Michigan vs. Nebraska score, highlights: Wolverines defeat Cornhuskers 45-7 on road

Michigan football played four quarterbacks against Nebraska on Saturday, which explains the domination the Wolverines deployed against the Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium.

No. 2 Michigan (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) handily defeated Nebraska (2-3, 0-2) 45-7 on Saturday in its first road matchup of the season. The Cornhuskers entered Saturday with the top-ranked rush defense in the country, allowing only 1.83 yards per rush, but the Wolverines ran for 249 yards and three touchdowns on 51 attempts (4.88 YPC).

More: Michigan's defense again flexes muscle in 45-7 blowout win at Nebraska

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who exited midway through the third quarter with the game's outcome secure, completed 12 of 16 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. McCarthy also had a 21-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

Receiver Roman Wilson also extended his nation-leading touchdown total to eight against the Cornhuskers. His first came on a 29-yard catch where he pinned the football against a Nebraska defender’s helmet before his second came on a 16-yard reception just before halftime.

On a day when No. 1 Georgia narrowly defeated unranked Auburn on the road, Michigan looked like perhaps the best team in the country.

Below are the updates and highlights from the Wolverines’ win over Nebraska:

Michigan vs. Nebraska score

Michigan vs. Nebraska live updates, highlights

Final: Michigan 45, Nebraska 7

6:37 p.m.: Warren and Michigan turn the ball over on downs. Nebraska takes overs and the clock expires.

6:30 p.m.: Backup quarterback Davis Warren enters for the Wolverines, their fourth of the afternoon.

Touchdown, Nebraska: Michigan 45, Cornhuskers 7

6:26 p.m.: Nebraska scores its first touchdown of the game on the 74-yard run by Joshua Fleeks.

Touchdown, Michigan: Wolverines 45, Nebraska 0

6:21 p.m.: Denegal finds Peyton O'Leary for an eight-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown was Denegal and O'Leary's first of their careers.

6:16 p.m.: Backup quarterback Jayden Denegal enters for Michigan.

6:12 p.m.: Michigan's Josaiah Stewart sacks Haarberg on fourth down. Wolverines take over at the 50-yard line.

6:05 p.m.: Michigan's Christian Boivin makes a huge hit on the kickoff:

Field goal, Michigan: Wolverines 38, Nebraska 0

6:02 p.m.: Michigan gets stopped on third down and James Turner nails a 30-yard field goal.

Fourth quarter: Michigan 35, Nebraska 0

5:49 p.m.: McCarthy's afternoon is done, as Jack Tuttle enters with a 35-0 lead. McCarthy's final stats: 12 of 16 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns with 30 rushing yards and another score.

5:46 p.m.: Michigan's defense has dominated Nebraska so far. Wolverines force another three-and-out and take over on their own 25-yard line.

Touchdown, Michigan: Wolverines 35, Nebraska 0

5:36 p.m.: Michigan caps off a methodical drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Corum. Wolverines go 78 yards in 11 plays (5:50). Corum up to 16 carries for 74 yards and a score after running for 38 yards on the drive.

5:34 p.m.: Three consecutive nice plays by Michigan have the offense moving. McCarthy hits Darrius Clemons for a 19-yard gain before Corum takes back-to-back handoffs for nine and 15 yards, respectively.

5:26 p.m.: A false start and a sack by Braiden McGregor forces Nebraska to kick a 40-yard field goal, which the Cornhuskers miss. Michigan rebounds after allowing the big gain out of halftime.

More: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy expresses thanks to offensive line after rushing TD against Nebraska

5:25 p.m.: Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett forces a fumble, but the ball falls forward and Nebraska recovers. Weird play results in a six-yard gain for the Cornhuskers.

5:23 p.m.: Not the start Michigan wanted. Nebraska's first play of the second half is a 56-yard reception by Marcus Washington. Cornhuskers now on the Wolverines' 21-yard line.

5:22 p.m.: Michigan kicks off and Nebraska starts the second half on its own 25-yard line.

Third quarter

Halftime: Michigan 28, Nebraska 0

5:01 p.m.: Some halftime stats:

• First downs: Michigan 13, Nebraska 4

• Third-down efficiency: Michigan 5-7, Nebraska 2-5

• Total yards: Michigan 247, Nebraska 121

• Turnovers: Michigan 0, Nebraska 1

• Possession: Michigan 16:36, Nebraska 13:24

Touchdown, Michigan: Wolverines 28, Nebraska 0

4:56 p.m.: What a play by McCarthy. He buys time, rolls to his left and delivers a strike to Roman Wilson for a 16-yard touchdown with 23 seconds left in the half.

McCarthy first half stats: nine of 12 passing for 116 yards and two touchdowns with 30 rushing yards and a score.

4:53 p.m.: Michigan moving the ball slow and steady late in the first half, going seven plays for 39 yards so far.

4:44 p.m.: Wolverines force another stop. Tyler Moore drops the punt but recovers for a 29-yard gain to Michigan's 45-yard line.

4:38 p.m.: Michigan goes three-and-out. Interesting play call as the Wolverines hand the ball off to Edwards on third-and-10.

4:33 p.m.: Michigan forces a three-and-out after a bad Nebraska snap pit the Cornhuskers back seven yards. Wolverines take over on their own 35-yard line.

4:29 p.m.: Wolverines deployed a hefty dose of Donovan Edwards on that drive, who took all four of their rushes for 19 yards.

• Edwards so far: Seven carries for 33 yards

• Corum so far: six rushes for 26 yards

Touchdown, Michigan: Wolverines 21, Nebraska 0

4:27 p.m.: McCarthy runs untouched into the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown. Really nice drive from McCarthy.

4:26 p.m.: Flea flicker! Corum tosses the ball back to McCarthy, who hits Cornelius Johnson for a 20-yard gain.

4:23 p.m.: Really solid throw by McCarthy moves the chains third-and-7. He finds AJ Barner down the middle for 16 yards.

Second quarter

4:16 p.m.: Huge stop by the Wolverines on their own 12-yard line. Haarberg took it himself up the middle but was stuffed. Braiden McGregor made the initial pressure.

4:13 p.m.: Nebraska gets stopped a yard short of the first-down marker. Cornhuskers might go for it after calling a timeout.

4:10 p.m.: Nebraska responds with a big gain on its next drive. Haarberg finds Billy Kemp IV for a 34-yard gain. Cornhuskers now on Wolverines' 21-yard line.

4:04 p.m.: Nebraska entered Saturday's game with the top-ranked defense against the run nationally. So far, Michigan has 10 rushes for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Touchdown, Michigan: Wolverines 14, Nebraska 0

3:59 p.m.: Michigan scores three plays later on a 20-yard touchdown run by Kalel Mullings. The Wolverines are coming out firing.

3:57 p.m.: On Nebraska's second play, Braiden McGregor tips Haarberg's pass and it's intercepted by defensive lineman Kenneth Grant. The turnover was Haarberg's first this season.

Touchdown, Michigan: Wolverines 7, Nebraska 0

3:50 p.m.: What. A. Catch. Roman Wilson scores Michigan's first touchdown by pinning a 29-yard catch on the back of a Nebraska defender's helmet. Catch of the year candidate? Wolverines go 75 yards in 11 plays on their opening drive.

3:49 p.m.: Wolverines go right back to Corum, who picks up the fourth-down attempt.

3:49 p.m.: Michigan gets stuffed on the third-and-1 try on the rush by Corum.

3:48 p.m.: Michigan using running back Donovan Edwards split out wide early. He has two targets and one catch for three yards.

3:44 p.m.: Nebraska wins the coin toss and elects to defer. Michigan to start on offense first.

First quarter

Pregame

2:54 p.m.: Detroit Free-Press Michigan beat writer Tony Garcia shares a pregame injury report:

More: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy shows courage by opening up about pressure he has been feeling

What channel is Michigan vs. Nebraska on today?

• TV channel: Fox

• Streaming: Fox Sports app, Fubo (free trial)

Michigan-Nebraska will air live on Fox, with streaming options available on the Fox Sports app and Fubo, which offers a free trial for potential subscribers.

What time does Michigan vs. Nebraska start?

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 30

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

Michigan-Nebraska will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Michigan vs. Nebraska odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Sept. 30

• Spread: Michigan (-17.5)

• Over/under: 39.5

• Moneyline: Michigan -1000 | Nebraska +650

Michigan schedule 2023

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Michigan-Nebraska football: Score, highlights from Wolverines' big win