STATE COLLEGE — Joe Paterno coaching from the press box may not be such a big deal after all for No. 3 Penn State.

With his team down 17-14 at halftime Saturday to Michigan, the hobbled Hall of Fame coach didn't make it down to the locker room to personally deliver a pep talk, instead relaying messages over a microphone to an assistant coach.

It took a little longer than usual, but Penn State delivered another knockout blow. Thirty-two unanswered points and a dominating second half later, the Nittany Lions (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) stayed perfect and ended a nine-game losing skid to the Wolverines with a 46-17 win.

"In fact, I think some of the kids are going to take a vote, 'When we're home, can you stay on McKee Street?"' Paterno quipped, referring to his house a short drive from Beaver Stadium.

Michigan (2-5, 1-2) scored all 17 of its points and gained 204 yards of total offense on its first three drives. The struggling spread offense was off to an encouraging start.

Momentum began to fizzle midway through the second quarter, in part after the insertion of Michael Mauti and Bani Gbadyu at linebacker gave Penn State an energetic defensive jolt.