game

Klatt also gave a shoutout to Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy, who has been a top Heisman contender all year, yet was only given eight chances to throw the football against Penn State last Saturday. Still, McCarthy didn’t seem to mind since all that he is focused on is winning a Big Ten and national title this fall.

“You got to have a quarterback that, oh by the way, is in the Heisman Trophy race, and doesn’t care that you call 32 (straight) runs. Because (JJ) McCarthy doesn’t. This is what is so fascinating.”

All said and done, Blake Corum took over the game for the Wolverines, tallying 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the nation’s No. 1 total defense and No. 1 rushing defense.

With its win over Penn State, Michigan football established itself as a legitimate national title contender with just two games remaining in the regular season. The Wolverines are now 10-0 (7-0 Big Ten) heading into this weekend’s bout at Maryland, which could turn out to be Michigan’s 1,000th all-time win in program history.

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