Penn State at Michigan 1994 GAME STORY

This turned out to be one of the more important games in Penn State football history. It was a showdown in Ann Arbor between two teams ranked in the top 5 nationally. Michigan only had one fluke loss to a stacked Colorado team who finished the year ranked 3rd in 1994. As things unfolded in the first half, it almost seemed as if the Wolverines didn't belong on the same field as Penn State. It was heading for another blowout win for the Lions, and the score very easily could have been 20-0 (vs. 16-3) at halftime if a questionable holding call didn't keep Ki-Jana Carter out of the end zone in the second quarter. Also, shortly after that, Brian Gelzheiser was called for a spearing penalty that put the Wolverines in position for a field goal as time expired in the first half, giving the home team some momentum. Then to begin the third quarter, Michigan used two of their first five offensive plays to get back in the game with scrappy runs from Tyrone Wheatley, where Penn State defenders were only slightly out of position. Wheatley's runs gave Michigan a 17-16 lead. And then Penn State's offense showed its resiliency, driving down the field to not only retake the lead, but convert a 2-pointer to get them back on track. After another Wolverine touchdown in the fourth quarter and an exchange of a couple three-and-outs by the offenses, it was the historic moment where Collins fired a strike to Bobby Engram in the end zone on third down to take command. From there, sophomore cornerback Brian Miller put the nail in the coffin when he picked off Michigan's Todd Collins to end their attempt to score. It was a solidly played game by both teams where each and every play seemed to carry the utmost importance to steer the narrative for the outcome of the game. Penn State holding on, to win against a very talented Michigan team, in a hostile environment, proved the quality and worth of this squad.
Penn State's Top Performers:
Kerry Collins: 20-32, 231 yards, 3 TDs
Ki-Jana Carter: 26 carries, 165 yards
Kyle Brady: 6 catches, 63 yards
Penn State hurdles Michigan for the 6th victory of the undefeated season, heading into the second half of its schedule. Michigan, at home now sat at 4-2 after having very high aspirations for 1994. And the deflating loss left the Wolverines not much left to play for in terms of the national picture. They would finish the year with an 8-4 record. They also beat Colorado State in the Holiday Bowl as they ended up with a number 12 national ranking in the AP Poll.

[@libertydrive4388]

What an incredible offense Penn State had that year. Collins, Carter, Archie, Engram, et al. So many weapons.

[@Borrow919]

I like that this particular highlight vid of this game is NOT missing the start of the game and the first Penn State possesion. All the others I've seen do.

[@brettwiley4064]

One of the greatest games in big ten history, Michigan played their hearts out, penn state was just that good.

[@kevinchandler179]

Ki-Jana played with a fractured hand, and still showed why he was absolutely the best damn running back in the nation in 94!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled

[@ericmeeuwsen2226]

And perverts, don't forget that.

[@ericmeeuwsen2226]

I almost forgot -- irrelevant also. Well, at least if not taking the pedophiles into account, that is.

[@ericmeeuwsen2226]

Big 10 does nothing (or very very little) when kids are molested on a premeditated basis for multiple years, YET when a football program may be getting opponents' signs??? Well, we can't allow for that HUGE TRAVESTY!!! LOL, What a joke.

[@markheffelfinger9677]

@@ericmeeuwsen2226 show me on this doll where Sandusky touched you at the 2nd Mile

[@kevinchandler179]

God, I miss Keith Jackson, he was the absolute best!!! 💯

[@billgill82]

As a Penn State alumnus who lived in the Detroit suburbs, a buddy of mine who was a Michigan fan had an extra ticket. What a great game to see live let alone to be surrounded by Michigan fans. Just a hard fought contest by both teams.

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

Remember being excited for this game and it lived up to its hype. Plus any game where you have Keith Jackson announcing at The Big House played on grass, with 2 historically great teams with great uniforms.

[@reverend_wintondupree]

And broadcasted on ABC Sports before the ESPN integration

[@kevinchandler179]

My Nittany Lions 🦁 defense was so underrated, literally!!! They were on the field all day long every game, in a good way though!!! Our offense average drives in 94 was under 2 minutes, so they were gassed in a good way again!!! Lol WE ARE

[@kevinchandler179]

Man, Kerry Collins has a arm!!! He threw so many beautiful passes in this game alone, not to mention the whole damn season!!!

[@libertydrive4388]

He an Ki-Jana were NFL material all the way.

[@tommitchell4570]

It's weird how Collins is the only NFL-ready QB that Penn State produced in the last 50 years --- literally the ONLY one

[@libertydrive4388]

@@tommitchell4570 Not that surprising, as Paterno ran a Stone Age offense that no five-star QB wanted to play in. Kerry was the exception.

[@tommitchell4570]

@@libertydrive4388 yeah it's still hard to believe Collins did well in that offense --- JoePa was the ultimate "two yards and a cloud of dust" type of offensive coach

[@libertydrive4388]

@@tommitchell4570 Remember we're talking about the same coach who tried to recruit Jim Kelly as a linebacker, and said Dan Marino signed with Pitt because he didn't think he could beat out Frank Rocco. Not exactly a QB factory.

[@rickross199]

Best team in history to not at least share a national championship. Disgracefull voting process at its best

[@libertydrive4388]

They would have smoked Nebraska that year. Should have been a playoff.

[@kevinchandler179]

We got literally screwed in 94!!! It was another national title Joe Pa got screwed out of, because he never lobbied for votes or kissed the so called asses of the voters!!!! We all know who the best damn team in the nation was in 94!!!! WE ARE

[@rickross199]

@@kevinchandler179 they ALWAYS at least split it.

[@jimmercuri4762]

Penn St in 1994 should have gotten a share of the National Title with Nebraska.

[@rickross199]

@@jimmercuri4762 just 3 years later they split the damn thing with Nebraska when Michigan won the Big Ten. Maddening 🤬

[@desmondwilliams4068]

There was lots of offense NFL talent on the field. Collins and Collins, Biatkabatuka, Carter, Wheatley, Ingram Brady, Toomer, Reimersma (sp) I don't know why I remember by wolverines getting blown out in this one.Watching it live, it felt like PSU could just score at will. It looks like Toomer lost the ball in the lights at 31:40. Jackson said it was close, but it looked like he was misjudged the ball. Wheatley balled out in this game, you can watch the film and tell that shoulder was still a little tender. Hats off to him....

[@arc-lite]

For sure, this is an awesome observation. Many great offensive players in this game. The score may have been a little higher for each team though it seemed as if neither one were trying to dial up the home run kinds of plays, except where Toomer lost the ball in the lights and it was crunch time for Michigan. The defenses didn't have many all-stars but were both very stingy and physical. Great game played all around.

[@kevinchandler179]

The thing is, my Nittany Lions 🦁 in 94, could bleed you slowly, or at any point of any game, blow your damn doors off!!! It was still the most balanced offense in the history of college football!!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled

[@libertydrive4388]

@@kevinchandler179 The skill positions were never that good before or after for Penn State. A rare collection of talent.

[@tommitchell4570]

@@kevinchandler179 Ki-Jana Carter was just a tad behind Saquon Barkley for overall talent --- but Kerry Collins and Kyle Brady were the best QB and TE that PSU ever produced

[@aaronrider4051]

The lettermen's club did a feature about the 1994 team. Some of the players were pissed they didn't beat Michigan by more (they were also mad about the BS holding call against Conlin at 11:28). That's how perfectionist that team was.

[@arc-lite]

Say the holding call never happened and the spearing penalty right before half was saved, your halftime score would have been 20-0. Maybe enough for the Wolverines to fold at the break, and you're looking at a huge blowout if they don't come out in the third quarter all fired up like they were.

[@aaronrider4051]

@@arc-lite Yeah. I'm willing to grant Michigan 3 points (since they missed a chip shot). The stats kinda bear that out anyway. But 20-3 or 20-0 is about right. The spearing call was definitely pushing it on the part of the refs. Nothing as bad as the crap they called for IU in Bloomington, of course. I'm inclined to think they would have given us a fight anyway, as Michigan had real gumption under the late Coach Moeller, but a 17-20 point deficit would have been very tough against THAT PSU offense. Our offense wasn't at its best for all of the second half, but the first half was gorgeous. Just gorgeous.

[@jimmercuri4762]

Michigan lost to Ohio ST. in 1994, one of two wins for John Cooper against Michigan. The heading above is inaccurate.

[@arc-lite]

Sorry, not sure why I wrote that. Thanks for pointing that out. I fixed it now so it should be good.

[@aaronrider4051]

In my opinion this was the best tailback match-up of '94. Ki-Jana (and Archie) versus Ty Wheatley and Biakabatuka. Wheatley and Carter were both better than Salaam or whoever from Colorado. Wheatley's effort in this game, is to quote Keith Jackson, "incredible."

[@arc-lite]

I love your take on this!

[@PaulP1963]

The last Great PSU team. Should have been National chsmpions. Awesome Offensive line. Everyone remembers Collins, Carter and Brady went in the 1st round in 95 nfl draft. But in the 96 draft PSU linemen Hardings and Johnson went in the first round.

[@michaelpatuto10]

excellent

[@kevinchandler179]

That wasn't holding on Conlin, literally!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled

[@gosiahodge3462]

Paternos teams had OLines/RBs..who could run it down teams throats...post Paterno..they have a panzy coach who cant put together an oline..no FB..cant run the ball with any consistency.

[@jjjmich8220]

That was DEFINITELY a strip fumble recovery by michigan at the 26:19 mark. The exact same thing PSU did to michigan in the 1st half. Horrible call by the refs in a tie game in the 4th. With field position at the middle of the field we definitely could've took the lead after that. But honestly, I remember feeling like we really had no chance to win this game (I was 10...lol)... thats how good we thought PSU was that year. Great video, I remembered this game completely different. Like we were lucky to even be that close. Definitely could've won it. But Kerry Collins was an assassin that year...lol