Nebraska’s early struggles were the key difference at Memorial Stadium, as the #21 Michigan Wolverines won their 5th straight game against Nebraska, 30-27.
Dylan Raiola was able to find quick passes to Luke Lindenmeyer and Nyziah Hunter to get Nebraska into the red zone, but their drive would end in disappointment with a 4th down gamble that went short on a short pass up the middle from Raiola to Lindenmeyer. Aided by a false start, Michigan was forced to punt on their opening drive, but Nebraska could not capitalize on a short field, with Kyle Cunanan missing his first field goal of the season, with his attempt from 44 yards out going wide right. Michigan would take the possession and convert it into a field goal of their own, with a Dominic Zvala 46 yard connection to put Michigan on the board.
Nebraska’s third drive continued on its disasterous start three plays in, with Cole Sullivan stepping in front of a Raiola pass intended for Lindenmeyer. It only took one play for Michigan to find the endzone, as Bryce Underwood slipped through the line and ran in his touchdown of the day from 37 yards out. Underwood would finish with 61 yards on the ground and 105 yards through the air on 12-22 passing.
The second quarter had a scoring explosion. Cunanan made good on his miss from earlier with a 39 yard field goal to put the Huskers on the board. After Nebraska would record their first sack via Dasan McCullough, the Huskers would tie the game at 10 with Raiola’s first passing touchdown to connect with Jacory Barney from 26 yards out. The excitement would quickly dissipate just four seconds later, as Justice Haynes would take a run 75 yards out to retake the lead.
Michigan wouldnt enter the locker room with a lead, as Raiola would find Barney for a 52 yard score as time expired in the half to go into the locker room 17-17.
The third quarter saw Nebraska’s struggles grow, as Zvada would nail a 56 yard field goal, and Jordan Marshall would break off a 54 yard run to push the Michigan lead to 27-17 by the end of the third quarter. The Huskers had a chance to score before the end of the quarter on a pass from Raiola to Hunter, but he was flagged for illegal touching when we went out of bounds and then came back inbounds to catch the ball. The Huskers would settle for a field goal to start the fourth quarter, on a 38 yard shot from Cunanan.
Within a touchdown, Michigan would eat the clock for their longest drive of the game, taking up eight minutes to push the lead back out to ten points with a Zvada chip shot field goal. Nebraska would run a quick scoring drive, connecting to Heinrich Haarberg for a 3 yard pass to bring the game within a field goal, but Michigan would recover the ensuing onside kick and run out the final 1:39 to take the win.
Michigan’s running game was as good as advertised to start Big Ten play, with 286 yards and seven breakout plays of 10 or more yards to extend drives and stifle any defensive momentum that the Blackshirts could build. Bryce Underwood was 12-22 in the pocket for 105 yards passing, with Donaven McCulley and Justice Haynes being his top targets with three receptions each.
Raiola was forced to deal with a pass defense that bullied him all afternoon, being sacked seven times for a loss of 49 yards. He would tun that into a 30-41 day through the air, with 308 yards. Lindenmeyer was his favorite target, with seven catches for 60 yards.
The Huskers have a bye week, and face Michigan State at Memorial Stadium on October 4th. Nebraska will go 0-1 into conference play for their sixth straight season.
First Quarter (MICH 10-0)
1:38 – MICH – Dominic Zvada 46 FG, 10 plays, 46 yards, 3:22 – MICH 3-0
0:11 – MICH – Bryce Underwood 37 run (Zvada kick), 1 play, 37 yards, 0:06 – MICH 10-0
Second Quarter (17-17)
8:58 – NEB – Kyle Cunanan 39 FG, 7 plays, 31 yards, 4:10 – MICH 10-7
2:01 – NEB – Jacory Barney Jr. 26 pass from Dylan Raiola (Cunanan kick), 7 plays, 63 yards, 3:57 – 10-10
1:51 – MICH – Justice Haynes 75 run (Zvada kick), 1 play, 75 yards, 0:10 – MICH 17-10
0:00 – NEB – Barney Jr. 52 pass from Raiola (Cunanan kick), 7 plays, 75 yards – 17-17
Third Quarter (MICH 27-17)
7:43 – MICH – Zvada 56 FG, 8 plays, 22 yards, 2:32 – MICH 20-17
5:40 – MICH – Jordan Marshall 54 run (Zvada kick), 2 plays, 62 yards, 0:32 – MICH 27-17
Fourth Quarter (MICH 30-27)
14:56 – NEB – Cunanan 38 FG, 12 plays, 55 yards, 5:44 – MICH 27-20
3:54 – MICH – Zvada 21 FG, 16 plays, 77 yards, 8:46 – MICH 30-20
1:34 – NEB – Heinrich Haarberg 3 pass from Raiola (Cunanan kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, 2:20 – MICH 30-27
