Offense notes: Justice Haynes, Jordan Marshall, Bryce Underwood feast with long runs in Michigan win over Nebraska

Michigan ootball feasted in the run game to defeat Nebraska, 30-27, Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, improving to 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the Big Ten. But Michigan came nowhere near winning time time of possession battle (33:17-26:43 in favor of the Cornhuskers) or total play count (72-56, Nebraska) due in part to the big plays the Wolverines created.

Michigan scored on the first play of two of its six first-half drives, with freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood dashing 37 yards for a score after a first-quarter interception and junior running back Justice Haynes dashing 75 yards to pay dirt in the second period. Haynes’ long run was his second 75-yard touchdown of the season, joining the first play of the third quarter in a 24-13 loss to Oklahoma Sept. 6.

Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall got in on the action, breaking a tackle to turn a no-gain into an 8-yard positive, before earning a carry on the next play and busting it 54 yards for a touchdown that broke the game open in Michigan’s favor for the time being, putting the Wolverines up 27-17 midway through the third quarter.

Michigan’s 1-2 punch at running back with Haynes and Marshall is a strong one.

“Yeah, they’re different backs,” Poggi said. “Jordan’s a bigger, stronger back, but also, as you saw today, has breakaway speed … Jordan has been so selfless in the locker room, and Justice has gotten more reps. Jordan has played, but he is a guy … in future years, he has captain material written all over him, and he just does whatever you ask him. Everybody was really proud of him and happy for him.”

“I’m happy as all get out,” Haynes said of seeing Marshall’s success. “That’s like my little brother. When one wins, we all win, so I’m so happy that he got his long run, he got the ball out and was getting hot. He’s a great player and is going to be a really, really good player. Tremendous person. I love that kid.”

All told, Michigan rushed 33 times for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Wolverines’ 8.7 yards per carry were their highest mark in a game since averaging 8.8 in a 49-3 win over Western Michigan Sept. 8, 2018. U-M hasn’t put up a number that high in a Big Ten tilt since a 33-10 victory over Minnesota Nov. 4, 2017 (10.0).

Michigan was playing without two starting offensive linemen, both guards — graduate Giovanni El-Hadi (left) and junior Brady Norton (right).

“I think [position coach] Grant Newsome‘s done a great job with the offensive line, and if you look at the tape last year, and then you look at the tape this year, it’s significantly better. And that’s a young group too,” Poggi noted.

“We have injuries there, but I thought Grant did a great job, and I thought those kids played their hearts out. We  rushed for what? [286 yards], which is a lot of rushing yards in this league on the road.”

Michigan struggles on third down

It’s not as if Michigan didn’t have any success through the air despite the rushing attack being the headline. Underwood completed 12 of his 22 passes for 105 yards, picking up 7 first downs. There were multiple dropped passes, too, including a pair from sophomore wideout Channing Goodwin.

“Look, he had, we had some drops … some key drops,” Poggi said. “He made some excellent throws; he made some excellent runs. The thing you don’t see is His poise and leadership in the huddle and on the sideline, and I’m not exaggerating. There was not a doubt in anyone’s mind on our sideline at any point that we weren’t winning that game, and he was a big part of that.”

The Wolverines had a tough time sustaining drives when they weren’t running for long touchdowns, going 4-of-12 on third down. Michigan was 1-of-8 on third down before the end of the game.

To help keep the Wolverines in the catbird seat, junior wide receiver Semaj Morgan ran through a tackle for a third down conversion on Michigan’s most important — and longest — possession of the game. Haynes also caught a screen pass for a 16-yard gain on another, and he ran for 19 yards later that drive to keep it going.

Michigan’s 16-play, 77-yard drive chewed up 8:46 of fourth-quarter clock, the Wolverines swelling their lead to 30-20 with 3:54 remaining. Nebraska responded with a touchdown, but Michigan recovered the onside kick, and Marshall iced the game with an 8-yard gain on 2nd and 7, before Michigan could go with victory formation to run out the clock.

Miscellaneous Michigan football offense notes

• Michigan had 7 runs of 10-plus yards, including three of 37-plus yards, all of which went for touchdowns.

• Michigan now has 21 plays of 20-plus yards on the season.

• The U-M run game continues to produce early in the season. U-M entered the game averaging 242.7 yards per game on the ground (15th in the nation) and improved on that number with a total of 286 rushing yards today.

• Through four contests, the Wolverines have totaled 15 rushing touchdowns this season.

• Haynes ran 17 times for 149 yards and a touchdown. He’s the first Michigan player in history to run for 100-plus yards in each of his first four games. He already was the first after three and is only continuing to put up big numbers.

• Haynes has now rushed for 56-, 59-, 75- and 75-yard gains (three of which were touchdowns) this season. The last U-M back with three rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards in a single season was Donovan Edwards, who scored on runs of 67 yards (at Penn State), 75 yards, and 85 yards (at Ohio State).

• Marshall’s 60-yard performance came on only 6 carries. One week after scoring the first 2 touchdowns of his career, he added 1 to his season and career tally. The Michigan running back has only rushed for more yards in one game in his career — 100 versus Alabama in the 19-13 ReliaQuest Bowl victory Dec. 31, 2024.

• The last time U-M saw two different players record rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards in the same game was at Penn State in 2022, when Corum (61 yards) and Edwards (67 yards) both scored from beyond midfield.

• Six Michigan receivers caught passes, led by graduate Donaven McCulley, who posted 3 catches for 39 yards with a 16-yard long.

• Michigan attempted a double pass with Morgan throwing to McCulley, but it was a short pass and the receiver didn’t come back to the football.

• Michigan sophomore Jake Guarnera made his second career start after opening last week’s game against CMU.

• Michigan was without sophomore tight end Hogan Hansen, who missed the game with an undisclosed injury.