No. 21 Michigan continues Nebraska's Big Ten opener woes

Field Level Media|published: Sat 20th September, 20:06 2025

Sep 20, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. (2) catches a pass for a touchdown against Michigan Wolverines defensive back Jyaire Hill (20) during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

No. 21 Michigan got touchdown runs from three different players, plus three field goals by Dominic Zvada, in a 30-27 win over Nebraska in the Big Ten opener for both teams Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.

The Wolverines (3-1) ran for 286 yards, with Justice Haynes going for 149, including a 75-yard touchdown. Quarterback Bryce Underwood threw for 105 yards and ran for 61 plus a score.

Michigan held on after taking a 30-20 lead on Zvada's final field goal, a 21-yarder, with 3:54 to play.

Nebraska (3-1) dropped its sixth consecutive conference opener and 28th straight game against a ranked opponent despite 308 yards and three touchdown passes from Dylan Raiola.

Jacory Barney Jr. had six catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns, including a Hail Mary reception to end the first half.

Michigan had seven sacks from six different players.

Tied at 17 at the half, Michigan went ahead on a 56-yard field goal from Zvada, tying his career long, midway through the third quarter. A 54-yard scoring run by Jordan Marshall upped the Wolverines' lead to 27-17 with 5:40 left in the third.

Kyle Cunanan's 38-yard field goal to open the fourth cut the Nebraska deficit to 27-20, but Zvada connected from 21 yards to make it a 10-point lead with 3:54 remaining. Michigan ate nearly nine minutes of clock with that drive.

A 3-yard touchdown catch by Heinrich Haarberg got the Cornhuskers to 30-27 with 1:34 left, but Michigan recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Michigan built a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, going up two scores on a 37-yard Underwood run immediately after Cole Sullivan intercepted a Raiola pass in Nebraska territory.

The Cornhuskers got on the board midway through the second quarter on a 39-yard field goal from Cunanan after forcing a fumble near midfield. Nebraska then tied it with 2:01 left before halftime on a 26-yard pass from Raiola to Barney.

The Wolverines scored shortly afterward on the 75-yard run by Haynes, only to see Raiola and Barney hook up on the 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to end the first half.

--Field Level Media