Gameday Media Preview: Michigan Edition

Welcome back, Penn State fans!

As the 2015 season approaches the finish line, a handful of veteran Nittany Lions will run out the Beaver Stadium tunnel for the final time. Penn State will honor 19 seniors prior to the Saturday’s game versus Michigan, including six members of Joe Paterno’s final team in 2011. That group has seen a lot over the course of five years in Happy Valley, including its fair share of Beaver Stadium White Outs, which will also be on tap versus Michigan.

It very likely may be the grand finale for Christian Hackenberg suiting up in Happy Valley. After being shutout from the end zone last week, he will look to pass Matt McGloin on the school’s all-time list for touchdown passes. Two touchdowns will give the junior signal caller sole possession, in which he already claims for all-time attempts, completions and yards.

Penn State (7-3, 4-2 Big Ten) hasn’t dropped a game in Beaver Stadium all season and welcome a Michigan (8-2, 5-1 B1G) team has played with fire as of late: Losing to Michigan State as time expired, while surviving with a last-minute against Minnesota in the final seconds and a double overtime shootout with Indiana last week.

Last week’s Nov. 14 bye was the latest first-bye date for the Nittany Lions since 1958, when the Nittany Lions waited till Nov. 22 for their lone bye week, per GoPSUSports.

This game holds significance in the Big Ten championship race, College Football Playoff rankings, and the future for both schools beyond this season. The Nittany Lions is expecting to host over 100 recruits for a game against the No. 12 team in the country that is also on the minds of a couple 2016 Penn State pledges.

Hackenberg & Co. will look to send the senior class off with possibly the biggest win of any of their careers. So, for those observing from outside the stadium, find all the must-have media information you’ll need for Michigan vs. Penn State:

Kickoff: Noon Eastern Time

Television: ABC — Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst); Shannon Spake (sideline).

Radio: Local: 93.7 FM and 1450 AM | Sirius: Ch. 81 and XM: Ch. 81.

Weather: In the 2015 season finale, a 43-degree kickoff temperature is slated with winds approximately 8 mph expected in a precipitation-free Beaver Stadium.

Last Time They Met: The Wolverines overcame an early deficit to win 18-13 in Ann Arbor and there are plenty of returning players from that matchup as Michigan brings a senior-laden team to Happy Valley this time around, though a different coaching staff..The all-time series advantage is 11-7 in Michigan’s favor.

Injuries:

Senior safety Jordan Lucas joins Nyeem Wartman-White on the season-ending injury list. Lucas has battled injury all season, only missing one game but sitting out for significant minutes during a couple others. Carl Nassib was sidelined during the final drive against Northwestern, for an undisclosed reason, but appeared fully engaged in the brief media viewing of practice this week. Saquon Barkley practiced without any taping on his previously injured right ankle, which Franklin has said has limited the running back since returning from injury.

Media Coverage: StateCollege.com will have coverage of the game before and after the game, but for additional up-to-the-moment coverage, follow Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88), Marley Paul (MarleyPaul22) and Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) on Twitter.

In the meantime, plenty of stories this week to get up to speed on Penn State football below:

StateCollege.com:

Ben State Football Its All About The Landing

12 Reasons Why Beating Michigan Is A Signature Win

Peppers A Real Threat As Michigan Heads To Town

Latest Bowl Projections Feature Oregon And Utah

Nittany Lions Ready To Let Play Do The Talking