Ground Game, Defense Buoy Wolverines to Hard-Fought Win Over Cornhuskers

Saturday, September 20

Lincoln, Neb.

2:30 PM CT

Michigan

3-1 , 1-0

Nebraska

3-1 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

#21 Michigan

Nebraska

Justice Haynes (Michigan Photography)

Ground Game, Defense Buoy Wolverines to Hard-Fought Win Over Cornhuskers

9/20/2025 7:33:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Notes In the Trenches: Nebraska Recap Participation PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Lincoln, Neb. (Memorial Stadium)
Score: #21 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Records: U-M (3-1, 1-0 B1G), Nebraska (3-1, 0-1 B1G)
Attendance: 87,278
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 4 -- vs. Wisconsin (Michigan Stadium), time TBA (TV: TBA)

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The No. 21-ranked University of Michigan football team opened Big Ten play with a 30-27 win over Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 20). After a back-and-forth first half which saw the game tied at 17, the Wolverines won the possession battle and outrushed the Cornhuskers by 132 yards in the second half to claim victory.

After allowing 17 points and 253 yards in the first half, the Maize and Blue defense buckled down in the second half and allowed just 10 points on 98 total yards. U-M won the game at the line of scrimmage by racking up seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss and holding the Cornhuskers to just 43 yards on the ground.

Offensively, Michigan relied on the ground game all afternoon, totaling 286 rushing yards split between Justice Haynes (17 rushes, 149 yards), Jordan Marshall (six rushes, 80 yards) and Bryce Underwood (eight rushes, 61 yards) -- who added 105 passing yards as well. All three Wolverines ball carriers scored touchdowns of at least 37 yards in the win.

The Wolverines held the Cornhuskers scoreless on their first two drives of the game (turnover on downs, missed field goal) despite entering Michigan territory on each. The latter stop led to a 46-yard scoring drive capped off by a 46-yard Dominic Zvada field goal to open scoring.

On Nebraska's ensuing drive, a Dylan Raiola pass was tipped by Jyaire Hill to a sprawling Cole Sullivan for an interception. Michigan took offensive possession at the Cornhuskers' 37-yard line and immediately scored by way of an Underwood rushing touchdown -- his third in the last two weeks -- to take a 10-0 lead as the first quarter came to a close.

After forcing a fumble halfway through the second quarter, the Cornhuskers nailed a 39-yard field goal -- their first points of the game. They followed this with a 26-yard passing touchdown on their next drive to tie the game with two minutes remaining in the first half.

The Maize and Blue responded on the first offensive play of their next possession, as Haynes broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run -- his second such play of the season -- to move the Wolverines back ahead 17-10.

On the final play of the first half, Nebraska re-tied the game with an explosive play of its own -- a 52-yard heave for a touchdown as time expired.

In the game's third frame, the Wolverines took advantage of field position stemming from a punt, which held Nebraska to a drive start at its own three-yard line and took another lead in the back-and-forth contest. Zvada tied his career long with a 56-yard field goal to move U-M ahead 20-17 halfway through the third quarter.

After forcing a three-and-out, Michigan extended its lead to 10 points with another explosive run -- a 54-yard run by Marshall that marked his career long.

Nebraska added a third-quarter field goal and a late fourth-quarter touchdown, but the effort was not enough to overcome the Wolverines' strong defensive effort in the second half. U-M forced three punts on three-and-outs in the game's final 30 minutes and managed to hold the Cornhuskers to 3:49 of possession time in the fourth quarter in the three-point conference victory.

Michigan continues its Big Ten schedule next Saturday (Oct. 5) against Wisconsin at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff time and network designation are to be announced.