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Following are the highlights of James Franklin's Monday press conference:
Saturday's game: vs. Michigan (noon, Fox)
Records: Penn State is 8-1 following last week's 51-15 win at Maryland. Michigan is 9-0 and comes off a 41-13 win over Purdue.
Odds: Michigan is a 5.5-point favorite.
Rankings: Penn State is ranked No. 9 by the Associated Press. Michigan is ranked No. 3. Both teams are ranked the same in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Defensive battle
Michigan rushed for 418 yards in a 41-17 win over the Nittany Lions last year in Ann Arbor - a game Penn State led twice (14-13 late in the second quarter and 17-16 in the third).
Franklin said afterward the Lions needed to get bigger on the defensive line, and he believes they have.
"It's going to be a big-boy game ... a physical game up front," he said. "Since last year, we've become much more disciplined and consistent in gap accountability."
Michigan has won the Joe Moore Award for two straight years, presented to the nation's best offensive line.
"They do a really good job getting a hat on a hat," Franklin said. "It will be very important to play great run defense."
In addition to what he thinks is an improved D-line, Franklin said Penn State's linebackers are "bigger and more experienced."
He said he anticipates "a one-possession game" that could be low scoring.
"I think we have two of the best, if not the best, defenses in the country," he said.
He said sophomore linebacker Abdul Carter "played his best game (at Maryland). You felt his presence on the field."
Mixed signals
Though Franklin was included in a coaches' call last week with Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti urging prompt sanctions against Michigan for allegedly setting up an elaborate sign-stealing scheme that included in-person scouting at opposing schools - an NCAA violation - he didn't say much about it Monday.
"I know these questions are going to come this week," he said. "I'm going to focus on the things that we can control. We always have to have a plan ... and how we communicate to our players and how we communicate to our team, during games. But I'm going to leave it at that. Because less is more."
It's been widely reported that UM coach Jim Harbaugh may be suspended as early as this week for his role. Franklin deflected an inquiry on that as well.
"I'm focused on all the stuff I see on film," he said. "That's what we're focused on is, all the stuff that we see on film. Their players, their scheme, all the stuff that we see on the coaches copy, or the stuff that is going on between the sidelines."
When the story broke two weeks ago, Franklin said Penn State generally changes signs regularly to avoid predictability and added, he "won't get into what's going on at that other school."
Juice or coffee?
Even though it's a noon start, Franklin hopes the Lions get a positive boost from the Beaver Stadium crowd.
Whether he was serious or not, he said later starts can make people "a little sleepy," and he hopes "between the coffee ... and the sugar from the donuts, our fans will be ready to go."
He thinks the noise can help disrupt Michigan's signals and lead to a couple of penalties and hopes "the environment will be difficult and cause some challenges (for UM)."
Injury report
Defensive end Chop Robinson, who suffered a concussion at Columbus on Oct. 21 and has missed the last two games, might return Saturday, Franklin said. Ditto backup DE Amin Vanover.
Robinson warmed up at Maryland but did not play.
Notable ...
n Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is completing 76% of his passes with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions.
n Penn State has outscored its opponents 97-0 in the third quarter.
n The Lions lead the nation in turnover margin at +16.
n Honorary captains on Saturday are former standout linebacker and 2009 captain Sean Lee and longtime equipment manager Brad "Spider" Caldwell.
n A noon kickoff for the Lions' game with Rutgers on Nov. 18 at Beaver Stadium was announced Monday. It will be televised on Fox or FS1.
(Compiled by Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror. He can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.)