Michigan’s rush attack and pass rush came up huge in Lincoln as the Wolverines edged out Nebraska, 30-27, to open Big Ten play with a road win. Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall both ripped off explosive touchdown runs, while the defense sacked Dylan Raiol seven times to secure the victory.
Using data from Pro Football Focus (PFF), here’s a breakdown of Michigan’s snap counts and the best- and worst-graded performers from Saturday.
Justice Haynes – 43 \ 75.1
Andrew Sprague – 56 \ 73.1
Donaven McCulley – 51 \ 68.5
Max Bredeson – 27 \ 65.8
Evan Link – 56 \ 63.7
Marlin Klein – 35 \ 62.6
Jordan Marshall – 15 \ 61.6
Nathan Efobi – 56 \ 60.8
Greg Crippen – 56 \ 60.8
Blake Frazier – 1 \ 60.0
Fredrick Moore – 2 \ 60.0
Jake Guarnera – 56 \ 59.9
Kendrick Bell – 3 \ 58.3
Anthony Simpson – 2 \ 57.8
Zack Marshall – 10 \ 56.6
Jalen Hoffman – 4 \ 56.1
Andrew Marsh – 10 \ 55.8
Semaj Morgan – 38 \ 52.9
Bryce Underwood – 56 \ 51.7
Channing Goodwin – 39 \ 51.5
Five best grades (min. 10 snaps played)
Justice Haynes – 75.1
Andrew Sprague – 73.1
Donaven McCulley – 68.5
Max Bredeson – 65.8
Evan Link – 63.7
Justice Haynes continues to shine, recording his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game to start his Michigan career and finishing with the team’s highest offensive grade at 75.1. He was explosive once again, highlighted by his 75-yard touchdown run.
Right tackle Andrew Sprague earned the top grade in pass protection with an 84.1 pass-blocking score. Wide receiver Donaven McCulley was also a bright spot, posting a 68.5 overall grade with a balanced effort in both receiving (65.9) and blocking (75.2).
It’s also notable that tight end Max Bredeson and left tackle Evan Link rounded out the five best grades, showing steady improvement in the trenches as Michigan reverted to leaning on its ground game.
Channing Goodwin – 51.5
Bryce Underwood – 51.7
Semaj Morgan – 52.9
Andrew Marsh – 55.8
Zack Marshall – 56.6
This was not a strong week for Michigan’s pass attack. Channing Goodwin had a rough outing, finishing with the team’s lowest grade at 51.5 after a couple of costly drops, including one in the end zone. Quarterback Bryce Underwood (51.7) was graded harshly after completing just 12-of-22 passes for 105 yards and accounting for the team’s lone turnover (a fumble).
Wideout Andrew Marsh and tight end Zack Marshall joined the lower half of the grading chart as Michigan’s pass game remain inconsistent. Semaj Morgan also struggled in extended snaps, earning just a 52.9 overall grade after accounting for two drops.
Ernest Hausmann – 63 \ 78.4
Derrick Moore – 38 \ 77.7
Jayden Sanders – 72 \ 74.1
Enow Etta – 21 \ 72.1
Dominic Nichols – 13 \ 70.7
Jimmy Rolder – 52 \ 70.7
TJ Metcalf – 72 \ 69.9
Cole Sullivan – 27 \ 68.7
Tre Williams – 24 \ 68.3
Trey Pierce – 35 \ 67.2
Rayshaun Benny – 40 \ 66.2
Cameron Brandt – 40 \ 65.8
Jaden Mangham – 40 \ 64.4
Jaishawn Barham – 41 \ 64.4
Mason Curtis – 12 \ 64.3
TJ Guy – 34 \ 64.3
Brandyn Hillman – 67 \ 63.6
Rod Moore – 21 \ 59.9
Nate Marshall – 2 \ 59.4
Troy Bowles – 7 \ 57.4
Damon Payne – 26 \ 53.4
Shamari Earls – 12 \ 52.5
Jyaire Hill – 44 \ 51.9
Elijah Dotson – 22 \ 49.6
Five best grades (min. 10 snaps played)
Ernest Hausmann – 78.4
Derrick Moore – 77.7
Jayden Sanders – 74.1
Enow Etta – 72.1
Dominic Nichols – 70.7
Linebacker Ernest Hausmann paced the defense with a team-high 78.4 grade across 63 snaps, showing steady dominance against the run (79.1) and in coverage (71.3). Derrick Moore was disruptive off the edge, notching his first sack of the season and finishing with a season-high 77.7 overall grade.
True freshman cornerback Jayden Sanders stepped up in the absence of Zeke Berry, resulting in his best performance of the year with a 74.1 overall grade and a 73.7 mark in coverage. Defensive lineman Enow Etta excelled in his rotational role on the defensive line, earning a 72.1 grade, while Dominic Nichols also impressed in limited action with a 70.7.
Five worst defensive grades
Elijah Dotson – 49.6
Jyaire Hill – 51.9
Shamari Earls – 52.5
Damon Payne – 53.4
Rod Moore – 59.9
Michigan’s secondary had its fair share of struggles in Lincoln, with Elijah Dotson (49.6) and Jyaire Hill (51.9) finishing at the bottom of the grades. Shamari Earls (52.5) also had a tough outing in limited snaps, while defensive tackle Damon Payne (53.4) was largely ineffective in run defense (54.1). Veteran safety Rod Moore (59.9) rounds out the lowest graded players in his first game back from lengthy injury hiatus, as he worked to shake off some understandable rust.
The defense still generated seven sacks and multiple game-changing plays, but lapses in coverage and inconsistency up front allowed Nebraska to keep things close until the final minutes.
Michigan’s win over Nebraska was the definition of complementary football. The offense leaned on explosive runs from Haynes, Marshall and Underwood, while the defense delivered in key moments. Mistakes like the Hail Mary before halftime kept Nebraska in the game, but Dominic Zvada’s clutch kicking and Michigan’s ability to control things in the fourth quarter sealed the deal.
The Wolverines now enter their first bye week of the season at 3-1, with head coach Sherrone Moore set to return for the home matchup against Wisconsin on Oct. 4.
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