Michigan running back Carlos Brown is expected to be back on the field Saturday against Penn State. (Photo: Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com)

Penn State has played one of the softest schedules in the Big Ten, beating up on Akron, Temple and Eastern Illinois in non-conference action, and it lost by double digits at home to Iowa, the only team of substance it’s played.

But Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez said the Nittany Lions’ league-best defense is not a product of poor competition.

Penn State (6-1, 2-1) ranks second nationally in scoring defense, fifth in total defense and has given up the fewest rushing and passing yards in the Big Ten.

"They've controlled every game they've played,” Rodriguez said. “Even in the Iowa game, they were in control and had a blocked punt that changed momentum with 10 minutes to go in the game. They've really dominated from a standpoint of time of possession, ball control, defense, getting three-and-outs.”

Last week, Penn State held Minnesota to a remarkable 40 offensive plays. Michigan, for comparison, averages 68 offensive snaps a game.

The Gophers picked up more than one first down on just one drive and didn’t run a play in Penn State territory until the final minute of the third quarter.

“That's an issue,” Rodriguez said. “We talked about that as coaches (on Monday). They'll take care of the ball and keep it away from you, get some three-and-outs. Next thing you know, they've got control of it. We've got to be careful of that.”

In some ways, today’s game is strength on strength.

Michigan leads the Big Ten in scoring (37.3 ppg) and rushing offense (240 per game) and is coming off a 63-6 thumping of Delaware State. Penn State has allowed 61 points all year (8.7 per game) and hasn’t surrendered a touchdown since Oct. 3.

David Molk

Penn State coach Joe Paterno said he’s concerned with Michigan’s physical running attack. Center David Molk returns this week after missing four games with a broken foot, and Carlos Brown (concussion) and Brandon Minor (ankle) are healthy after taking last week off.

“We’re going to have our hands full with these guys and we know that,” Paterno said.

Michigan knows it may be in for its sternest test of the year, too.

The Wolverines had won nine straight against Penn State, including five games by a touchdown or less, before losing last year, 46-17.

On the way up the tunnel after last week’s win over Delaware State, defensive end Brandon Graham said players began shouting, “We got Penn State, y’all. Let’s not lose focus. Let’s go.”

Michigan (5-2, 1-2) will become bowl eligible with a win today after missing the postseason last year for the first time since 1974.

“We just look at it as a game that we need to win and that we want to win,” linebacker Stevie Brown said. “We don’t look at it like if we beat Penn State then we can say we’re part of an elite group in the Big Ten. We just know it’s another team on our schedule, it’s another team in the Big Ten and if we want to get where we want to get in the Big Ten we’ve got to beat all the teams.”

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.