Michigan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Using data from Pro Football Focus (PFF), here\u2019s a breakdown of Michigan\u2019s snap counts and the best- and worst-graded performers from Saturday.<\/p>\n
Justice Haynes \u2013 43 \\ 75.1
Andrew Sprague \u2013 56 \\ 73.1
Donaven McCulley \u2013 51 \\ 68.5
Max Bredeson \u2013 27 \\ 65.8
Evan Link \u2013 56 \\ 63.7
Marlin Klein \u2013 35 \\ 62.6
Jordan Marshall \u2013 15 \\ 61.6
Nathan Efobi \u2013 56 \\ 60.8
Greg Crippen \u2013 56 \\ 60.8
Blake Frazier \u2013 1 \\ 60.0
Fredrick Moore \u2013 2 \\ 60.0
Jake Guarnera \u2013 56 \\ 59.9
Kendrick Bell \u2013 3 \\ 58.3
Anthony Simpson \u2013 2 \\ 57.8
Zack Marshall \u2013 10 \\ 56.6
Jalen Hoffman \u2013 4 \\ 56.1
Andrew Marsh \u2013 10 \\ 55.8
Semaj Morgan \u2013 38 \\ 52.9
Bryce Underwood \u2013 56 \\ 51.7
Channing Goodwin \u2013 39 \\ 51.5<\/p>\n
Five best grades (min. 10 snaps played)<\/p>\n
Justice Haynes \u2013 75.1
Andrew Sprague \u2013 73.1
Donaven McCulley \u2013 68.5
Max Bredeson \u2013 65.8
Evan Link \u2013 63.7<\/p>\n
Justice Haynes continues to shine, recording his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game to start his Michigan career and finishing with the team\u2019s highest offensive grade at 75.1. He was explosive once again, highlighted by his 75-yard touchdown run.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Channing Goodwin \u2013 51.5
Bryce Underwood \u2013 51.7
Semaj Morgan \u2013 52.9
Andrew Marsh \u2013 55.8
Zack Marshall \u2013 56.6<\/p>\n
This was not a strong week for Michigan\u2019s pass attack. Channing Goodwin had a rough outing, finishing with the team\u2019s 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\u2019s lone turnover (a fumble).<\/p>\n
Wideout Andrew Marsh and tight end Zack Marshall joined the lower half of the grading chart as Michigan\u2019s pass game remain inconsistent. Semaj Morgan also struggled in extended snaps, earning just a 52.9 overall grade after accounting for two drops.<\/p>\n
Ernest Hausmann \u2013 63 \\ 78.4
Derrick Moore \u2013 38 \\ 77.7
Jayden Sanders \u2013 72 \\ 74.1
Enow Etta \u2013 21 \\ 72.1
Dominic Nichols \u2013 13 \\ 70.7
Jimmy Rolder \u2013 52 \\ 70.7
TJ Metcalf \u2013 72 \\ 69.9
Cole Sullivan \u2013 27 \\ 68.7
Tre Williams \u2013 24 \\ 68.3
Trey Pierce \u2013 35 \\ 67.2
Rayshaun Benny \u2013 40 \\ 66.2
Cameron Brandt \u2013 40 \\ 65.8
Jaden Mangham \u2013 40 \\ 64.4
Jaishawn Barham \u2013 41 \\ 64.4
Mason Curtis \u2013 12 \\ 64.3
TJ Guy \u2013 34 \\ 64.3
Brandyn Hillman \u2013 67 \\ 63.6
Rod Moore \u2013 21 \\ 59.9
Nate Marshall \u2013 2 \\ 59.4
Troy Bowles \u2013 7 \\ 57.4
Damon Payne \u2013 26 \\ 53.4
Shamari Earls \u2013 12 \\ 52.5
Jyaire Hill \u2013 44 \\ 51.9
Elijah Dotson \u2013 22 \\ 49.6<\/p>\n
Five best grades (min. 10 snaps played)<\/p>\n
Ernest Hausmann \u2013 78.4
Derrick Moore \u2013 77.7
Jayden Sanders \u2013 74.1
Enow Etta \u2013 72.1
Dominic Nichols \u2013 70.7<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Five worst defensive grades<\/p>\n
Elijah Dotson \u2013 49.6
Jyaire Hill \u2013 51.9
Shamari Earls \u2013 52.5
Damon Payne \u2013 53.4
Rod Moore \u2013 59.9<\/p>\n
Michigan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Michigan\u2019s 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\u2019s clutch kicking and Michigan\u2019s ability to control things in the fourth quarter sealed the deal.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n