Game balls from Michigan football's 30-27 win over Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Michigan Wolverines moved to 1-0 in Big Ten play and 3-1 on the season with a 30-27 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday. It was a complete team effort with several who had a hand in securing victory without head coach Sherrone Moore on the sideline.

Here are our picks for game balls this week, with a few honorable mentions thrown in for good measure.

Junior running back Justice Haynes

Michigan tailback Justice Haynes is the first player in program history to have four 100-plus yard rushing games in his first four outings with the program. He finished Saturday with 17 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown, a 75-yard run in the first half to give Michigan a 17-10 lead. The big-play and home-run hitting ability was everything they could have asked for after landing him out of the transfer portal from Alabama. He came into this season in a 1A/1B dynamic with sophomore Jordan Marshall. But make no mistake about it: He’s the No. 1 guy, and he’s proven it through four outstanding showings. Haynes is now up to 537 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns this season.

TIE – Graduate center Greg Crippen and sophomore guard Jake Guarnera

The Wolverines’ offensive line was a major question mark coming into the year, and it still has plenty to clean up and improve, but if the last two weeks are any indication, the interior may have some answers. Greg Crippen has played the two best games of his career in the last two weeks, while sophomore Jake Guarnera has been impressive in his first two starts. It will be interesting to see how the guard derby shakes out when Giovanni El-Hadi returns – Nathan Efobi got the start at left guard Saturday – but there may not be any more spots up for grabs if Guarnera is for real.

Senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann

Ernest Hausmann started his career at Nebraska before transferring to Michigan in 2023. Now a senior captain for U-M, he moved to 2-0 versus NU in a Maize and Blue helmet with Saturday’s victory. There was a little extra “oomph” on some of his tackles Saturday, and he leaves Lincoln for the final time with a 9-tackle performance that also included a sack.

Honorable mentions

Michigan’s entire pass rush effort: We have been waiting for the defensive line and pass rush to dominate, and Saturday was its best and most complete effort of the season. The group had 7 sacks on the day with Hausmann (1.0), Jimmy Rolder (1.0), Jaishawn Barham (1.0), Derrick Moore (1.5), Rayshaun Benny (1.5), Cameron Brandt (0.5) and Jaden Mangham (0.5) all getting to Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola.

Freshman QB Bryce Underwood: 12-of-22, 105 yards, 8 rushes, 61 yards, 37-yard touchdown run

Sophomore RB Jordan Marshall: 6 rushes, 80 yards, 54-yard touchdown run

Sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan: 6 tackles, tackle for loss, interception

Freshman cornerback Jayden Sanders: 8 tackles, 1 pass defended

Graduate defensive back Rod Moore: 1 tackle, first game played since 2023 CFP National Title game