Defense/ST Notes: Michigan throws a pressure party at Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Michigan Wolverines had one of their best pass rush performances of the Sherrone Moore era on Saturday, racking up 36 pressures and 7 sacks in a 30-27 win over Nebraska on Saturday.

Nebraska’s prolific passing offense looked like it had a great day on paper – Dylan Raiola had 308 yards with 3 touchdowns and a pick – but U-M was disruptive and got off the field in critical moments. The Cornhuskers were 2-for-12 on third down and scored only one touchdown on four red-zone possessions.

“Wink Martindale was incredible, his game plan was unbelievable and he’s a tactician,” associate head coach Biff Poggi said after the game. “He was calling stuff out on the side on the sideline before it was snapped, and our team, they love to go get the quarterback and I thought they did an unbelievable job in the run game. I believe we held them to under 50 rushing, right? (Note: Nebraska ran for 92 sack-adjusted rush yards). Which, in a Big Ten game away, that’s kind of good I think.”

Outside of a few self-inflicted wounds, including a Hail Mary touchdown at the end of the half by Nebraska, U-M was stout. Poggi explained what happened on the last-second heave to end the half, saying that it was more important to see how the Wolverines would respond to it.

“Sometimes those things happen,” Poggi said. “What’s most important is how do you respond from them and, at halftime, I called them up before we went on the field, I told them, I said I know it’s 17-17 but physically we’re beating the snot out of them and we’re turning this into a heavyweight fight and that’s going to be our big advantage in the second half and I think it was.”

Senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann said the message was simply to move on, and that it just meant the game was 0-0 coming out of the locker room.

 ”Flush it,” Hausmann said. “Our whole motto, going to halftime at 0-0, is that it was a new ball game. We knew going to this game was gonna be gonna be back-and-forth punches and we were where we wanted to be at halftime.”

Hausmann’s homecoming

Hausmann, who was born in Uganda and then adopted by a Nebraska family, begin his college career in Lincoln before transferring to Michigan in 2023. He has had two shots at his former program since joining U-M, and is now 2-0.

Hausmann led all Michigan defenders with 9 tackles and a sack on the day. Poggi said this was one he wanted to have.

“I thought Ernest played his heart out, and Ernest used to be here,” Hausmann said. “This was a very important game to him; he played a lot of snaps and he played his heart out. I think, what do they say, those who laugh last, laugh loudest, so I think he feels good about that.

Hausmann was grateful after the game, though. Nebraska was a big step in his football career, and he wanted to give props to the program.

“You live and pray for moments like these,” Hausmann said after the game. “It’s such a blessing to have the opportunity to come back here.”

“…They did so much for me here. I’m so thankful for what they did for me. It really jump-started my career. To be able to put up a performance like that in front of them, it always means a little more.”

Rod Moore’s return

Saturday was also notable for Michigan, given it was graduate defensive back Rod Moore‘s first game action since Jan. 8, 2024, when the Wolverines won the College Football Playoff National Championship. He played 21 snaps at Nebraska, recording one tackle.

U-M was able to get him some game action to get the rust off after Moore warmed up at Oklahoma and against Central Michigan. Saturday was a big step in his recovery.

“He came up and gave me a huge hug before the game was over, by the way, which was a bit annoying because we still had to kneel it out,” Poggi said. “But he said, ‘I’m so happy that my first game back is a Big Ten game, a Big Ten win.’ I’m very happy for that young guy.

Hausmann, a fellow captain, appreciated having his teammate and leader back on the field after a long absence.

“Just having him in practice, his communication, his veteran leadership, I think that’s what kind of goes unnoticed a lot,” Hausmann said. “When he’s on the field you just…there’s a poise. There’s a calmness when he’s back there. He commands, he’s been there, and has high-level success. Won national championship. He’s been in those big games and made big plays.

“So you just know the type of player he is, how smart he is.”

Sophomore Cole Sullivan was acquainted with Moore last season as he was sidelined and appreciates what he brings to the locker room.

“As a young guy coming in, even though Rod last year wasn’t on the field with us, he was still someone I looked up to,” Sullivan said. “I know a lot of the young DBs look up to him, too. His words of wisdom always help us to be better on and off the field. So just to see him make that transition onto the field, I was just very happy for him and to see him to get back out there.”

Miscellaneous Michigan defense and special teams notes

• Michigan’s 7 sacks were the most in a game since recording 7 against Colorado State to start the 2022 season.

• Nebraska only had 98 yards of offense in the second half and finished the game with 351 yards.

• Sullivan’s first-quarter interception was his second of the year, tipped to him by cornerback Jyaire Hill.

• Freshman cornerback Jayden Sanders broke up the first pass of his career on Saturday, which made him the 14th different Wolverine to defend a pass this year.

• Nebraska was limited to 43 rush yards on 31 attempts. Only Oklahoma has scored a rushing touchdown against Michigan this season.

• Senior kicker Dominic Zvada made all three of his field goal attempts on Saturday from 46, 56 and 21 yards, respectively. The 56-yarder matched his career long, set last year against Northwestern. He is now 8-for-8 from 50-plus yards at Michigan.