By the numbers: Michigan football vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers

The numbers indicate this will be a very tough matchup between the two teams.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Last week’s game at Wisconsin ended up being a rout in favor of the Wolverines. Will the maize and blue be able to make it two on the road?

This one is a little more daunting, as Nebraska, despite the 3-3 record, has shown a pulse all season-long, more getting into its own way than anything. The Wolverines have shown few weaknesses thus far, with still just the one half against Rutgers being the lone two quarters in which Michigan hasn’t been thoroughly dominant.

Conversely, Nebraska has a stellar offense, save for its porous offensive line. Adrian Martinez has been in beast mode all season and the Michigan defense has yet to face a top-rated offense this year.

This is how the two rank against each other according to the numbers.

[lawrence-related id=47686,47660,47658]

Offense

Rank (metric) Rank (metric)
Michigan scoring offense 12th (39.8 ppg) 13th (15.5 ppg) Nebraska scoring defense
Michigan rushing offense 7th (255 ypg) 43rd (122.17 ypga) Nebraska rushing defense
Michigan passing offense 112th (181.6 ypg) 43rd (199.8 ypga) Nebraska passing defense
Michigan total offense 40th (436.8 ypg) 42nd (322 ypga) Nebraska total defense
Michigan yards per play 22nd (6.74 ypp) 36th (4.88 ypga) Nebraska yards per play allowed
Michigan first downs 80th (20 pg) 23rd (16.5 apg) Nebraska opp. first downs
Michigan third down conv. 47th (43.75%) 69th (37.35%) Nebraska opp. third down conv.
Michigan fourth down conv. 32nd (66.67%) 5th (20%) Nebraska opp. fourth down conv.
Michigan red zone conv. 13th (95%) 6th (67.4%) Nebraska opp. red zone conv.
Michigan sacks allowed 2nd (0.2 sapg) 60th (1.83 spg) Nebraska sacks
Michigan TFL allowed 1st (2.2 tfla/gm) 9th (6.67 tfl/gm) Nebraska TFL
Michigan long scrimmage plays 97th (59 10+ yd plays) 69th (65 10+ yd plays) Nebraska long plays allowed
Michigan penalties 30th (44.3 yds/gm) 77th (51.7 yds/gm) Nebraska opp. penalties
Michigan TOP 40th (31:01.4) 33rd (31:41.5) Nebraska TOP

[listicle id=47745]

Defense

Rank (metric) Rank (metric)
Michigan scoring defense 6th (12.8 ppg) 50th (34.3 ppg) Nebraska scoring offense
Michigan rushing defense 33rd (115 ypga) 14th (235.5 ypg) Nebraska rushing offense
Michigan passing defense 16th (170.6 ypga) 40th (266.5 ypg) Nebraska passing offense
Michigan total defense 14th (285.8 ypga) 11th (502 ypg) Nebraska total offense
Michigan yards per play allowed 17th (4.48 yppa) 24th (6.69 ypp) Nebraska yards per play
Michigan opp. first downs 16th (16 apg) 21st (24 pg) Nebraska first downs
Michigan opp. third down conv. 38th (35.06%) 27th (47.25%) Nebraska third down conv.
Michigan opp. fourth down conv. 39th (40%) 39th (69.23%) Nebraska fourth down conv.
Michigan opp. red zone conv. 98th (88.89%) 87th (80%) Nebraska red zone conv.
Michigan sacks 35th (2.6 s/gm) 121st (3 sa/gm) Nebraska sacks allowed
Michigan TFL 77th (5.4 tfl/gm) 115th (6.33 tfla/gm) Nebraska TFL allowed
Michigan long scrimmage plays allowed 12th (47 10+ yd plays) 19th (84 10+ yd plays) Nebraska long plays
Michigan opp. penalties 118th (38.6 yd/gm) 38th (46.2 yd/gm) Nebraska penalties
Michigan turnover margin 12th (+1/gm) 61st (0/gm) Nebraska turnover margin

[listicle id=45919]

Special teams

Rank (metric) Rank (metric)
Michigan kickoff 66th (62.79 yds) 130th (65.35 yds) Nebraska opp. kickoff
Michigan kickoff return 60th (21.45 yds/ret) 93rd (22.63 yds/ret) Nebraska kickoff return allowed
Michigan punting 60th (43.6 yds/p) 115th (45.47 yds/p) Nebraska opp. punting
Michigan punt return 15th (15.92 yds/ret) 128th (23 yds/ret) Nebraska punt return allowed
Michigan field goals 29th (88.9%) 7th (36.4%) Nebraska opp. field goals
Michigan PAT 1st (100%) 52nd (100%) Nebraska opp. PAT
Michigan opp. kickoff 2nd (55.71 yds) 46th (63.47 yds) Nebraska kickoff
Michigan kickoff return allowed 1st (7.75 yds/ret) 119th (15 yds/ret) Nebraska kickoff return
Michigan opp. punting 107th (44.93 yds/p) 122nd (38.32 yds/p) Nebraska punting
Michigan punt return allowed 33rd (4 yds/ret) 125th (1.14 yds/ret) Nebraska punt return
Michigan opp. field goals 49th (71.4%) 114th (50%) Nebraska field goals
Michigan opp. PAT 52nd (100%) 123rd (88.5%) Nebraska PAT

Stream college football games from the SEC, Big 12, The American, and more on ESPN+


[vertical-gallery id=47218]