It took just two minutes into the new Michigan football season for Justice Haynes to find a gaping hole and hit the turbo boost for the first points of the new year. The burst went for 56 yards and was not the only 50 yard jaunt that he had on the night. He nearly took it the distance later in the fourth, for 59 yards, which propelled Haynes to his third score of the evening.
Haynes completely outran the New Mexico offense by more then 100 yards by himself. He managed to find the endzone seven times as a member of the Crimson Tide and almost had half as many scores in his Michigan debut. Haynes averaged a whopping 10 yards per carry thanks to his ability to find the creases against the outmatched New Mexico defense.
Credit to New Mexico. First year coach in a complete rebuild without much returning talent. They came ready to play tonight. Will take my L on Michigan. Wrong side.
— Adam Trigger (@AdamTriggerWT) August 31, 2025
Bryce Underwood accounted for the other touchdown through the air with his leading receiver Marlin Klein. Right before halftime Underwood took the offense down the field in a minute and a half with some precise throws. He zipped it to Channing Goodwin over the middle, in a tight window, for the longest play of the drive at 39 yards. He capped it off by freezing the defender in coverage to place it in the bucket for his tight end to waltz right in to the endzone.
Underwood finished with more passing yards than any Michigan quarterback had in 2024 and any freshman quarterback in Michigan history for a debut. He also didn't have any freshman-type moments. You really couldn't ask for a much better performance, even though he graded himself with a C-plus effort. His block to spring Haynes for a score will be discussed internally, even though it was justified.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday's win over the Lobos.
1. Jaishawn Barham's targeting call was far to egregious
Instead of a strip sack that was promptly returned for six, which would have blown open the game, Barham was called for targeting against the defenseless quarterback and ejected. Three plays later, Jack Layne threw a pass that was not reviewed and resulted in a first down. It was bobbled and never secured. Moments later, Derrick Moore got a head start on defense, which continued New Mexico's drive. Then Jyaire Hill got penalized in the endzone on third and goal, giving the Lobos new life once again.
The targeting call was the beginning of a snowball effect that kept the drive alive and it went from 33-10 to 27-17 in an instant. Barham's call was disputed on social media and Charles Woodson even said that it was not targeting. In the postgame presser Sherrone Moore said he would appeal the call to try and make Barham available for the entire game next week in Norman.
For those counting, New Mexico was penalized one time for a five-yard false start, while Michigan football committed eight penalties for 65 yards. The officiating crew did no favors to the home crowd either, because they were from the Big Ten conference, too.
2. Michigan's defense was a little agitating despite some correctable errors
Compared to what we expected to see and what we witnessed last season, Wink Martindale's vaunted unit struggled at times, but still had a grasp of the New Mexico offense. They gave up a nifty trick play for a touchdown that is rarely seen on fourth and goal that could have been a defining stop for the cavalry. Andrew Marsh's turnover on the ensuing kickoff put them in an unenviable spot, but New Mexico only settled for three.
New Mexico's other touchdown came on the inauspicious drive that was marred by penalties and a missed review. Other then that, Michigan's defense still created three turnovers and just as many sacks. They harassed Jack Layne into some serious painful hits that he will feel tomorrow.
New Mexico will not play anyone better than Michigan. We are competing with this team. We are going to be a very competitive team the rest of the year.
— lobogabe (@lobogabe) August 31, 2025
The defensive meetings were probably watching a ton of Idaho film from last year and didn't know what to expect on certain plays from a practically retooled offense, like the tailback pass to Dorian Thomas for six. Take away the Arizona transfer's output and New Mexico doesn't surpass 200 yards of total offense.
3. Chip Lindsey's up-tempo offense was pleasantly assertive
For the first few plays of the game Michigan's offense went into hurry-up mode and caught New Mexico's defense off guard. They scored within seconds and didn't revert back to that until the two minute drill before the break. Coincidentally they ended both drives with seven points.
Put it all together, and the offense was very balanced with 31 passes and 32 runs. Justice Haynes had a career-setting performance. He only went for 100 plus one time at Alabama. Marlin Klein also had a matinee to remember as Bryce Underwood's favorite target. Channing Goodwin caught the longest pass of the night, which was longer than any pass thrown by a quarterback in 2024.
Donaven McCulley had his highest output since November of 2023. Semaj Morgan and Andrew Marsh each fumbled on special teams, but made some plays that will be lauded by the coaches once they rewatch the tape. The coaches should do everything they can to get Jordan Marshall more involved with the invasion of Norman looming, less then a week away.