That has been the standard for Michigan for decades and it was the case against undefeated Penn State.

The two teams battled on nearly even terms for 60 minutes, and that was good news for the Wolverines considering that they had three losses coming into the game while the Nittany Lions were undefeated.

Penn State had just taken a four-point lead when Michael Robinson scored on a three-yard run with 53 seconds to play. It appeared that the Nittany Lions were about to move out to a 7-0 record.

But Chad Henne was not about to fold up and neither were the Wolverines. Seizing momentum when Steve Breaston returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards and gave Michigan the ball at its own 47.

"Everyone was believing, even though there was only 55 seconds left," Breaston said. "Everyone was into the game. They just told me to make a play. I just had to go out there and do my job. Everybody else did their job up front."

Seven plays later, the Wolverines had the ball at the Penn State 10 with one second left on the clock. Henne found freshman WR Mario Manningham running free on a post pattern. He delivered the ball in stride to the receiver in the back of the endzone to five Michigan a 27-25 victory.

"I just caught it," Manningham said. "We just executed, and I knew someone would come up with it."

Michigan paid particular attention to its end-of-game execution in practice prior to lining up against Penn State. They normally practice those situations just one day a week, but that changed as they prepared for the Nittany Lions defense.

"This week we did it every day," Michigan offensive coordinator Terry Malone told the Detroit Free Press. "And every day the scenario was ball on the 50, 50 seconds left and one timeout. It was almost identical."

KEEP AN EYE ON: WR/RS Steve Breaston -- He came through with a great 41-yard return after Penn State took a 25-21 lead with 53 seconds to play. On the ensuing kickoff, Breaston weaved 41 yards to set the Wolverines up with good field position to start their game-winning drive. Breaston had four kickoff returns for 128 yards.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think Coach Carr must have called (Miss) Cleo or something. He said in the locker room at halftime that it was going to come down to the final play and it did, and we pulled out the victory." -- DT Gabe Watson on his prescient Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.

RB Mike Hart is the most consistent player on the Wolverines offense. He carried 23 times for 102 yards and is a tough, smart player who makes the Wolverines a much better team.

LB David Harris was a wrecking crew for the Wolverines with a team-high 10 tackles, one TFL and one forced fumble.

STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: The Wolverines have been a much better defensive team than they were at the end of last season, but they looked nearly helpless as Penn State scored in the final minute to take a late lead.

QB Chad Henne had fine numbers as he completed 21-of-36 passes for 212 yards with two TD passes, including the game-winner to Mario Manningham with no time left on the clock. But Henne got stripped of the ball by Penn State CB Alan Zemaitis in the third quarter and the defensive back returned the ball 35 yards for a touchdown that gave Penn State all the momentum.

DT Pat Massey had just two tackles from his spot in the middle of the defensive line. Interior linemen don't usually dominate the stats, but Massey has to make more of a contribution than that.

ROSTER REPORT: Offensive lineman Adam Stenavich left with an injured left ankle early in the fourth quarter but returned for the game-winning drive.