No. 2 Michigan Hosts Penn State After Near-Upset Last Month

The Wolverines look to maintain their spot atop the Big Ten standings against a Penn State team that nearly pulled off an upset in the teams' first meeting.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 12:15am

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No. 2 Michigan is coming off a strong week, recording wins over Top 10 teams Nebraska and Michigan State. The Wolverines now host Penn State, who nearly upset them in the teams' first meeting last month. Michigan head coach Dusty May is focused on the challenge Penn State will present, while the Michigan fanbase is excited about the team's potential as a national championship contender.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for Michigan as they look to maintain their position atop the Big Ten standings. A loss to Penn State would be a setback, while a win would further cement Michigan's status as a top national title contender. For Penn State, this is an opportunity to pull off a major upset and potentially turn their season around after an eight-game losing streak.

The details

In the teams' first meeting on Jan. 6, Penn State rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes to make it a one-point game before Michigan prevailed 74-72. Penn State will try to use a smaller, quicker lineup that trapped and pressed Minnesota effectively in their last game. Michigan's frontline size advantage could be a challenge for Penn State, but the Nittany Lions are determined to be aggressive and not play on their heels.

  • The teams first met on Jan. 6 in State College, Pa.
  • Michigan beat a pair of Top 10 teams last week, recording a 3-point home win over then-No. 5 Nebraska on Jan. 27 and a 12-point win over then-No. 7 Michigan State last Friday.
  • Penn State snapped an eight-game losing streak on Sunday with a 77-75 home win over Minnesota.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines basketball team.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A Michigan transfer who leads the team in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg).

Mike Rhoades

The head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team.

Kayden Mingo

A Penn State player averaging 14.1 ppg and 4.7 apg, who leads the Big Ten with 2.1 steals per game but did not play in the teams' first meeting.

Freddie Dilione V

A Penn State player averaging 13.9 ppg.

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What they’re saying

“We've got a Penn State team that gave us everything and then some.”

— Dusty May, Michigan Head Coach

“If we play on our heels, we're going to lose. If we're going to play little and don't be aggressive and hawk the ball, we're probably going to lose. It's not rolling the dice. It's how I always want to play anyway.”

— Mike Rhoades, Penn State Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will maintain their position atop the Big Ten standings with less than six weeks until Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

This game features a top-ranked Michigan team looking to solidify its status as a national title contender against a scrappy Penn State squad that nearly pulled off an upset in the teams' first meeting. The outcome could have major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.