Michigan Opens Underwood Era With 34–17 Win Over New Mexico

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood looked composed in his debut while Justice Haynes powered the ground game with three scores. A third-quarter targeting ejection to Jaishawn Barham added late drama as Michigan closed out the season opener against New Mexico.

Underwood’s Debut in Michigan vs New Mexico 2025

The 2025 season opener at the Big House drew more than 100,000 fans eager to see Bryce Underwood’s first start. It wasn’t flawless, but the Wolverines handled business with a 34–17 win behind Justice Haynes’ three touchdowns and a defense that came up with turnovers.

First play: a handoff. Then another. By the third snap, Underwood got his first throw off, a quick out. The crowd cheered anyway.

The freshman looked steady. No panic. He finished with 21 completions for 251 yards and a touchdown. Not perfect. A couple of throws floated. One zipped late to the sideline and almost got jumped. But he kept control. That was the assignment.

His best came in the second quarter. Play fake, set his feet, zipped it down the seam to tight end Marlin Klein. Touchdown. The noise inside the Big House rattled the windows. Klein finished with six grabs for 93 yards. A safety blanket all night.

Haynes Steals the Show

While fans came for Underwood’s debut, Justice Haynes put on the real display. The sophomore carried 16 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns. He scored twice in the first quarter, staking Michigan to a 14–0 lead, then broke a 59-yard run in the second that electrified the crowd.

His third touchdown in the fourth quarter ended New Mexico’s hopes. By then, the Lobos’ defense had little left. Haynes averaged nearly 10 yards per carry, establishing himself as the difference-maker in the game.

Lobos Show Fight

New Mexico didn’t fold. Quarterback Jack Layne threw 47 times, completing 31 for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Both went to Dorian Thomas, who caught 10 passes for 71 yards.

The Lobos cut the lead to 17–10 in the second quarter and pulled within 27–17 early in the third. For a brief stretch, the visitors made Michigan work. But turnovers and Haynes’ dominance proved too much.

Barham’s Ejection Overshadows the Third Quarter

The loudest groan of the night came midway through the third. Linebacker Jaishawn Barham appeared to sack Layne and return the fumble for a touchdown. The stadium roared, only for the play to be overturned on replay. Officials flagged Barham for targeting and ejected him.

The penalty erased the score and left Michigan without one of its top defenders. After the game, head coach Sherrone Moore voiced his frustration and confirmed plans to appeal. “We’re going to talk about the ejection when we get to that point with the Big Ten,” Moore said. “Because we don’t agree, and we’ll handle it from there.”

Because the foul occurred after halftime, Barham is suspended for the first half against Oklahoma, unless the appeal is successful. Moore doubled down on the team’s stance. “We’ll appeal it. That’s all we can do right now.”- On3. The incident didn’t swing the outcome, but added drama to the opener.

Defense Finds Its Footing

After giving up 10 points in the second quarter and another score early in the third, Michigan’s defense closed the door. The Wolverines forced three interceptions, one each from TJ Guy, Brandyn Hillman, and Cole Sullivan, that snuffed out any chance of a comeback.

The front seven stifled the run, holding New Mexico to 51 yards on 27 carries. Mason Curtis and Derrick Moore were disruptive, combining for two sacks and several tackles for loss.

The Lobos did find space on quick routes, but once Michigan tightened up in the fourth quarter, the game was secure.

Special Teams Stay Clean

Special teams often decide openers when offenses are still shaking off rust. Michigan’s unit was sharp. Dominic Zvada went two-for-two on field goals and was perfect on extra points. Freshman Andrew Marsh averaged 23 yards per kick return, including a 29-yarder that boosted field position. The hidden yards helped Michigan maintain control in the matchup.

How Michigan vs New Mexico Unfolded

The script: Haynes scored twice in the first quarter for a 14–0 start. New Mexico chipped away, cutting it to 17–10 before Underwood’s touchdown to Klein stretched the lead to 24–10 at halftime. Layne and Thomas connected again in the third to make it 27–17, right before the Barham targeting drama. From there, Michigan’s defense delivered turnovers, Zvada added a field goal, and Haynes put the game away in the fourth. Final score: 34–17.

What We Learned

The Wolverines showed their formula. Haynes can carry the offense while Underwood develops. The freshman quarterback didn’t overwhelm the box score but played within himself. The defense forced three turnovers in total and stuffed the run.

Areas for growth are obvious. Receivers outside of Klein didn’t produce much. The secondary gave up too many short completions. And the Barham suspension looms large for Oklahoma if the appeal is denied.

Bigger Picture

Michigan leaves Week 1 with exactly what it needed: a win, a steady freshman debut, and proof that the running game can set the tone. The defense showed vulnerability but also resilience. And the program now has an appeal process in motion that could affect next week.

Moore summed it up. His team did enough, but he expects more.

What’s Next

The easy part is over. Michigan travels to Norman to face Oklahoma, a team with more speed, more depth, and more questions for Underwood to answer. He’ll need to throw downfield more often. Receivers will need to make plays. The defense will need to hold up without mistakes. For now, though, the opener gave the Wolverines a foundation. A quarterback who didn’t blink. A running back who dominated. A defense that closed when it had to.