Michigan Wolverines Defeat New Mexico Lobos 34-17 in Season Opener

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) the nation's top-ranked recruit completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown, becoming the fourth freshman to start at quarterback in program history and Alabama transfer running back Justice Haynes (22) ran for a career-high 159 yards and three touchdowns, leading U-M Past New Mexico in Season Opener. (Michigan Photography)

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	Bryce Underwood: It's a surreal feeling to wear the block M. Bryce Underwood describes his emotions after making his first start as the Michigan quarterback leading U-M Past New Mexico in Season Opener 34-17. Photo by CBS
	Michigan Wolverines Defeat New Mexico Lobos 34-17 in Season Opener Bunky McFadden - Sports Tell Us Detroit News ANN ARBOR - The 14th-ranked Michigan Wolverines opened their 2025 season with a convincing 34-17 victory over the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday night at Michigan Stadium. The game marked the debut of highly anticipated freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and Alabama transfer running back Justice Haynes. Stellar Debuts Power Michigan Victory Underwood threw a touchdown pass and displayed his arm strength and touch while avoiding costly mistakes in his first college game with all eyes on him. The nation's top-ranked recruit completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown, becoming the fourth freshman to start at quarterback in program history. Justice Haynes, a transfer from Alabama, ran for a career-high 159 yards and three touchdowns. His dominant ground performance included touchdown runs of 56 yards and 5 yards in the first quarter, plus a crucial 1-yard score in the fourth quarter after a spectacular 59-yard run. Game Flow Michigan jumped out to an early lead as Haynes scored on 56- and 5-yard touchdown runs in the first quarter. Underwood connected with tight end Marlin Klein on a 17-yard touchdown pass late in the first half to restore a two-touchdown lead. New Mexico showed resilience throughout the contest. The Lobos converted a fourth down and scored a touchdown on a trick play, sending a direct snap to running back D.J. McKinney to set up a 9-yard touchdown pass to Dorian Thomas. They also recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and added a field goal to pull within 17-10 at halftime. New Mexico pulled within 10 points late in the third quarter when Jack Layne lobbed a 3-yard pass to Thomas, but Michigan's defense stepped up when it mattered most. Turning Point The Lobos had a shot to get closer early in the fourth, but Layne threw a pass up for grabs over the deep middle of the field and Brandyn Hillman intercepted it. This interception led directly to Haynes' third touchdown, effectively sealing the victory. Layne, an Idaho transfer, finished 31 of 47 for 208 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Key Statistics -Michigan Total Yards: 452 vs New Mexico's 267 -Michigan Rushing: 201 yards vs New Mexico's 50 yards -Turnovers: New Mexico 3, Michigan 1 -Third Down Conversions: Michigan 6-13, New Mexico 5-14 Coach Sherrone Moore's Statements After Michigan's 34-17 Win Over New Mexico On Bryce Underwood's debut performance: "I couldn't do that as a freshman. That was impressive," Moore said about Underwood's composed performance in his first college start. On the team's preparation and Underwood's leadership: "Bryce has done a tremendous job of winning over the team. He came in with all the accolades, but he's a humble kid. He leads by his actions, not by his talking," Moore noted about his freshman quarterback. On the targeting penalty: Moore said the targeting ruling against linebacker Jaishawn Barham will be appealed, indicating his disagreement with the call that led to Barham's ejection in the third quarter. Pre-game assessment of New Mexico: "I think they're gonna be very well-coached. I think they're gonna play sound, physical football," Moore had said earlier about Jason Eck's New Mexico team, showing respect for their opponent. Moore's comments reflected satisfaction with his team's season-opening performance, particularly praising the poise shown by his freshman quarterback and the overall team execution in what was a convincing victory to start the 2025 season. Looking Ahead New Mexico hosts Idaho State next Saturday, while Michigan plays at Oklahoma next Saturday in what promises to be a significant early-season test for the Wolverines. The victory improved Michigan's season-opening record to 120-23-3 all-time, maintaining their strong tradition in season debuts under the lights at the Big House.