Interim head coach Biff Poggi guided No. 21 Michigan to a 30-27 victory over Nebraska on Saturday night, securing his second straight win in Sherrone Moore’s absence.
The Wolverines improved to 3-1 and extended their College Football Playoff hopes ahead of their Oct. 4 matchup with Wisconsin.
Moore, serving a suspension linked to Michigan’s 2023 sign-stealing scandal, left Poggi in charge for two contests. The Wolverines won both.
Poggi delivered one of the night’s most memorable moments during his postgame interview with CBS Sports’ Jenny Dell. Asked how he would celebrate, he replied:
“I’m gonna eat some Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream with my wife, and smoke a Cuban cigar and then probably go to the hospital.”
"I'm gonna eat some Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream with my wife and smoke a cuban cigar... and then probably go the hospital." 🤣@UMichFootball's one and only Biff Poggi w/ @JennyDell_ pic.twitter.com/fccEIvjMUV
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 20, 2025
On the field, Michigan leaned on its backfield depth. Transfer running back Justice Haynes carried 17 times for 149 yards and a touchdown, including a 75-yard burst in the second quarter that pushed Michigan ahead 17-10.
Jordan Marshall later added a 54-yard scoring run in the third quarter to give the Wolverines a 27-17 advantage.
Nebraska kept it close behind freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who connected on a 52-yard Hail Mary to tie the game at halftime. But Michigan’s defense responded, sacking Raiola seven times while holding the Cornhuskers without a touchdown after the break.
Kicker Dominic Zvada hit a 56-yard field goal to break a 17-17 tie before Marshall’s long run stretched the lead. Nebraska never fully recovered.
The victory marked Michigan’s fifth consecutive win over Nebraska since 2018. For the Cornhuskers, it was another painful chapter, as they dropped their 28th straight contest against ranked opponents dating back to 2016.
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, facing his first Big Ten road test after struggling at Oklahoma, showed composure beyond his numbers. Poggi praised his young signal-caller’s impact.
“He made some excellent throws. He made some excellent runs,” Poggi said. “The thing you don’t see is his poise and leadership in the huddle and on the sideline. I’m not exaggerating, there was not a doubt in anyone’s mind on our sideline at any point that we weren’t winning that game. And he was a big part of that.”
With Moore set to return to the sideline, Poggi will resume his role as associate head coach.