Pressure is building within the Penn State family to snap the Michigan football jinx -- nine consecutive losses since a Nittany Lions victory in 1996 -- but the Wolverines may be ripe for the taking in Saturday's Big Ten matchup at Beaver Stadium.

Third-ranked Penn State sports a 7-0 record, 3-0 in the Big Ten, while Michigan (2-4, 1-1), which has beaten the Lions 10 out of 13 times overall, is coming off an embarrassing 13-10 setback to Toledo last weekend.

Penn State's previous victory in this lopsided series was a 29-17 triumph at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1996.

"I guess I would have been about 10 years old and, to be honest, I don't recall the game or anything like that," outside linebacker Tyrell Sales from Butler said yesterday. "... I know it's been a while.

"It's definitely something we're all aware of, and we've been made aware of by a lot of the guys who played before us and haven't had much luck against Michigan."

After Penn State pounded Wisconsin, 48-7, Saturday night at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., coach Joe Paterno quickly broached the Michigan losing streak with his team.

"I just wanted to get things in focus and try to make sure that we didn't walk out of there with our heads in the clouds," he said yesterday.

Penn State won three of the first four games against Michigan in the series, but has come up empty since. Paterno believes poor officiating may have cost his team a few times.

Eight of the 13 games have been decided by 10 points or fewer. The two teams did not play in 2003 and '04.

"We had a couple of tough ball games that could have gone either way and a lot of it was not due to the people playing the game," Paterno said. "There were some outside people who blew a couple of things and made it a little tougher to win.

"No, I don't think it's a psychological thing at all."

At the Big Ten preseason media day gathering in Chicago in August, Penn State defensive end Josh Gaines confessed that the streak is a mental thing with the players.

"When you lose that many years in a row, it's not that the players are better," he said. "It's not that their coaches are better. It's a mental thing. It comes down to the players. That's something that we've got to get over the hump."

In 2005, Penn State was ranked No. 8 and had a 6-0 record when it lost to Michigan, 27-25, at Michigan Stadium. Quarterback Chad Henne's 10-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham with no time left lifted the Wolverines to the victory.

It was the only blemish on the Lions' record -- they finished with an 11-1 record and No. 3 in the polls -- but the Wolverines stumbled to a 7-5 mark.

A year ago, the Lions were ranked No. 10 and off to a 3-0 start, yet lost to the Wolverines, 14-9. Michigan was 1-2 entering the game and had suffered a shocking loss to Division I-AA Appalachian State in the opener.

This season, Michigan has a new coach -- Rich Rodriguez jumped from West Virginia to replace Lloyd Carr -- but the Wolverines are reeling from that setback to Toledo last weekend.

"Forget the Toledo game," Paterno said. "You literally got to wipe that thing out. They didn't play very well at all."

Michigan's streak of 33 consecutive bowl appearances is in jeopardy, and the Wolverines also could be headed to their first losing season since 1967.

Penn State opened as a 24-point favorite against Michigan, yet the Lions remain cautious.

"I know fans are bitter about not beating Michigan for so long," said offensive guard Stefen Wisniewski from Central Catholic. "I've been told by some fans that it's about time to beat Michigan now."

NOTES -- Third-string tailback Brent Carter suffered a torn ligament in his right knee against Wisconsin on Derrick Williams' 63-yard punt return for a touchdown. Carter will have surgery and miss the rest of the season. True freshman Brandon Beachum becomes the No. 3 tailback. ... Paterno said wide receiver Brett Brackett likely will miss the Michigan game with a concussion. ... After reviewing the game tape, Wisconsin awarded Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin another sack. He now has nine, tops in the country, and is No. 3 in sacks per game at 1.28.