Michigan Ground Game Carries the Day Against Nebraska

Michigan won its game against Nebraska, but the passing game still lags. The Wolverines leaned on 286 rushing yards and timely defense. However, how they won tells a different story.

Passing Game Still Stuck in Neutral

All eyes were on Bryce Underwood. The freshman quarterback, the big-name recruit, the player Michigan fans believe can be the next cornerstone. On Saturday, he looked like what he is: talented, raw, and still adjusting. Despite Underwood’s potential, the passing game still lags and keeps the Wolverines from finding consistency. Underwood went 12-of-22 for 105 yards. No interceptions, no turnovers. Still, the passing game never found rhythm.

Receivers Struggle to Create Separation

The receivers didn’t help much either. In addition, Nebraska’s corners pressed tight… Donaven McCulley and Semaj Morgan had five catches between them for 61 yards. Not enough. The result? A passing game that feels safe but toothless. It’ll beat Nebraska. It won’t scare Ohio State or Penn State.

Haynes Breaks Free

If the passing game sputtered, the ground game roared. Meanwhile, the rushing attack looked unstoppable. Michigan showed its hand by running the ball, and it did so often.  Nebraska couldn’t stop it. Justice Haynes was the hammer. He had 17 carries for 149 yards. That included a 75-yard sprint that broke open the game and sucked the energy out of Memorial Stadium. Once he hit the second level, Nebraska had no answer.

Marshall and Underwood Join In

Jordan Marshall gave them more of the same. Just six carries, yet 80 yards, including a 54-yard dash that hushed the crowd instantly. Every time he touched the ball, he felt like a threat to go the distance. Even Underwood chipped in. With receivers blanketed, he pulled the ball down and ran. Sixty-one yards and a touchdown on scrambles. Not polished, but effective. By the final whistle, Michigan had piled up 286 rushing yards. That’s not just production. That’s identity. This team wins on the ground, behind its backs, and on the line. While the ground attack delivered, Michigan’s air game continues to lag.

Raiola Refuses to Back Down

Nebraska didn’t fold. Not with Dylan Raiola under center. The freshman delivered one of the most polished games Michigan’s defense has seen this season. Thirty completions on 41 attempts. 308 yards. Three touchdowns. For example, Raiola found ten different receivers. Forcing Michigan’s secondary to cover sideline to sideline. His favorite target, Jacory Barney Jr., made the highlight plays. Six catches, 120 yards, two touchdowns. One was a 52-yard strike that lit up the stadium. Tight end Luke Lindenmeyer worked the middle, steady as ever, with seven catches for 60 yards. Raiola showed what a sharp passing attack can look like, something Michigan’s struggling aerial game has yet to match.

Nebraska Finds Life After Halftime

In the second half, Nebraska looked sharper. Michigan’s secondary bent, gave up big chunks, and looked a step behind. The Huskers had momentum, and the crowd was buzzing until Cole Sullivan cut it off. Sullivan read Raiola’s eyes, jumped the route, and came up with the interception that swung the game. Nebraska’s passing game looked more advanced than Michigan’s, but it didn’t matter. The pick sealed it.

Sullivan’s Pick Seals It

The defense wasn’t dominant. It bent. It gave up yards. But it also made the play that mattered most. Hausmann, playing against his former team, looked like a man on a mission: nine tackles, one sack, and constant pressure. In the trenches, Derrick Moore and Rayshaun Benny combined for three sacks, collapsing the pocket and forcing Raiola to throw quicker than he wanted. The secondary struggled, no question. Big plays slipped through. Nebraska receivers found space. But the night will be remembered for Sullivan’s interception. Nebraska had life. The stadium was loud. Then, silence. One mistake, one play, game over. In the end, it wasn’t perfect, but it was enough.

Zvada’s Leg Keeps Michigan Steady

When the offense stalls, you need special teams to carry you. Michigan got exactly that. Kicker Dominic Zvada was flawless, three field goals, including a booming 56-yarder, and three extra points. Twelve points total. On a night when Michigan couldn’t finish drives, those kicks kept the scoreboard moving. Hudson Hollenbeck punted four times, averaging 41 yards and pinning Nebraska deep once. The return game was quiet. Semaj Morgan lost a yard on his only attempt, but coverage units shut down any chance of a big Husker return. Special teams won’t grab headlines, but without Zvada’s leg, this game could’ve turned.

Box Score Tells the Story

The numbers say it all. Nearly 300 rushing yards. Barely 100 passing. Seven sacks. But also 308 passing yards allowed. That’s good enough against Nebraska. Against Ohio State? That’s trouble. Michigan knows what it is right now: a physical, run-first team with a defense that can pressure quarterbacks and special teams it can trust. What it doesn’t know is whether its passing game can catch up in time.

Big Ten Wins Always Count

At the end of the day, Michigan left Lincoln with a 3-1 record, but 1-0 in the Big Ten Conference, following this victory. And that matters. The rushing attack carried Michigan through, but the passing game still lags, and that could define their Big Ten season. The defense bent but came up with the stop of the night. Special teams gave them breathing room. All positives. But the passing game? Still lagging. Underwood has talent, but he’s not ready to shoulder the offense. The receivers haven’t proven they can win against tight coverage. And the secondary gave up 300-plus yards to a freshman.  For now, they control their path. But control isn’t destiny. Balance is.