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Penn State aims to end Michigan hex

Sep 22, 2007 - 12:38 PM No. 10 Penn State (3-0) at Michigan (1-2) 3:30 pm EDT

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Ticker) -- Penn State has been waiting a long time to give Michigan its comeuppance. This may finally be the Nittany Lions' year.

The 10th-ranked Nittany Lions try to beat the Wolverines for the first time since 1996 when they visit the "Big House" on Saturday for their Big Ten Conference opener.

Michigan has won eight straight games over Penn State, including a 17-10 triumph in State College last year, but has struggled mightily this season after losing five defensive regulars from its 2006 squad to the NFL.

The Wolverines, who are concluding a four-game homestand, were shocked by Football Championship Subdivision power Appalachian State, 34-32, in their season opener, then absorbed their worst loss since 1968 with a 39-7 defeat to Oregon on September 8.

Last week, however, Michigan bounced back to crush Notre Dame, 38-0. Filling in for the injured Chad Henne, true freshman Ryan Mallett completed just seven passes but three went for touchdowns. Mallett will start again this week.

Star running back Mike Hart, who had guaranteed a Wolverine victory, ran for 187 yards and a pair of scores in the rout.

Penn State, meanwhile, improved to 3-0 on the season with a 45-24 victory over Buffalo last week.

Anthony Morelli threw for a career-best four touchdowns and backup tailback Rodney Kinlaw ran for 129 yards and a score for the Nittany Lions, who trailed, 3-0, before scoring 31 straight points in a 16-minute span over the middle two quarters.