Game balls from Michigan football's 45-7 win over Nebraska
The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines are 5-0 on the season after a 45-7 win at Nebraska on Saturday afternoon. U-M was dominant in its first road trip of the season and had no shortage of standout performers in the contest.
The Wolverine’s team of Chris Balas, Anthony Broome and Clayton Sayfie chime in with their game ball picks after the fifth victory of the 2023 campaign.
RELATED: Game recap: Michigan football wallops Nebraska in first road trip of 2023
Clayton Sayfie: Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy
Michigan junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s day began with a 5-yard completion to sophomore Tyler Morris. It ended with him cheering his teammates on at the end of a blowout win. The Michigan offense scored 4 touchdowns on five first-half drives, and the first-team offense went on another scoring drive in the third quarter before being taken out of the game in what was a crisp performance. McCarthy accounted for 3 touchdowns — 2 passing, both to senior wideout Roman Wilson, and a 21-yard rush on a scramble. McCarthy is at his best when using his mobility. His second touchdown pass to Wilson came on a scramble drill. It just looks effortless with those two at this point. McCarthy finished his day with 12 completions on 16 passes for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 2 rushes for 30 yards and a score.
Chris Balas: Senior wide receiver Roman Wilson
The Michigan senior wide receiver continues to make incredible plays for this offense. Wilson has been inconsistent at times in his career, but has been the team’s most dangerous and effective wide receiver week in and week out. He connected with McCarthy two more times on Saturday to bring his touchdown total to 8 on the season. His acrobatic Randy Moss impersonation on the team’s first drive of the game was one of the best plays of his career, and he has put his skill set completely together in 2023.
Anthony Broome: The Michigan defensive line
It was hard to narrow down this week on the defensive line, so they all get props for their play on Saturday. Sophomore Kenneth Grant made the sizzle play of the game with an interception in the first quarter, but the Michigan run wall held up as well as it has all season long against a team that is one of the best rushing offenses in the country. Removing a 74-yard touchdown run in garbage time, Nebraska had 20 rushes for 32 yards in the game. The pass rush was tremendous, too. The Wolverines had 4 sacks as a team headlined by 2 from junior Josaiah Stewart and 1 each for sophomore Derrick Moore and senior Braiden McGregor.
