Game recap: Michigan football wallops Nebraska in first road trip of 2023
The Michigan Wolverines moved to 5-0 and 2-0 in Big Ten Conference play on Saturday with a 45-7 blowout win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It was dominant from the jump for a U-M squad that is in a much different place as a program than the 2-3 Cornhuskers.
Here is the blow-by-blow recap from Lincoln on the Michigan victory with the final stats and box score attached.
First quarter
Michigan lost the opening coin toss with Nebraska deferring to the second half. U-M began on its own 25-yard line to start the contest. The Wolverines took the early opportunity to put a crowd-silencing drive on the board, going 75 yards in 11 plays to score a touchdown on a 29-yard throw from junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy to senior wideout Roman Wilson. The scoring connection was their seventh on the year, and Michigan would lead 7-0 after the extra point.
On the second play from scrimmage of the ensuing possession, Nebraska QB Heinrich Haarberg threw an interception that was tipped in the air and caught by sophomore defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. Three plays and 29 yards later, Michigan took a 14-0 lead on a 20-yard run from senior back Kalel Mullings. After the extra point, U-M held a 14-0 lead with 7:15 to go in the quarter.
Nebraska responded with a solid drive of its own down to the U-M 12-yard line, but Michigan stuffed a Haarberg QB sneak on fourth-and-1 to take over on downs. The first quarter would end with U-M facing a third-and-7 from its own 15.
Michigan 14, Nebraska 0
Second quarter
The Wolverines converted on third down on a pass from McCarthy to tight end AJ Barner for 16 yards, then scored on a 21-yard McCarthy touchdown scramble. The drive went 88 yards in 9 plays, and Michigan would lead 21-0 with 11:22 remaining after the extra point.
The Michigan defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive, but then the offense had a three-and-out of its own. After a Tommy Doman punt that went into the end zone, Nebraska took over on its own 20-yard line with 8:21 to go. The Cornhuskers would be forced to punt after six plays and 24 yards gained. U-M wideout Tyler Morris muffed the return but picked it up and returned it 30 yards to the Michigan 45-yard line with 3:59 to go.
Michigan’s offense put together another sterling drive, going 55 yards in 8 plays and getting back on the board with a 16-yard score from McCarthy to Wilson, their second TD connection of the day. After the extra point, Michigan led 28-0 heading into the locker room.
Michigan 28, Nebraska 0
Third quarter
Nebraska started the half on offense and hit on a 56-yard pass play on the first snap from scrimmage. Michigan’s defense clamped down, though, and forced a Husker field goal attempt from 40 yards out that went wide right. The Wolverines would take over on their own 22-yard line with 11:48 to go.
An 11-play, 78-yard drive followed that was capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run from senior Blake Corum, his ninth of the season. Michigan led 35-0 with 5:58 remaining after what would be the first-team unit’s last drive of the day. Nebraska would go three-and-out on its following possession. The U-M offense would take over on their own 22-yard line and start driving with the backups in the game.
Michigan 35, Nebraska 0
Fourth quarter
The Wolverines started the fourth quarter facing a third-and-4 from the Nebraska 12-yard line. James Turner came in for his first field goal attempt of the game and connected from 30 yards out. U-M led 38-0 with 14:17 left in the game. The Nebraska offense went 31 yards in 10 plays on the next drive, but turned the ball over on downs back to U-M at the 50-yard line.
The Wolverines went 50 yards in 10 plays as they continued to pour it on the Cornhuskers. Sophomore quarterback Jayden Denegal found junior wideout Peyton O’Leary for an 8-yard score, the first of both of their careers. After the extra point, Michigan led 45-0 with 4:37 to go. On the next Nebraska play from scrimmage, Josh Fleeks ended the shutout with a 74-yard touchdown run that cut U-M’s lead to 45-7 with 4:17 remaining.
The Cornhuskers attempted an onside kick that was unsuccessful, giving U-M the ball at the Nebraska 47-yard line. The Wolverines would turn the ball over on downs with 50 seconds to go at the Husker 29-yard line.
The clock would run out and U-M would secure win No. 5 on the year.
FINAL: Michigan 45, Nebraska 7
Michigan vs. Nebraska box score, final stats
