Huskers Fall at No. 3 Michigan

Nebraska got a second-quarter field goal to pull within 14-3, but the Huskers were unable to get any closer as No. 3 Michigan battled its way to a 34-3 win over the Huskers at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday afternoon.

Although Nebraska capped a 12-play, 55-yard drive with a 37-yard Timmy Bleekrode field goal with 4:10 left in the first half, the Huskers lost starting quarterback Chubba Purdy late in the drive following Purdy’s first-down gaining run. Purdy, who made his second straight start in place of an injured Casey Thompson, ended his day with a team-high 39 rushing yards on five carries, while completing 6-of-12 passes for 56 yards.

Logan Smothers came on in relief of Purdy and completed 4-of-8 passes for 15 yards the rest of the way, while adding one yard on four rushing attempts against a stout and aggressive Michigan defense. For the game, Nebraska (3-7) managed just 146 total yards against the Wolverines.

Michigan (10-0) controlled the game with its defense and a powerful running game that featured 162 yards on 28 carries from Blake Corum, including a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to give the Wolverines a 7-0 lead. C.J. Stokes added 68 yards on eight carries for the Wolverines, who amassed 264 yards on the ground among their 412 yards of total offense.

Nebraska’s defense limited Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy to 129 yards on just 8-of-17 passing, including four connections for 72 yards to Ronnie Bell, who pulled down a nine-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter that gave the…