Running back Justice Haynes continued his blistering start to his career with Michigan football, running 19 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns as the No. 20 Wolverines marched their way to a 24-10 win over Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Haynes extended his program record with the TDs and the 100-yard game, becoming the first running back in U-M history to hit those marks in each of his first five games. (Quarterback Denard Robinson had 100 yards rushing in each of his first five games in 2010.)
Michigan running back Justice Haynes (22) runs the ball during the first half against Wisconsin at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.
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True freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood went 19-for-28 for 270 yards and a touchdown for Michigan, but struggled to connect with receivers at times, with drops again a problem for U-M’s pass-catchers.
Kicker Dominic Zvada missed two kicks, including a 27-yarder pulled wide left in the third quarter.
First-half torpor
Unfortunately for Haynes and U-M, the rest of the offense rarely seemed on the same page.
After driving 75 yards in five plays on their first drive – with Haynes picking up 43 yards to get U-M to the 5 –the Wolverines (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) mustered just 87 yards the rest of the half, picking up a field goal on an eight-play, 44-yard drive midway through the second quarter.
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The Wolverines were dominated in time of possession in the first half, but held the Badgers (2-3, 0-2) to a single touchdown, scored on their first drive when QB Hunter Simmons – making his first career start – led Wisconsin 75 yards downfield for a 7-0 lead. The Badgers took 12 plays to work toward the end zone, eating six minutes and 50 seconds of clock.
Wisconsin’s next seven drives all ended in punts, with none gaining more than 23 yards.
Donaven McCulley a No. 1 target
After just 13 catches (for 197 yards) over Michigan’s first four games, Donaven McCulley had some big plays in the U-M offense. The Indiana transfer hauled in a 33-yard throw from Underwood in the first half, and gave U-M a 10-point lead with his 29-yard TD with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter. On that play, McCulley caught a quick hitch from Underwood on the right side, shook off one tackle at his ankles and bounced off a big hit to sprint to the pylon to make it 17-7.
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McCulley finished with six catches (on seven targets) for 112 yards, after taking another short pass from Underwood 25 yards to set up a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
More from Rod Moore
Rod Moore, the two-time U-M captain who missed all of last season with a serious knee injury suffered in spring ball, picked off his first pass of the 2025 season (after returning two weeks ago against Nebraska) on a deep ball from Simmons on which fellow DB Jyaire Hill made fairly obvious contact with the Wiscsonsin receiver.
Still, no pass interference was called, allowing the pick to stand as Moore’s teammates mobbed him in celebration.
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Next up for the Wolverines
Michigan heads to the West Coast to face USC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Oct, 11 (7:30 p.m., NBC). It’s the Wolverines’ first visit to LA since USC joined the Big Ten last season. U-M beat USC, 27-24, last season in Ann Arbor. Before that, the Wolverines and Trojans had met seven times in the Rose Bowl. Their last meeting during the regular season? That came on Sept. 27, 1958 – a 20-19 USC win in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines last beat the Trojans at the Coliseum on Sept. 28, 1957, in a 16-6 battle.
Make “Hail Yes!” your go-to Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify).
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 runs over Wisconsin, 24-10, to go to 2-0 in Big Ten
