In a season filled with controversy and allegations, the Michigan Wolverines are looking to silence their critics and prove the legitimacy of their dominant performances. As they prepare to face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, Michigan aims to replicate their past successes and demonstrate their ability to triumph over formidable opponents.

With a combined 13-71 record against ranked opponents since 2018, the Wolverines have faced skepticism regarding their performance against top-tier teams. However, plucky Purdue and their seven ranked wins, along with Michigan State, have contributed to strengthening the Wolverines' record. Despite the absence of coach Jeff Brohm, who led Purdue to impressive victories, Michigan's wins against these teams do not provide sufficient evidence of their innocence.

Furthermore, the Wolverines' victories against teams like Purdue and Minnesota, who are struggling this season, have not convinced the public of their true capabilities. Even with an average winning margin of 39.3 points per game against weaker opponents, Michigan needs to prove themselves against stronger adversaries.

Saturday's game against Penn State presents the perfect opportunity for Michigan to silence its doubters. The Nittany Lions boast the best defense in the nation in terms of yards per play. However, Michigan has previously shown success against this tough defense, as evidenced by their 41-point performance last year when Penn State ranked fifth. The absence of alleged signals should not pose a problem for the Wolverines.

Although Penn State's offense ranks low at 95th in yards per play this season, the Wolverines have kept them in check in previous matchups. Michigan's defense, currently ranked one spot higher than Rutgers' 96th position, has allowed just 17 points per game against Penn State in their last two encounters. Notably, this success occurred even without the presence of the disputed individual, signaling that Michigan did not rely on any unfair advantages.

Michigan's dominance throughout the season, including victories against Purdue's new coach and Michigan State's interim coach, further supports their claim that they neither consumed any cookies nor gained unwanted weight. However, the skeptics in the Big Ten, NCAA, and college football community remain unconvinced. To truly validate their cookie defense, the Wolverines must demonstrate their prowess against Penn State in a manner reminiscent of their wins against Purdue and last year's triumph over the Nittany Lions. Moreover, they must achieve this feat on the road against the nation's finest defense without any evidence of unfair play.

As the Wolverines gear up to face Penn State, they are determined to show their teeth on the field and uphold the integrity of their gameplay. Their ability to convincingly beat a formidable opponent like Penn State will further their case and silence those who doubt their legitimacy.