Zvada's Last-Second FG Sends Wolverines to Walkoff Win Over Wildcats at Wrigley

Saturday, November 15

Wrigley Field | Chicago, Ill.

11:00 AM CT

Michigan

8-2 , 6-1

Northwestern

5-5 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Northwestern

Dominic Zvada (Michigan Photography)

Zvada's Last-Second FG Sends Wolverines to Walkoff Win Over Wildcats at Wrigley

11/15/2025 4:32:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Notes In the Trenches: Northwestern Recap Participation PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Chicago, Ill. (Wrigley Field)
Score: #18 Michigan 24, Northwestern 22
Records: U-M (8-2, 6-1 B1G), New Mexico (5-5, 3-4 B1G)
Attendance: 38,223
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 22 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), TBA (TV: TBA)

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan football team walked off Northwestern in baseball fashion at Wrigley Field on Saturday (Nov. 15). Dominic Zvada, who had missed two field goals earlier in the contest, redeemed himself by drilling a 31-yard kick as time expired to secure the 24-22 victory.

With 2:10 remaining in the game and down 22-21 in a quarter that saw Northwestern force three turnovers and score two touchdowns, Michigan commenced on an 11-play, 50-yard game-winning drive. Crucial to the drive was a third-down conversion on a diving, toe-drag reception by Andrew Marsh, whose 189-yard effort steered the Wolverines to victory.

Despite turning the ball over five times in the contest, the Wolverines' 496-yard offensive effort provided enough point-scoring opportunities to remain locked in a closely fought game and set themselves up with a game-winning kick.

Essential to the offense was the connection between the first-year duo of Marsh and Bryce Underwood. Of Underwood's 21 completed passes and 280 yards, Marsh accounted for 12 catches and 189 yards -- both single-game highs for first-year Wolverine pass catchers since at least 1979.

Jordan Marshall, after rushing for 185 yards and three touchdowns in the Wolverines' last game, added a fourth straight performance of 100 rushing yards or more in the contest. He contributed 142 yards over 19 rushes and two touchdowns in the win.

The Michigan defense dominated in the run game, holding Northwestern to only 61 rushing yards and 2.3 yards per carry, both season lows for the Wildcats. The Wolverine stop troops also held Northwestern to conversions on just two of 12 third downs.

First-half action at Wrigley Field was dominated by penalties, including a holding call that reversed what would have been a Marshall opening-drive rushing touchdown and held the Wolverines to a missed field-goal attempt. The Michigan ball carrier found the end zone on U-M's next drive, a one-yard score which capped off a 91-yard drive.

The Underwood-to-Marsh connection was on display early, as the duo converted six times for 104 yards in the game's first 16 minutes. This included a diving 32-yard Marsh catch in the right-field corner to set up the Marshall score early in the second quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, the Wildcats were. assessed a penalty of their own, pass interference in the end zone, which negated a touchdown and led to a 34-yard field goal conversion.

Following a fumble on an end-around play by Marsh on Michigan's next offensive possession, Northwestern was set up at the U-M 47-yard line. Again, the Wildcats were unable to capitalize with six points after tipped passes by Jaishawn Barham and Rayshaun Benny in the red zone held Northwestern to a field goal. The Wolverines led 7-6 at half.

After forcing a Northwestern punt to open the second half, the Wolverines quickly put points on the board. Marshall broke off a 65-yard run, his fourth of 50 yards or more this season, which set up a nine-yard rushing touchdown by Underwood.

After the Wolverines lost a fumble on a punt return midway through the third quarter, the Wildcats were again held to a field goal after having opportune field position (U-M 36-yard line following the turnover). This brought the game's score to a 14-9 U-M advantage.

U-M responded with a methodical 80-yard drive at the end of the third quarter, which resulted in a leaping Marshall one-yard rushing score and a two-score advantage.

Then came a momentum switch, as the Wildcats marched on a 75-yard scoring drive, intercepted an Underwood pass and returned it to the U-M six-yard line, then capitalized with a rushing touchdown. In just 55 seconds of game time, Northwestern flipped a two-score disadvantage into a 22-21 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the contest.

The Wolverines put together steady downfield efforts in each of their next two drives, but turned the ball over in Wildcat territory on each. The Maize and Blue defense held strong and forced a pair of punts to give its offense an opportunity for a late game-winning drive, capped off by the 31-yard time-expiring Zvada field goal.

Michigan will remain on the road next week, facing Maryland next Saturday (Nov. 22) at SECU Stadium. The game's time and broadcast details are to be announced.