The nation’s top two defenses will collide at Beaver Stadium for a crucial Week 11 Big Ten showdown between No. 2 Michigan and No. 9 Penn State.

Despite the Big Ten suspending Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh on Friday amid the sign-stealing scandal, Michigan (9-0, 6-0) has trudged on, overwhelming opponents with a plus-306 point differential (34 points per game). The Wolverines defense is allowing only 231.4 yards and 6.7 points per game.

Michigan responded to the Big Ten’s decision by filing for a temporary restraining order against the conference. That hearing was scheduled for Nov. 17, meaning Harbaugh will not be on the sideline Saturday. Athletic director Warde Manuel released a statement Saturday, calling the suspension “insulting” and “unethical”.

The Wolverines offense woke up after trailing early, marching right down the field in nine plays and five minutes to take the lead, 7-3.

Several plays of more than 10 yards were big on the drive, including Donovan Edwards running for 22 yards into Penn State territory. Blake Corum ended the drive with a three-yard touchdown run, giving him a touchdown in every game this season. — Jordan Mendoza

Penn State scores first on Alex Felkins’ 20-yard FG

The Nittany Lions are on the board.

After forcing two Michigan punts, Penn State was able to get the first points of the game on a field goal late in the first quarter.

Freshman Drew Allar was the star of the drive, connecting with Tyler Warren for a 19-yard pass early to get Penn State in Michigan territory and using his legs to get another first down in the red zone.

The Nittany Lions became the first team this season to get inside the 10-yard line against Michigan, and on a pivotal third-and-one, Allar was able to sneak in and get just enough to move the chains, but the offense stalled three yards short of the goal line. Alex Felkins then knocked in a chip shot 20-yard field goal to make it 3-0. — Jordan Mendoza

Michigan AD calls Big Ten ruling ‘insulting’ and ‘unethical’

DETROIT — Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel on Saturday issued a fiery response to the Big Ten’s suspension of Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh amid the football team’s ongoing sign-stealing scandal.

Manuel, who released the statement just before Saturday’s game, described the Big Ten’s action as hasty, claiming the university wasn’t given “due process.” He also described Harbaugh’s suspension as “insulting” and “unethical.”

It’s worth noting that Manuel did not deny the evidence in the statement, saying “I want to make it clear at the outset of this statement that no one at the University of Michigan is happy to hear of the allegations and preliminary evidence that has come forth about in-person scouting and sign stealing by a member of our football program.” — Austin Curtright, Detroit Free Press

Opinion: Jim Harbaugh’s suspension isn’t that bad

In the absence of a solution to the Michigan sign-stealing scandal that would make everybody happy, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti chose an option on the other end of the spectrum.

The punishment he handed out Friday, suspending coach Jim Harbaugh for the team’s three remaining games of the regular season, is guaranteed to make everyone mad.

Michigan, of course, was going to be mad no matter what Petitti did. But the Big Ten suspending Harbaugh while admitting that it had no evidence he was involved or knew of staffer Connor Stalions’ outrageous in-person scouting operation only makes it that much more frustrating for a school and fan base that is now dug-in on the idea that it did nothing wrong.  — Dan Wolken

Read the complete column here.

Michigan and Penn State halt their initial drives.

One first down was all Michigan could get on its opening drive, punting the ball on the first possession of the game.

With offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore acting as head coach Saturday, the Wolverines were able to get a first down on the second play of the game, but a false start derailed the rest of the drive. J.J. McCarthy was sacked on third down, and the Wolverines will give the ball to Penn State.

Penn State wasn’t able to do much, going three-and-out on the offense’s first drive of the game, possibly foreshadowing what could be a low-scoring game. Michigan only gives up 6.7 points per game, best in FBS, while Penn State ranks third by allowing 11.9 points a game. — Jordan Mendoza

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Here are our college football Week 11 expert picks:

Who will coach Michigan with Jim Harbaugh suspended?

With Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh’s restraining order hearing scheduled for Friday, the Wolverines will be without their head coach against Penn State.

Harbaugh was suspended from coaching on game day for the last three games of the regular season for Michigan’s sign-stealing and in-person scouting scandal, and the university attempted to appeal the decision in hopes of Harbaugh being available against the Nittany Lions. With the hearing scheduled next week, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore will take over the head coaching duties Saturday.

A cursory glance at the Week 11 college football schedule would suggest that the results will bring a measure of clarity to the playoff picture. The fact of the matter is things are fairly cut and dried already, and only an infusion of chaos that has been conspicuously absent all season will alter the list of actual contenders.

Even so, all of said contenders will be taking the field Saturday, and most of their games should be worth a look. We begin our ranking of the seven most watchable contests with the championship candidate that could be in for its first four-quarter fight of the campaign. — Eddie Timanus

No. 2 Michigan at No. 9 Penn State

Time/TV: Noon ET, Fox.

Why watch: At last, the Wolverines face a ranked opponent, and one that is in a must-win situation at that.

After coming up short at Ohio State last month, the Nittany Lions absolutely positively have to have this one to keep any playoff aspirations alive.

For all the off-field drama surrounding the Michigan program, there’s been very little of it in game action with the Wolverines outscoring their first nine opponents by an average of 40.7-6.7. The Michigan offense, directed by QB J.J. McCarthy and featuring RB Blake Corum and WR Roman Wilson, is converting at a 55% clip on third down. But on the other side Penn State leads the Big Ten in third-down defense, allowing a conversion rate of 28.7%, with DL Adisa Isaac and Zane Durant leading the effort in the trenches.

Nittany Lions QB Drew Allar is coming off arguably his best performance of the season at Maryland. He might need to be even better to solve the Michigan air defense that has swiped 12 passes and returned four to the house, including a pair by Mike Sainristil.

Why it could disappoint: Though it will surely be the subject of pregame discussion, the ongoing signal stealing investigation isn’t likely to mar the game action at this point.

But if the contest is another defensive slog as Penn State’s game at Ohio State was, or if one team finds its offense while the other struggles, the fun factor will be severely curtailed.

In the latter scenario, Michigan is the more likely candidate to secure a multi-score cushion with its more proven commodities. — Eddie Timanus

No. 8 Alabama at Kentucky

Time/TV: Noon ET, ESPN.

Why watch: The Crimson Tide essentially won the SEC West last week with their LSU victory, but they’ll make it official with a win here in Lexington.

The Wildcats have had some moments this season, like a decisive drubbing of Florida, but have for the most part been overmatched by top-tier competition.

Tide QB Jalen Milroe has made steady improvement with his passing accuracy, but as LSU learned last week he’s still equally dangerous as a running threat.

He’ll likely draw added attention from Wildcats LB D’Eryk Jackson. The Kentucky offense is at its best when RB Ray Davis has room to operate, but that hasn’t been the case against the league’s more accomplished defenses.

There are yards to be had against the Tide secondary if Wildcats QB Devin Leary isn’t under duress, but LB Dallas Turner produces a lot of that.

Why it could disappoint: History is not on the side of the Wildcats, who haven’t beaten the Tide since 1997. Kentucky must find some early success to keep its home fans involved, but a fast start from Alabama could put this on ice quickly. — Eddie Timanus

Michigan files for temporary restraining order

The University of Michigan has filed for a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten’s decision to suspend football coach Jim Harbaugh for the program’s sign-stealing scheme. The hearing was not scheduled in time for a ruling before Saturday’s game, so Harbaugh will not be coaching.

Washtenaw County Circuit Court will hold a hearing for the University of Michigan request at 9 a.m. on Nov. 17, according to multiple reports. The case was first presided by Judge Timothy Connors but later sent to the desk of Judge Carol Kunhke.

The Big Ten announced it was suspending Harbaugh for the remainder of the regular season after concluding Michigan broke the conference’s sportsmanship policy after having a years-long operation of in-person scouting of future opponents, a violation of NCAA rules.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, the school said it was dismayed by Harbaugh’s three-game ban, which will cover Saturday’s game against No. 9 Penn State as well as games against Maryland on Nov. 18 and Ohio State on Nov. 25. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports; Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press

Michigan football’s cheating scandal