It was the first time in his young Michigan career that Marlin Jackson wasn't the hunter on the football field.

He was the hunted.

Jackson, who as a sophomore is considered by many to be the best cover corner in the conference, usually shuts down half the field by locking down on opponents' top receiver in man-to-man coverage.

But Saturday, the Nittany Lions went right after Jackson, and for the most part, had their way with him. Penn State wide receiver Bryant Johnson kept Jackson guessing all game, racking up seven catches for 138 yards and one touchdown.

"It was a great battle, but he got me more than a few times today, which was very disappointing," Jackson said. "I didn't play the way I wanted to today.

"To be a good cornerback you have to have a bad memory."

Jackson had to push the figurative "reset button" quite a few times. Johnson beat him to the inside on two consecutive plays in the fourth quarter on slant patterns, which gave Penn State the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion for a 21-14 advantage.

Johnson even beat Jackson deep. On a stutter-and-go route, Jackson bit aggressively, and Johnson broke loose for a 53-yard reception - Penn State's longest play from scrimmage this year. It could have been a touchdown had Michigan safety Cato June not chased him down.

But Johnson couldn't beat Jackson when it counted the most. On a critical third-down play in overtime, Zack Mills connected with Johnson in the corner of the endzone - or so he thought. Jackson ripped the ball out of Johnson's hands, and forced the Nittany Lions to settle for a field goal.

Jackson, a Pennsylvania native who said he nearly committed to Penn State during his junior year of high school, laughed when asked if Joe Paterno had singled him out for revenge.

"I don't know, maybe," Jackson said. "They got me good today. But I'll take the win."

Jackson will have to learn from his mistakes fairly quickly, as the Wolverines take on a high-powered Purdue offense this Saturday in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers often utilize five wide receiver sets, and have amassed more than 500 yards in total offense the past two games.

Blue-collar Bowman: While Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said defensive tackle Grant Bowman doesn't look like a defensive lineman, Bowman certainly played the game of his life on Saturday. The junior tied a career-high with four tackles and also had two sacks, including one on Penn State's final drive in regulation.

Junior defensive lineman Alain Kashama called Bowman a "prime-time" player. Other teammates said Bowman's performance was a product of simply being in the right spots at the right times.

Carr just calls him resilient. Bowman has overcome two surgeries on his broken leg to help solidify Michigan's depleted defensive line.

"What he's been though injury-wise, most people would have given the game up," Carr said. "He's been though unbelievably difficult times and is tougher than nails. He symbolizes the blue-collar work ethic of this program."

Bowman may have his hands full on Saturday with an unexpected weapon for Purdue - the running game. The usually pass-happy Boilermakers showed they could grind it out, rushing 56 times for 278 yards against Illinois last Saturday.

On the shelf: Redshirt freshman linebacker Lawrence Reid got bad news this weekend. Although he was released Monday from the University Hospital after one week of treatment for blood clots in his arm, Carr said Reid will miss the remainder of the season.