A 42-yard Brandon Gibbons field goal is the difference between Michigan and Nebraska after the first quarter in Ann Arbor.
Gibbons’ field goal — a career-long kick for him — capped off what initially looked like another touchdown drive for the Wolverines, who were moving the ball well on the ground. But Nebraska had excellent coverage on a pass play, and Denard Robinson was sacked while trying to find an open receiver, moving the ball back to the Cornhuskers’ 25-yard line.
Robinson has been a dual threat thus far, completing 4-of-7 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. The score came on a six-yard pass to Jeremy Gallon. Robinson has also rushed for 44 yards on six carries. Perhaps most encouraging is that he’s run on a couple of plays when no receiver was open.
Nebraska cut Michigan’s 10-0 lead to 10-7 late in the quarter on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Martinez to tight end Brandon Kinnie. Play-action drew in the safeties and linebackers, leaving Kinnie in single coverage. The much bigger Kinnie mowed over cornerback J.T. Floyd and he trotted in for an easy score.
Michigan has the ball to begin the second quarter, starting from their 23-yard line.