Michigan football won on the road to claim its first Big Ten win of the season as the Wolverines defeated Nebraska 30-27 in a competitive game.
The game has had plenty of momentum swings. Michigan scored first and then scored again before Nebraska clawed back to tie it. RB Justice Haynes ran 75 yards for what Michigan thought was a decisive lead of 17-10 into halftime before QB Dylan Raiola threw a Hail Mary to tie the game again before the half. In the second, Michigan took control with a touchdown from RB Jordan Marshall and two field goals from Dominic Zvada. Raiola dragged his team back into the fight with a touchdown with under two minutes to go, but Nebraska was unable to recover the free kick and Michigan claimed their first Big Ten victory of the year. Meanwhile, Nebraska is now 0-28 against ranked opponents since 2016.
Michigan vs. Nebraska highlights, recap
Follow along below for live updates on the game.
FINAL: Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Dylan Raiola drags Nebraska to the endzone, Michigan recovers onside kick to win
4Q, 1:24: Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Dylan Raiola dragged his team back into the fight, aided by penalties from Michigan that shortened the field. With 1:34 to go, Nebraska was within three and needed to recover the onside kick. However, they failed to do so, and after two rushes from RB Jordan Marshall, Michigan kneeled out the clock at 1:22.
Justice Haynes and Bryce Underwood propel team, Dominic Zvada makes kick
4Q, 3:54: Michigan 30, Nebraska 20
RB Justice Haynes and QB Bryce Underwood carried the Wolverines this drive. Twice early in the drive, Haynes gained the Wolverines a first down at a critical moment, most crucially on 3rd and 10 on NEB39.
Underwood took over as the team entered the red zone for the first time all day, using his speed to get the Wolverines ever closer to the red zone. Ultimately, they weren’t able to get the touchdown, but K Dominic Zvada made the chip shot for a gain of three.
Derrick Moore sacks Dylan Raiola, Nebraska punts
4Q, 12:40: Michigan 27, Nebraska 20
EDGE Derrick Moore sacked QB Dylan Raiola for a loss of 3 yards on 3rd down, forcing Nebraska to punt after its first two plays were for a loss of two and incomplete. Michigan took over at UM20. It was Michigan’s seventh sack of the day.
Bryce Underwood throws two incomplete passes, Michigan punts again
4Q, 14:05: Michigan 27, Nebraska 20
Michigan’s offensive momentum stalled as Underwood couldn’t connect with WR Semaj Morgan or WR Channing Goodwin and only gained yards on a six-yard pass to TE Zack Marshall. Nebraska takes over at NEB29.
Nyziah Hunter steps out of endzone, Kyle Cunanan makes kick
4Q, 14:56: Michigan 17, Nebraska 20
After DB Brandyn Hillman gave Nebraska a new lease on life with his unsportsmanlike penalty, the Cornhuskers marched downfield and appeared to score a touchdown as QB Dylan Raiola connected with WR Nyziah Hunter in the endzone. However, Hunter stepped out of the endzone before he caught the ball, meaning that Nebraska lost a down due to an illegal touch and was now looking at 4th and 20.
After a break for the end of the third quarter, K Kyle Cunanan made the 38-yard kick.
Brandyn Hillman takes unsportsmanlike conduct, gives Nebraska first down
3Q, 4:51: DB Brandyn Hillman made more work for himself when, after Michigan made a big stop on 3rd and 14, he taunted the Nebraska sideline and earned himself an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which comes with a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down for the Cornhuskers.
Jordan Marshall runs it 54 yards for touchdown
3Q, 5:40: Michigan 27, Nebraska 17
After RB Justice Haynes ran 75 yards for a touchdown earlier in the game, RB Jordan Marshall said, “My turn.” Marshall slipped through multiple gaps and raced upfield 54 yards for the score. Michigan leads Nebraska by ten after K Dominic Zvada’s extra point was good.
Dylan Raiola sacked for fifth time, Nebraska punts
3Q, 6:21: Michigan 20, Nebraska 17
Michigan just handed Dylan Raiola his fifth sack of the day as LB Ernest Hausmann brought the quarterback down for a loss of seven. Nebraska punted again and Michigan takes over at UM38.
Bryce Underwood and Donaven McCulley can’t connect, Dominic Zvada makes kick from 56 yards
3Q, 7:43: Michigan 20, Nebraska 17
RB Justice Haynes helped QB Bryce Underwood advance the ball, and TE Marlin Klein’s return was welcome as he presented a great downfield target for Underwood to hit for a 16-yard pass and a first down. However, momentum stalled as Haynes lost four yards on a drive and a tight catch by WR Donaven McCulley was ruled out of bound. K Dominic Zvada made the kick from 56 yards.
Teams trade punts to start second half
3Q, 10:21: Michigan 17, Nebraska 17
Michigan’s opening drive did not go well. While QB Bryce Underwood did complete a first down on the first play of the drive with a 16-yard pass to WR Donaven McCulley, the Wolverines were forced to punt as they only gained six yards on the next three plays. Fortunately for Michigan, QB Dylan Raiola had similar luck and the Cornhuskers punted it from the back of their endzone after a delay of game penalty. Michigan takes over at the UM40.
Neuheisel: “Coaching malpractice” by Wolverines
Former college football coach and TV analyst Rick Neuheisel called Michigan’s time management at the end of the half “coaching malpractice” by Biff Poggi. Had Poggi called a timeout on third down, it would have stopped the clock and limited Nebraska’s choices as the Cornhuskers were 4th and 11 with 13 seconds left — too much time on the clock for Nebraska to throw a Hail Mary and possibly turn the ball over to Michigan.
Bryce Underwood halftime stats
Passing: 5-for-8.Yards: 41. Completion percentage: 63%. Touchdown passes: 0. Rushing: 4 carries for 45 yards. Rushing touchdowns: 1.
Jacory Barney Jr. does it again
Michigan 17, Nebraska 17, 2Q, 0:00
On a Hail Mary throw from QB Dylan Raiola at the end of the half, WR Jacory Barney Jr. emerged from a huddle of about five Michigan players and lept in the air to secure the ball and come down with it across the endzone line as time expired. Just as Michigan thought it was heading into halftime with a lead, Nebraska tied it up again at 17.
Justice Haynes breaking records for Michigan
RB Justice Haynes is already breaking more records at Michigan after his 75-yard touchdown.
Justice Haynes does it again
2Q, 1:51: Michigan 17, Nebraska 10
Biff Poggi did not give RB Justice Haynes a superhero name last week, but he might have to after this game. With just two minutes until the half ended, QB Bryce Underwood handed the ball to Haynes. For the second time this season, Haynes took the ball 75 yards on the first play of the drive for a touchdown. Michigan regained the lead immediately, leading Nebraska 17-10.
Jacory Barney Jr. ties it up
2Q, 2:01: It’s a tie ball game, folks. WR Jacory Barney Jr. was left wide open downfield for an easy target for QB Dylan Raiola, who connected with him via a 28-yard throw. The extra point was good. Michigan 10, Nebraska 10.
Bryce Underwood sacked
Dylan Raiola sacked, Nebraska kicks field goal
2Q, 8:58: Despite evading a previous tackle for a sack and managing to throw for 21 yards on that play, Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola was unable to avoid a second sack. DL Rayshaun Benny and EDGE Cameron Brandt combined to bring down the Cornhusker for a seven-yard loss.
2Q, 5:58: Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood was sacked by LB Dasan McCullough for a loss of 7 yards. Michigan’s efforts to recover did not work as his next pass to RB Justice Haynes went for -3 yards and a 7-yard run after that could not help them recover. P Hudson Hollenbeck punted it 49 yards and Nebraska unexpectedly returned it 20 yards. Hollenbeck ended up making the tackle on the play.
K Kyle Cunanan recovered from his earlier miss to put Nebraska on the board from 39 yards. Michigan 10, Nebraska 3.
Bryce Underwood fumbles ball
2Q, 13:08: Michigan QB Bryce Underwood fumbled the ball as he was hit by two Nebraska defensemen and lost control of the ball. DL Elijah Jeudy forced the fumble and DB DeShon Singleton recovered the fumble. Nebraska took over at NEB48.
Dylan Raiola sacked, Nebraska punts
2Q, 14:13: Nebraska’s drive didn’t look promising before the quarter ended and it looked less so after. The Cornhuskers took a false start penalty before QB Dylan Raiola was sacked for an 11-yard loss. Michigan WR Semaj Morgan caught the fair punt at the UM37.
1Q, 0:17: Just one week after he proved he could run the ball, QB Bryce Underwood took the ball from the snap and decided he would do it himself before the end of the quarter. He ran it 37 yards for the touchdown to make the score Michigan 10, Nebraska 0.
Bryce Underwood rushes for 37-yard touchdown
Cole Sullivan intercepts Dylan Raiola
1Q, 0:21: LB Cole Sullivan caught a ball that deflected off DB Jyaire Hill to secure an interception on Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola. The interception stopped a Nebraska drive in its early stages and gave Michigan excellent field position.
Rod Moore returns
DB Rod Moore was on the field against Nebraska near the end of the first quarter. Moore has not played since the 2023 National Championship as he tore his ACL in spring training later that year.
Bryce Underwood, Semaj Morgan trick play doesn’t work, Michigan kicks field goal
1Q, 1:38: Building off two solid first down plays earlier in the drive, RB Donaven McCulley caught the ball behind the line of scrimmage, and rolled off Nebraska DB Andrew Marshall and forced his way through another defender to secure the first down. Unfortunately Michigan was unable to secure a touchdown. A trick play where Michigan QB Bryce Underwood flipped the ball to WR Semaj Morgan who lofted it to RB Donaven McCulley failed as the throw was short and McCulley couldn’t secure it.
RB Justice Haynes’ rush gained no yards and Underwood couldn’t find WR Channing Goodwin in the end zone. The Wolverines kicked a field goal to take the lead.
Kyle Kunanan misses kick, game remains scoreless
1Q, 5:00: Michigan’s defense liimited Nebraska to just three yards in two plays in the late stage of this drive before LB Jaishawn Barham sacked Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola for a loss of five yards. The Cornhuskers attempted from 44 yards, but Kyle Kunanan missed the kick wide right.
Bryce Underwood can’t reach first down
1Q, 8:53: Despite completing a pass, getting a few yards out of RB Justice Haynes and running for eight yards himself, a false start knocked Michigan back five yards and they were unable to reach the first down. Making matters worse, the punt from Hunter Hollenbeck took an extremely favorable bounce for the Cornhuskers, bouncing from the UM 38 to the 24.
Dylan Raiola, receivers run over Michigan defense, but defense makes goal line stand
1Q, 11:14: Dylan Raiola and the offense had an excellent drive down the field, only taking 10 plays to go 70 yards downfield and mixing it between passes and rushes. But Michigan’s defense made a goal line stand, stuffing TE Luke Lindenmeyer on the five-yard line on fourth down. Nebraska turned it over on downs.
Michigan kicks off
Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers will begin the game with the ball.
Max Bredeson, Michigan receivers take the field
Bryce Underwood takes the field in Lincoln
Biff Poggi, Nick Saban chirp each other on College GameDay
Michigan interim coach Biff Poggi and legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban chirped each other when Poggi was interviewed on College GameDay. The two are longtime friends. Poggi said that Saban never sold him the Ferrari A12 Superfan that he wanted to buy after Saban began working with the car company, and Saban insisted that Poggi had “alligator arms” when it came time to pay.
“You should ask the Rolls dealer I just bought my car from if I have alligator arms,” Poggi replied.
Pat McAfee lone voice against Wolverines for College GameDay picks
Host Pat McAfee was the only member of the College GameDay picks panel to pick Nebraska for the win over Michigan. Desmond Howard (who won a Heisman with the Wolverines in 1991), Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit and Florida Panthers player Matthew Tkachuk all picked the Wolverines to defeat the Cornuskers.
Rece Davis, one of the hosts of the show but who did not do the picks segment, said earlier that he would also take Nebraska for the win.
Kickoff set for 3:40 p.m.
Michigan will begin team warmups at 2:57 p.m. ET. The national anthem will take place at 3:22 p.m. Nebraska will take the field at 3:36 p.m., and Michigan will do the same at 3:37 p.m., when they will then do the coin toss. Kickoff is set for 3:40 p.m.
Bryce Underwood warms up at Nebraska
Tony Garcia predicts Michigan win
“This game has all the makings of a potential classic,” Freep Wolverines reporter Tony Garcia wrote. “Two star quarterbacks. Matt Rhule’s potential first big time victory in Lincoln (no, beating Colorado who was fraudulent at best in 2024 does not count). U-M’s opportunity to right its first wrong this year and get back on track toward its goals. This could very well come down to the fourth quarter, where U-M has a weapon who hasn’t been sharp all year long, but will be when it counts. Dominic Zvada wins it at the buzzer. The pick: Michigan 26-23.”
Bryce Underwood, Biff Poggi arrive in Nebraska
Rod Moore still questionable, updated Michigan injury report
Michigan injuries: OUT: WR I’Marion Stewart, DB Zeke Berry, DB Caleb Anderson, QB Davis Warren (knee), RB Bryson Kudzal, RB Micah Ka’apana, RB Donovan Johnson, RB John Volker, LB Jaydon Hood, OL Giovanni El-Hadi (lower body), OL Andrew Babalola (knee), DL Manuel Beigel, TE Hogan Hansen, EDGE Devon Baxter, TE Zack Marshall, DL Ike Iwunnah. QUESTIONABLE: DB Shamari Earls, QB Mikey Keene, DB Rod Moore (knee), DB Mason Curtis, OL Brady Norton (knee).
Notably, TE Marlin Klein has been marked as playing after being on the questionable list earlier in the week. Klein and quarterback Bryce Underwood had good connections in the first game of the season and Klein would be a good target for Underwood downfield.
Dylan Raiola is son of former Lions center
While some fans may recognize Dylan Raiola from his resemblance to Patrick Mahomes, Lions fans may recognize him because of his father. Dylan is the son of Dominic Raiola, a Nebraska grad and former Detroit Lions’ mainstay. The older Raiola played as a center with the Lions his entire 14-year NFL career (2001-14), appearing in 219 games and starting in 203. Those 219 games played are third-most in Lions history.
Dylan Raiola, Emmett Johnson lead Nebraska offense
Dylan Raiola will lead Nebraska on the field today at quarterback. The former five-star recruit has completed 72-of-94 (77.6%) passes for 829 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions. While Raiola has limited experience pushing the ball downfield, he is more than talented enough to do so. His options at receiver are also diverse, with five different receivers have 100 or more receiving yards, led by Kentucky transfer Dane Key (13 catches, 190 yards, three touchdowns). Running back Emmett Johnson will be his primary option at running back as he has run for either 100 yards or multiple touchdowns (and once both) in all three games this season.
New game plan faces tough opponent
Last week, Biff Poggi said Michigan would no longer “take the air out of the ball” as they attempted to do against Oklahoma. While quarterback Bryce Underwood was successful both running and passing against Central Michigan — he completed 16 of 25 passes for 235 yards and one score while running nine times for 114 yards and two scores — it will be difficult for them to continue that this week. The Cornhuskers are No. 1 in the nation in passing yards against (66.0 per game).
Preliminary Injury Update
Michigan Week 3 status – Out: OL Gio El-Hadi (lower body), OL Brady Norton (lower body), QB Davis Warren (knee), OL Andrew Babalola (knee), RB Micah Ka’apana (undisclosed), WR I’Marion Stewart (undisclosed), RB John Volker (undisclosed), DB Tevis Metcalf (undisclosed), DB Mason Curtis (undisclosed), DB Caleb Anderson (undisclosed), LB Jaydon Hood (undisclosed), WR Devon Baxter (undisclosed), WR C.J. Charleston (undisclosed); Questionable: DB Shamari Earls (undisclosed), DB Zeke Berry (undisclosed), QB Mikey Keene (upper body), TE Marlin Klein (lower body), LB Ernest Hausmann (undisclosed), DB Rod Moore (knee), DL Ike Iwunnah (undisclosed).
Nebraska Week 3 status – Out: WR Janiran Bonner, WR Demitrius Bell, DB Blye Hill, RB Jamarion Parker, RB Trent Uhlir, LB Gage Stenger, DL Malcolm Simpson, OL Julian Marks, OL Nolan Fennessy, DL Tyson Terry, OL Gibson Pyle, TE Mac Markway, DL Conor Connealy; Questionable: LB Javin Wright, DB Malcolm Hartzog Jr., DB Amare Sanders, DB Justyn Rhett, OL Grant Brix, WR Jeremiah Jones.
How to watch Michigan vs Nebraska
The Wolverines play Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. on CBS in what will be a big game for both teams starting their Big Ten slate.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET.
Channel: CBS.
Streaming: Fubo, Varsity Network App (audio only).
Radio: WCSX-FM (94.7 in Detroit).
Watch the Wolverines on Fubo!
Michigan football schedule 2025
Week 1: W, 34-17 vs New Mexico.
Week 2: L, 24-13 at Oklahoma
Week 3: W, 63-3 vs Central Michigan
Week 4: at Nebraska, Saturday Sept. 20, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS).
Week 5: BYE.
Week 6: vs Wisconsin, Saturday Oct. 4, 12 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.
Week 7: at USC, Saturday Oct. 11, time TBD.
Week 8: vs Washington, Saturday Oct. 18, time TBD.
Week 9: at Michigan State, Saturday Oct. 25, time TBD.
Week 10: vs Purdue, Sautrday Nov. 1, time TBD.
Week 11: BYE.
Week 12: at Northwestern, Saturday Nov. 15, time TBD.
Week 13: at Maryland, Saturday Nov. 22, time TBD.
Week 14: vs Ohio State, Saturday Nov. 29, noon ET (Fox).
Contact Matthew Auchincloss at mauchincloss@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football vs Nebraska score, highlights, recap in Week 4
Reporting by Matthew Auchincloss, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
