Huskers Fall by Field Goal to No. 21 Michigan

Lincoln - In an intense 60-minute battle down to the wire, No. 21 Michigan made enough big plays to hold off Nebraska 30-27 on Saturday afternoon.

Playing in front of a sellout crowd of 87,278 and a CBS national television audience in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams, Nebraska went toe-to-toe with Michigan but came up short in suffering its first loss of the season to slip to 3-1 overall. The Wolverines improved to 3-1.

Michigan was victorious despite running 16 fewer offensive plays and losing the time of possession battle to Nebraska, 33:17-26:43. The Huskers also had 23 first downs compared to 16 for the Wolverines.

However, Michigan offset Nebraska's steady offensive drives with a pair of one-play scoring drives and another two-play drive that all came with long touchdown runs. Michigan then secured the win with a methodical 16-play, 77-yard march that resulted in the game-winning field goal after consuming 8:46 on the clock.

Dylan Raiola completed 30-of-41 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns to keep the Huskers within striking distance from start to finish. Two of the touchdown passes were connections with wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr., who finished with six receptions for a game-high 120 yards. Tight end Luke Lindenmeyer added a game-high seven receptions for 60 yards, while Emmett Johnson added five catches for 32 yards. He also led Nebraska with 65 rushing yards on 19 carries.

Raiola did throw one interception that the Michigan offense converted to the game's first touchdown, and he was sacked seven times for 49 yards in losses.

Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood was held to just 12-of-22 passing for 105 yards, but he was sacked just once for seven yards. Underwood added 61 rushing yards and a 37-yard touchdown in the game for a Wolverine offense that totaled 286 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on the day. Nebraska was held to 43 rushing yards on 31 carries.

Overall, Michigan finished with 391 total yards, while Nebraska finished with 351 yards and a 42-yard difference (49-7) in yards lost by sack. 

Justice Haynes led the Michigan rushing attack with 149 yards on 17 carries including a 54-yard touchdown run. Jordan Marshall added 80 rushing yards on just six carries including a 75-yard touchdown run.

Nebraska took the opening kickoff and marched inside the Michigan 10, but was stopped short of a first down inside the 5 and turned the ball over on downs. After a quick three-and-out for the defense, the Husker offense was knocking on the door again, before the Michigan defense came up with another stop to force a 44-yard field goal attempt by Kyle Cunanan. The kick missed wide right with 5:00 left in the first quarter. 

Michigan's offense responded by going 46 yards in 10 plays culminating with Dominic Zvada's 46-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 1:38 left in the opening period. 

Raiola suffered Nebraska's only turnover of the game on the ensuing drive, as his first-down pass intended for Lindenmeyer was deflected by Jyaire Hill and intercepted by Cole Sullivan with 17 seconds left in the quarter. Six seconds later, the Wolverines were celebrating Underwood's 37-yard touchdown run that put Michigan in front 10-0.

Nebraska answered the bell in the second quarter with Raiola and Barney making big plays capped by their 52-yard touchdown connection on a Hail Mary pass to end the first half, sending the Huskers to the locker room tied with the Wolverines at 17.

It was Barney's second touchdown catch of the quarter, as he tied the score at 10 with a 26-yard strike down the middle from Raiola with 2:01 left in the half. Barney finished with four receptions for 96 yards in the half, while adding a 20-yard punt return and a seven-yard run from scrimmage.

Raiola completed 14-of-20 passes for 210 yards in the first half with the two touchdown passes to Barney.

The two long touchdown passes to Barney offset two long touchdown runs in the first half by the Wolverines. Michigan's second long scoring run came just 10 seconds after Barney's 26-yard touchdown catch, as Haynes burst through the middle of Nebraska's line and sprinted 75 yards untouched to the end zone to put the Wolverines back up 17-10 with 1:51 left in the half.

In the half, Nebraska out-yarded Michigan, 253-195, while doubling Michigan's offensive plays (42-21), and time of possession (19:58-10:02).

The explosive plays continued early in the second half, as Marshall erupted 54 yards for a touchdown midway through the third on the second play of another short Wolverine drive. The run gave Michigan a 27-17 lead with 5:40 left in the period, following a booming 56-yard field goal by Zvada with 7:43 left in the period put Michigan back in front 20-17.

Nebraska answered with a productive drive to end the third quarter, culminating with Cunanan's 38-yard field goal to make it a one-score game. The Blackshirts then stopped Michigan on its ensuing drive, but the Husker offense was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

Archie Wilson then boomed a 56-yard punt to put Michigan at its own 20 to start the next drive. The Wolverines then secured the game with a 16-play, 77-yard drive that chewed up 8:46. The Blackshirts provided a goal-line stand to keep Michigan out of the end zone, but Zvada's 21-yard field goal - his third of the day - gave Michigan a 30-20 lead with 3:54 left.

Raiola and the Huskers answered again, marching 75 yards in 10 plays capped by Heinrich Haarberg's three-yard touchdown catch from Raiola with 1:34 left to cut the Michigan margin to 30-27. Nebraska's onside kick attempt failed but the Huskers still had two timeouts with hopes of giving the offense one more shot, but Michigan was able to churn out one first down to seal the victory.

Javin Wright led the Nebraska defense with a game-high 10 tackles, while Vincent Shavers Jr. added seven stops. DeShon Singleton pitched in five tackles and recovered a fumble that was was forced by Elijah Jeudy in the second quarter to help get the Huskers on the board with Cunanan's 39-yard field goal.

Following a bye week next Saturday, Nebraska is back home to complete its four-game home stand by taking on Michigan State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Game Summary
#21 Michigan 30
Nebraska 27
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
Lincoln, Nebraska (Memorial Stadium)
Attendance: 87,278

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

Kickoff: 2:40 p.m. (CT)
End of Game: 6:02 p.m. (CT)
Length of Game: 3:21