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Game recap: Michigan grabs methodical win over Nebraska on chilly day in Ann Arbor

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•11/12/22•

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Michigan football Blake Corum
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Michigan football moved to 10-0 on the season with a 34-3 win over Nebraska on Saturday in a brisk late-afternoon tilt at the Big House. It was seldom pretty, but it was another businesslike effort from the Wolverines to stay unblemished on the year.

Here is the full game recap from the day’s events in Ann Arbor.

First quarter

Michigan started on defense and was burned by a 33-yard pass from Chubba Purdy to Marcus Washington, but then held strong and forced a punt after a 5-play, 34-yard drive. The Wolverines took over on their own 20-yard line. What followed was another vintage Michigan drive, going 80 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run from junior running back Blake Corum. The scoring rush was his 17th of the season to give U-M a 7-0 lead after the extra point with 4:26 left in the quarter. Michigan followed up its scoring drive by forcing a three-and-out on defense, getting the ball back at the 28-yard line with just under 2 minutes to go in the quarter. The Wolverines matched with a three-and-out of their own, punting down to the Nebraska 24-yard line with 1:27 remaining.

The quarter ended with Michigan leading 7-0. Nebraska would face a fourth-and-1 from its own 33 coming out of the TV timeout.

Second quarter

The Cornhuskers would punt it away to Michigan, who took over on their own 39-yard line before punting the ball again. The Wolverine defense forced another three-and-out, handing the ball back to the offense. Michigan would drive down the field 66 yards in 6 plays to score its second touchdown of the game, a 9-yard pass from sophomore QB J.J. McCarthy to senior wide receiver Ronnie Bell. U-M led 14-0 after the extra point at the 8:46 mark.

Nebraska got some momentum back on offense on its next drive, but stalled in the red zone after Purdy went out with an injury. Logan Smothers replaced him at quarterback, and the Huskers would settle for a 37-yard field goal. Michigan led 14-3 at the 4:10 mark.

U-M’s offense would travel 55 yards on 12 plays on the next possession, but some questionable clock management and missed opportunities led to a 30-yard field goal from placekicker Jake Moody. This helped Michigan extend its lead to 17-3 with 1 second left in the half.

After a Nebraska kneel-down, Michigan went into the locker room up 17-3.

Third quarter

Michigan started on offense coming out of the locker room and took a little less than 5 minutes off the clock, but ultimately punted after a 9-play, 28-yard drive. Nebraska would take over on its own 8-yard line with 10:11 to go in the quarter. The Huskers would punt again after 6 plays, giving Michigan the ball back at its own 35-yard line.

The Wolverines put together another long, methodical drive on offense. U-M’s attack went 65 yards in 10 plays, taking 5:58 off the clock and scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run by McCarthy with 57 seconds left. Moody’s extra point extended the lead to 24-3.

Michigan led 24-3 after three quarters of play in Ann Arbor.

Fourth quarter

Another quick Nebraska drive gave way to Michigan, who went 76 yards in 6 plays to find the end zone. However, it was the most unusual way to find it yet this season. McCarthy found Bell on a 29-yard completion, but Bell fumbled near the goal line, and the ball was recovered by sophomore Andrel Anthony in the end zone for a Michigan touchdown. After the extra point, the U-M lead stretched to 31-3 with 9:39 to play.

Michigan would empty out its bench on both sides of the ball and grab a 43-yard field goal from Moody to close out the scoring. The Wolverines led 34-3 after booting it through with a little over a minute to go. That is how the game would end.

Michigan football vs. Nebraska box score and statistics

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