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Line of scrimmage 3Q 2023 Nebraska football vs Michigan
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It was a mismatch at the line of scrimmage as Michigan pounded the Huskers, 45-7.

Tad Stryker: A Day to Forget

Michigan’s thrashing of the Big Red is a reminder of how far Husker football has to go
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Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines

Good news was hard to find for Nebraska fans against No. 2-rated Michigan, as the penalty-free, turnover-free Wolverines pummeled Nebraska 45-7 on a hot, windy Saturday in Memorial Stadium.

The distance between the two teams appears unchanged since last November, when Michigan throttled Nebraska 34-3 in Ann Arbor, a score that could have been much worse had the Wolverines decided to push the issue.

More than half of the 87,134 fans went home at halftime, tired of watching what looked a lot more like a lopsided scrimmage than it did a Big Ten football game, and quarterback J.J. McCarthy had a good time commenting about the near-deserted Nebraska student section. 

The difference in the two teams’ level of talent and execution at the line of scrimmage is vast. It was dramatically illustrated late in the first quarter, when Nebraska moved the ball to the Michigan 12-yard line and faced a fourth-and-one. Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg took the shotgun snap and ran straight ahead, trying to leap to reach the line to gain. He never came close, because Michigan’s defensive line easily won the battle of leverage. The Wolverines’ surge pushed back the Husker offensive front at least a couple of feet, and Haarberg never had a chance.

At the half, Michigan led 28-0 and had twice as many total yards as the Huskers, and the third quarter was even harder to watch for those who remained. So was the fourth, until Josh Fleeks, who was converted to running back from wide receiver this week in response to a couple of season-ending injuries to Gabe Ervin and Rahmir Johnson, salvaged a shred of dignity for the Huskers. Fleeks bolted 74 yards for a touchdown with 4:17 remaining to avoid a home shutout for the first time since Kansas State won 12-0 in 1968.

The Huskers committed two false starts in the red zone, without crowd noise from an opposing student section to blame. Both drives ended without points.

The undefeated Wolverines used four quarterbacks as they piled up 249 yards rushing, 436 total yards and 38 minutes of possession time. At one point in the fourth quarter, Nebraska had only 32 yards rushing as a team, before Fleeks’ touchdown run pushed that total above 100.

A common perception going into the game was that Michigan’s defense would throttle the Husker offense, leaving the Blackshirts to be gradually worn down. That scenario never came to pass, because Michigan dominated the Blackshirts from the first play of the game and was up 14-0 after one quarter. It didn’t help that senior linebacker Luke Reimer and freshman defensive end Cameron Lenhardt were declared unavailable before the game, and safety DeShon Singleton went down with a knee injury on the first play from scrimmage.

Even worse, the Blackshirts never came remotely close to getting a takeaway. Meanwhile, Haarberg threw his first interception and had a rough go of it, completing 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards and no touchdowns.

The kicking game also was a net negative Saturday for Nebraska, which gave up a 30-yard punt return, missed a field goal and saw Tommi Hill get demolished on a kickoff return. The Wolverines made their only field goal try and were able to get two touchbacks on kickoffs against a 20-mph south wind in the first quarter. Their only punt went 68 yards. It was that kind of day for the Huskers.

Rhule was very diplomatic in the postgame press conference, doing his best to defend his players when asked by reporters if his team had gotten “pushed around” and if they were prepared to match Michigan’s intensity. He preferred to look at the game as a learning opportunity for some of his younger players. That’s a legitimate take for a head coach who needs something to build on as a key Friday night game at Illinois approaches.

The loss was not a surprise, but the utter domination by Michigan was a sober reminder of how steep a climb the Husker program has in front of it.

At the same time, the temptation to over-react should be avoided by all sober-minded Nebraska fans. The scenario would look a lot different if the 2-3 Huskers can put together a solid effort in Champaign, Illinois, on Friday night. Nebraska’s offense looked ugly against Michigan, but it didn’t look as ugly as what Iowa and Michigan State were slogging through on Saturday night in Iowa City.

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Former Husker Will Compton spends time in the student section pregame. 

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Heinrich Haarberg hands the ball off to running back Anthony Grant. 

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Nick Henrich makes a tackle on Michigan's Blake Corum. 

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Heinrich Haarberg tosses a pass in the first quarter. 

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Heinrich Haarberg looks to make a pass. 

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Ty Hahn tackles Michigan's Jake Thaw. 

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Javin Wright (33) and Ty Robinson (9) bring down Donovan Edwards. 

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Tommi Hill returns a Michigan kickoff. 

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Marcus Washington celebrates a catch in the third quarter. 

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Heinrich Haarberg receives a snap. 

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Malcom Hartzog and Chief Borders team up on a tackle of Donovan Edwards. 

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Heinrich Haarberg is hit as he throws. 

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Heinrich Haarberg totaled 199 passing yards against No. 2 Michigan. 

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Javin Wright had seven total tackles including four solo. 

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Nebraska's Joshua Fleeks takes off on a 74-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. 

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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule talk before the game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

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Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum greets former Nebraska linebacker Will Compton before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium.

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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh looks on before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

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Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson catches a pass for a touchdown against Nebraska defensive back Isaac Gifford during the first quarter.

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Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg hands the ball off to running back Anthony Grant against the Michigan during the first quarter of the game.

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Nebraska wide receiver Billy Kemp IV gains 34 yards on a pass from quarterback Heinrich Haarberg in the first quarter of Saturday's game.

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Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant lays on the ground after intercepting a pass from Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg during the first quarter of the game.

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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walks out of a huddle during the game against the Michigan Wolverines during the first quarter.

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Michigan running back Kalel Mullings runs for a touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first quarter.

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Michigan running back Kalel Mullings runs for a touchdown against Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog during the first quarter.

Tyler Morris punt return 2Q 30 yds 2023 Nebraska football vs Michigan

Michigan's Tyler Morris returns a punt 30 yards in the second quarter of Saturday's game. Michigan would capitalize on the good field position, going 55 yards in eight plays for a touchdown.

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Michigan wide receiver Cornelius Johnson stiff arms Nebraska linebacker Javin Wright during the second quarter.

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Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg looks to pass against the Michigan during the fourth quarter.

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Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy runs for a touchdown against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy during the second quarter.

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Nebraska wide receiver Billy Kemp IV is tackled by Michigan defensive back Keshaun Harris during the second quarter.

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Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone II is tackled by Michigan defensive back Makari Paige during the fourth quarter of the game.

Corum Blake Corum 2Q 2023 Nebraska football vs Michigan

Michigan running back Blake Corum runs for a short gain in the second quarter. Corum finished with 77 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

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Michigan running back Blake Corum is tackled by Nebraska defensive back Omar Brown and defensive lineman Ty Robinson during the second quarter.

Thomas Fidone is tackled after making a catch for 17 yards and a first down during the fourth quarter against Michigan in 2023.

Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone II hauls in a 17-yard pass from quarterback Heinrich Haarberg in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game.

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Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg runs against the Michigan Wolverines during the second quarter.

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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy runs for a touchdown against the Nebraska Huskers during the second quarter.

Franklin Leon Franklin short run 4Q 2023 Nebraska football vs Michigan

Michigan running back Leon Franklin rushes for a short gain in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game. Michigan finished with 249 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

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Michigan wide receiver Semaj Morgan is tackled by Nebraska defensive back Isaac Gifford during the third quarter.

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Michigan quarterback Jack Tuttle passes against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the third quarter.

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Michigan lines up for a play in the third quarter of Saturday's game.

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Michigan quarterback Jayden Denegal is tackled by Nebraska defensive lineman AJ Rollins during the fourth quarter.

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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh watches the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the fourth quarter.

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Nebraska linebacker Javin Wright tackles Michigan quarterback Davis Warren  during the fourth quarter.

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Michigan running back Leon Franklin runs past Nebraska defenders.

Fleeks Joshua Fleeks 4Q 74-yard run 2023 Nebraska football vs Michigan

Nebraska running back Joshua Fleeks takes off on a 74-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game.

Nebraska - Michigan 2023 - Marcus Washington and Joshua Fleeks

Nebraska wide receiver Joshua Fleeks and wide receiver Marcus Washington celebrate after a touchdown by Fleeks against the Michigan Wolverines during the fourth quarter.

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