Michigan Football 2023 Opponent Preview: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Michigan (4-0) has been dominant in the early going. The Wolverines have outscored all of their opponents by a score of, 127-23. But it's all come in the Big House.

For the first time this season, Michigan will leave the friendly confines of Ann Arbor and head to hostile territory. The Wolverines head to Lincoln to take on Nebraska and first-year head coach, Matt Rhule. The Cornhuskers got out to a poor start losing to Minnesota and Colorado. But Nebraska has won two straight after beating Northern Illinois and LA Tech.

Nebraska looks a lot like Rutgers did a week ago. It doesn't have much of a passing attack -- probably worse than Rutgers has -- but the Huskers know how to run the football and can stop the opposition's run game. Nebraska lost its two top running options, Gabe Ervin and Rahmir Johnson, to season-ending injuries but since both quarterbacks can run the ball, Nebraska has still been efficient in doing so.

Defensively, as I mentioned, Nebraska has been great at stopping the opposing run game. However, the only rushing attack the Huskers have played that can actually run the ball is Minnesota. And Nebraska held the Gophers to 55 yards, and Minnesota is currently averaging 191.2 yards per game on the ground.

While Nebraska has been stout against the run, it's been poor in stopping the pass. The Huskers are one of the worst pass defenses in the country and that may bode well for J.J. McCarthy and the passing game.

Here are stats, PFF grades, and players to know before Saturday.

2023 stat comparison:

Scoring offense: Michigan (54th) 31.8 PPG -- Nebraska (103rd) 21.8 PPG

Scoring defense: Michigan (1st) 5.8 PPG -- Nebraska (33rd) 18.5 PPG

Passing offense: Michigan (70th) 237.5 YPG -- Nebraska (127th) 124.5 YPG

Passing defense: Michigan (7th) 151 YPG -- Nebraska (103rd) 251.8 YPG

Rushing offense: Michigan (50th) 167.7 YPG -- Nebraska (6th) 234.7 YPG

Rushing defense: Michigan (13th) 80 YPG -- Nebraska (2nd) 46.2 YPG

Total offense: Michigan (61st) 405.3 YPG -- Nebraska (90th) 359.3 YPG

Total defense: Michigan (3rd) 231 YPG -- Nebraska (24th) 298 YPG

Turnovers Lost: Michigan 5 -- Nebraska 9

Sacks Allowed: Michigan 3 -- Nebraska 9

Sacks: Michigan 9 -- Nebraska 14

2023 PFF comparison:

Overall grade: Michigan (4th) 95.7 -- Nebraska (93rd) 74.7

Offense: Michigan (6th) 89.6 -- Nebraska (99th) 66.2

Passing: Michigan (17th) 87.9 -- Nebraska (131st) 43.7

Pass block: Michigan (15th) 79.4 -- Nebraska (120th) 45.3

Running: Michigan (55th) 78.1 -- Nebraska (51st) 78.4

Run block: Michigan (10th) 72.8 -- Nebraska (25th) 68.9

Defense: Michigan (3rd) 91.5 -- Nebraska (96th) 71.5

Run defense: Michigan (7th) 91.1 -- Nebraska (104th) 67.2

Pass rush: Michigan (16th) 79.2 -- Nebraska (109th) 63.2

Coverage: Michigan (20th) 90.1 -- Nebraska (65th) 79.4

Top Nebraska players to know:

QB Jeff Sims and Heinrich Haarberg: Jeff Sims entered the year as the starting quarterback but he was injured in the win against Northern Illinois and Haarberg was inserted into the starting lineup, but he also got dinged up last week and Chubba Purdy entered the game.

It's widely expected that either Sims or Haarberg start against Michigan, but coach Rhule hasn't stated who that might be. Either option has struggled throwing the football. Sims has one touchdown and four interceptions. Haarberg has thrown four touchdowns but he has completed just 51.1% of his throws.

However, while each struggles to throw the football, both can run the ball. Sims has run for 156 yards and a score while averaging 10 yards per carry. Haarberg, the team's leading rusher, has run for 272 yards and two scores and he also averages 10 yards per carry.

Whoever starts against Michigan, the Wolverines will have to key in on the quarterback option.

RB Anthony Grant: Grant, a senior, was third on the depth chart. But after injuries to Ervin and Johnson, he is now the starting tailback. Grant has rushed for 208 yards and two scores so far this year. But one week as the starter, he ran for 135 yards and a score a week ago.

WR Billy Kemp: Kemp is another player Rhule went out and got in the transfer portal. He played for Virginia for four seasons, and while Nebraska isn't very good at throwing the football, Kemp is arguably its top target. He leads the team catching 13 passes for 132 yards and a score. A 5-foot-9 you can expect to see Kemp in the slot.

LB Luke Reimer: Reimer was hurt a week ago and is considered questionable against Michigan, and if he cannot go then that's a huge loss for Nebraska. Reimer, a senior, was the Huskers' leading tackler in 2021 and 2022. So far in 2023, he has tallied 14 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks.

CB Isaac Gilford: Gilford, a junior, plays mainly as the nickel. He leads the team in tackles (23) and he has been good in the passing game. Gilford has one interception and has broken up three passes.