Michigan football escapes Northwestern, 24-22, despite 5 turnovers
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CHICAGO − Michigan football gutted out a win Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
Dominic Zvada kicked the winning 31-yard field goal as time expired, pushing the Wolverines past Northwestern 24-22 in a thrilling finish.
Zvada is now 4-for-4 on game-winning/tying field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime for Michigan (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten). He missed twice earlier in the game, including a 60-yarder at the end of the first half, and Michigan had five turnovers, including three in the fourth quarter by quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Third-string running back Bryson Kuzdzal and the offensive line helped Michigan get into field goal range after Andrew Marsh made a diving, toe-tapping 21-yard catch on third down to keep the drive alive,
Jordan Marshall scored two touchdowns and Underwood kept a zone-read for a third-quarter score to help the Wolverines stay alive in the Big Ten title race and College Football Playoff. Marshall injured his shoulder on a run in the fourth quarter and did not return.
Underwood had a disastrous fourth quarter until the final drive.
On third-and-9 early in the quarter at the Michigan 26, he was picked off over the middle by Jack Florentine, who returned the ball 34 yards to the 6-yard line. It was Underwood's fourth interception this season.
Caleb Komolafe scored on the next play to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game with 12:05 remaining, though the 2-point conversion was no good.
He threw another pick near the red zone on the ensuing possession to stop a drive, then fumbled on fourth-and-1 from the Northwestern 24 when coach Sherrone Moore opted not to attempt the go-ahead field goal.
But Michigan responded with two defensive stops after the final two turnovers, and made good on the final drive.
Here are three takeaways.
Michigan passing game finds its footing behind RPOs
The Wolverines found success through the air largely via the run-pass-option, with Underwood targeting Marsh over and over and over again. He had nine receptions in the first half alone – the most for any FBS receiver since Jordan Addison for Pittsburgh in 2020 – and finished with the best day of any freshman pass catcher in program history.
Each of his first three receptions went for 10 or more yards and a first down, including a beautiful ball feathered between the back two layers of the defense from Underwood with Marsh coming out of the backfield on a wheel route. He had another 32-yard grab on third-and-6 to set up U-M’s first score of the game.
In the end, Marsh passed Roy Roundtree (10 grabs in 2009) and Andrel Anthony (155 yards in 2021) for the most receptions and yards by a U-M freshman pass catcher since at least 1979.
Michigan turnovers and mistakes galore
Michigan gave up two sacks on its opening drive, then had a holding call on Andrew Sprague which negated a Marshall touchdown. Two plays later, Zvada missed a 34-yard field goal.
When the defense took over, Jaishawn Barham jumped offsides on third down to give Northwestern a free first down, then the punt team allowed a fake on fourth-and-1 to move the sticks.
Underwood was later sacked on U-M’s third drive which ultimately ended in a punt, then on the ensuing defensive possession Enow Etta jumped offsides on third down to allow yet another first down. Northwestern finished that drive with a field goal.
Late in the first half, U-M had marched down to the Northwestern 37, when it got cute with the play calling. Underwood faked the handoff to Marshall, then flipped around to toss a short pitch to Marsh but he was blown up the second he got the ball and fumbled, leading to Northwestern ball at midfield.
The Wildcats got a field goal on that possession, too and then Michigan missed another field goal – though this was understandable from 60 yards – to go into the half up one.
But perhaps the biggest gaffe came when Morgan tried to spin out of a few tackles on a return and fumbled on the U-M 36. That's before Underwood threw two interceptions and Kuzdzal fumbled on fourth down.
Michigan defense does its job again
There wasn’t a ton of pressure on quarterback Preston Stone – he was not sacked at all – but the defensive linemen were fantastic at getting their arms in passing lanes. In total, Michigan had eight pass breakups, six from linemen.
Northwestern didn’t have a single drive that went more than 40 yards until the fourth quarter, but largely Michigan’s defense was superb.
Twice Northwestern got the ball in short fields after Michigan giveaways and both times the Wolverines were able to get off the field allowing just a field goal.
Michigan gave up the go-ahead score on one play, a 6-yard rushing touchdown, after Underwood's first interception, but forced consecutive three-and-outs to end the game to give the offense a chance to redeem itself.
Michigan schedule 2025
Two games remain on the regular season schedule for the Wolverines.
- Nov. 22: at Maryland, TBA
- Nov. 29: vs Ohio State, noon, Fox
This story will be updated.
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Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football escapes Northwestern, 24-22, despite 5 turnovers
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