Staff predictions: Michigan looks to make a statement against Nebraska

After suffering a Week 2 loss on the road against Oklahoma, Michigan is looking to record its first road victory of the young season. On Saturday, the Wolverines are looking to make a statement in Lincoln against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have started 3-0, but Nebraska's last two games came against Akron and Houston Christian.

Both teams have been mostly unchallenged during their wins. Whomever wins on Saturday could make the statement each program is searching for. Michigan Wolverines On SI predicts what will happen in Lincoln.

Trent Knoop

Entering the 2025 season, my preseason prediction was that Michigan would go 10-2 with losses against both Oklahoma and Nebraska. The Sooners were who I thought they would be with John Mateer at the helm, and Michigan handcuffed Bryce Underwood in that game. From what we saw last week, it gives me the belief that the Wolverines could walk into Lincoln and win on the road without their head coach. Underwood was unleashed, and the Wolverines' defense looked better, even though it was against Central Michigan. But I believe home-field advantage is a key in college football. Dylan Raiola is a good, young QB, and the fans are in desperate need to see a big-time win.

Entering this week, I was still leaning toward picking Nebraska in this game. But I can't forget about how Underwood looked last game. If Chip Lindsey calls the same game as he did last week, I think the Wolverines' offense shifted into a new gear. Give me Michigan in a close one.

Final score: Michigan 30, Nebraska 27

Jerred Johnson

Winning on the road is never an easy task. Winning on the road at Nebraska is even tougher. I have been to a Nebraska football game; the entire state shuts down when the Cornhuskers play, and the experience and atmosphere are nothing short of electric. Aside from homefield advantage, I think Michigan is the better overall team here. If interim HC Biff Poggi is true to his word and Bryce Underwood is free to play the game wide open, I believe Michigan could steal a signature road win here. Justice Haynes will put pressure on Nebraska's frontline all afternoon, opening lanes for Underwood to use his accuracy to pick apart the Cornhuskers' secondary. I expect a bounce-back game from TE Marlin Klein as well after he had a tough return from an injury against Central Michigan. Jaishawn Barham will see more EDGE time, which could speed up Dylan Raiola and force some errant passes downfield.

Final score: Michigan 27, Nebraska 21

Seth Berry

Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and the Michigan offense seemed to have figured some things out against Central Michigan last week, albeit against a lesser opponent. The question is, will the coaching staff allow the guard rails to stay off the offensive gameplan and allow true freshman QB Bryce Underwood to showcase his entire skill set? If Michigan can do that, the Wolverines should be in good shape, even on the road against a solid Nebraska team. The Huskers have a good defense, but it's not on the level of Oklahoma's. If Michigan's offensive line comes to play and the Wolverines are able to run the ball to maintain an offensive balance, I think the Maize and Blue can do enough to win a tough game in Lincoln.

Final score: Michigan 31, Nebraska 21

Luke Hubbard

Coming off the heels of a 60-point victory over CMU, the Wolverines have a tall task ahead of them. Memorial Stadium is not an easy place to play, and we saw how Michigan's offense struggled against Oklahoma on the road. However, I think Bryce Underwood will have learned a lot from the Oklahoma game and should be better equipped this time around. I also believe Michigan's ground game will play a big factor in this game. If Justice Haynes gets rolling early and Underwood can settle into the game and use his legs a little bit, I don't think Nebraska will be able to get enough stops to win this game.

Final score: Michigan 28, Nebraska 21

Josh Helmholdt

There are a lot of reasons to like Michigan in this spot. The Wolverines are ranked while Nebraska is not. They are favored on the road, and had a big offensive output last weekend against Central Michigan. In the end, though, I expect Nebraska wins a few more of the 50/50 plays, gets a score on defense or special teams and finds a way to outlast the Wolverines in Lincoln. Nebraska had two tune up games against lesser-talent teams in Akron and Houston Christian, and I just see this as a good spot for the Cornhuskers to move to 4-0. Either way, it should be a very good game with two young, bright stars being showcased at the quarterback position.

Final score: Nebraska 34, Michigan 31

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Published Sep 19, 2025

TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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JERRED JOHNSON

JOSH HELMHOLDT

Josh Helmholdt has spent more than 25 years in sports media as a writer, columnist, analyst, editor, podcaster, radio host and publisher. He worked 14 years for Yahoo, including ten years as their Midwest Recruiting Analyst. Prior to that role, Josh covered University of Michigan football recruiting for eight years and also published a recruiting column for the Detroit Free Press. Josh has analyzed and ranked over 10,000 recruiting prospects, was part of the team that launched the Rivals Camp Series and sat on the selection committee for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl between 2011-2013.

LUKE HUBBARD

Luke is a writer for the Baylor Bears and Michigan Wolverines On SI. He's an LSU graduate and previously covered the Tigers for two years. He also covers the New Orleans Saints and Formula 1. Luke's passion for sports and storytelling led him to become a sports writer.

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SETH BERRY

Seth began writing on Michigan athletics in 2015 and has remained in the U-M media space ever since, which includes stops at Maize N Brew and Rivals before coming onto Michigan On SI in June of 2025. Seth has covered various angles of Michigan football and basketball, including recruiting, overall team coverage and feature/analysis stories relating to the Wolverines. His passion for Michigan sports and desire to tell stories led him to the sports journalism world. He is a 2020 graduate of Western Michigan University and is the former sports editor of the Western Herald, WMU's student newspaper.

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