Kenny Larabee, NRG Media
The Nebraska football team stymied Michigan State’s offense, grabbing two interceptions and six sacks as the Cornhuskers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) opened Big Ten play with a 31-13 win over the Spartans in East Lansing, Mich. The win completes the first undefeated September for Nebraska since 2016, also the last time the Huskers won nine games in the season. It’s also the first time since 2019 opened Big Ten play with a win.
The Blackshirts choked off Michigan State’s running game, which had been averaging 151 rushing yards per game. The Spartans (2-2, 0-1) gained just 32 rushing yards against Nebraska, averaging just 1.2 yards per carry. The Huskers’ defense also harassed MSU quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, sacking him five times and his situational replacement Cam Fancher once. After recording just four sacks in the first two games, Nebraska has piled up 11 in the last two.
After the teams traded punts on their first drives of the game, Michigan State drove to the NU 22 before back-to-back sacks by Jamir Conn and Williams Nwaneri forced the Spartans to settle for a 48-yard field goal. Things momentarily appeared to turn from bad to worse. After the Huskers went three-and-out on its next drive, Archie Wilson had his first punt blocked at Nebraska. But a holding penalty on MSU erased the blocked punt and gave the Huskers new life. Three plays later, they took advantage as Anthony Colandrea hit Kwazi Gilmer on a 44-yard bomb that gave NU a 7-0 lead.
The Spartans went three-and-out on their next possession and punted it to the NU 21. Colandrea sparked the drive with a 17-yard scramble on third-and-10 after the first two plays gained nothing. Mehki Nelson followed with a 19-yard run to the MSU 28. Two plays later, Colandrea hit Quinn Clark for a 25-yard gain to set up first-and-goal from the four. Two plays later, Nelson bowled into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown run to push the Huskers’ lead to 14-3 with just under 12 minutes to play in the half.
Cam Fancher checked into the game at quarterback for the Spartans, and after he was sacked on first down, Fancher threw an interception to Owen Chambliss, giving Nebraska the ball at the Spartans’ 29. The Huskers didn’t gain a first down on the ensuing drive, but Kyle Cunanan booted a 32-yard field goal to grow Nebraska’s lead to 17-3 with just under 10 minutes to go in the second quarter. Michigan State responded on the next drive. A 24-yard pass from Milivojevic to Brennan Parachek sparked the drive, moving the Spartans to their 46. After three first downs, back-to-back Jaziun Patterson runs punched the ball into the end zone, pulling Michigan State to within 17-10 of Nebraska with six minutes to go in the second quarter.
The Huskers took over at their 26 and marched, picking up five first downs to move the ball to the Spartans’ 13. Then Colandrea hit Vincent Genatone for a 13-yard touchdown pass, pushing the Nebraska lead to 24-10 just before halftime. The Huskers’ offense really struggled in the third quarter, going three-and-out twice while failing on fourth down once. Meanwhile, Michigan State kicked a 46-yard field goal to cut Nebraska’s lead to 24-13.
After a missed field goal, the Huskers took over at their 34-yard line late in the third quarter. Nebraska picked up a pair of first downs to move to near midfield as the fourth quarter began. As the final 15 minutes began, Nelson took over, running for three times for 22 yards along with a seven-yard Colandrea scramble to move the ball to the MSU 16. Colandrea then hit Janiran Bonner for a first down. After another first down, Genatone pushed into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown, boosting the lead to 31-13 with 10:05 remaining.
The Spartans put one last scare into the Huskers. Taking over on their 10, Michigan State quickly swept up the field. Milivojevic hit Fredrick Moore for 11 yards to the MSU 19, then connected with Marvis Parish for 11 yards. After Milivojevic hooked up with Chrishon McCray for 16 yards, he found Rodney Bullard, Jr., for a 13-yard gain, then hit Jayden Savoury for a 22-yard gain to the NU 18. But just as the Spartans were starting to threaten, Milivojevic was intercepted by Andrew Marshall, all but sealing the game.
Nebraska outgained Michigan State, 369-257. Colandrea was 15-for-27 for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the Huskers’ leading rusher for the game: 10 carries, 66 yards. Nelson rushed 15 times for 61 yards and a touchdown. Gilmer was Nebraska’s top receiver, with four catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Chambliss led NU with eight tackles and an interception, while Victor Evans, III, had seven tackles and two tackles for loss. Williams Nwaneri had two sacks as well. Donovan Jones had a sack and a forced fumble, which he recovered.
The Huskers now prepare to take on Maryland (2-2, 0-1), which lost 54-3 to UCLA Saturday. Pregame coverage begins at 11 a.m., with kickoff at 3 p.m. from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on KLIN and Froggy 98.