Penn State Football: Grading Nittany Lions performance vs. Michigan
By Dylan Burd
![UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - OCTOBER 19: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes the ball during the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines on October 19, 2019 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - OCTOBER 19: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes the ball during the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines on October 19, 2019 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f2b6ecffe4fcb2b48e040178e28b3fe28dd88686e1d7fe21ae4e90301fc4c318.jpg)
SPECIAL TEAMS . B+. . .
There isn’t much to say about special teams in this game. Jake Pinegar hit all his extra points, and the Nittany Lions didn’t attempt a field goal.
However, the one thing that can be criticized was the holding that caused K.J Hamler’s kickoff return touchdown to be called back to start the half. Penalties on kickoff returns and punt returns have been a major issue for Penn State every game.
If there’s no penalty on that kickoff, then Penn State would have gone up 28-7, and in my opinion, the game would have turned into a blowout instead of Michigan gaining momentum and coming back.
Other than that miscue, the special teams didn’t do anything wrong in this game.