Conference play arrives for Nebraska on Saturday, and the first test comes with a road trip to East Lansing and a matchup with Michigan State. The Huskers are 3-0, the Spartans are 2-1, and Pat Fitzgerald is now the face on the Michigan State sideline after his long run at Northwestern. He also knows Nebraska well enough to understand what’s coming.
One of the biggest questions is whether Nebraska’s offense can keep rolling away from home. Through three games, the Huskers are putting up 520.7 yards per game, a figure that sits inside the top 10 nationally. More than half of that production has come on the ground, where Nebraska is averaging 263 rushing yards per game behind true freshman running back Jamal Rule.
That ground game will be tested by a Michigan State defense that managed to stay within striking distance of No. 3 Notre Dame until the fourth quarter. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule pointed to the challenge ahead on Monday, especially with the Spartans at home and intent on making life difficult.
"They're going to play great special teams, they're going to play great defense, take away the run," Rhule said.
Fitzgerald, meanwhile, was more than willing to praise what Nebraska has done offensively in the first three weeks. In his Monday press conference, he said the Huskers look nothing like they did a year ago.
"They're all in sync. There operating at a very high level," Fitzgerald said.
"The O-line's playing very good. The young back reminds me of Lawrence Phillips.
Big, explosive, athletic. He's had incredible runs.
They've got multiple guys."
That sets up an obvious challenge for quarterback Anthony Colandrea and the rest of the Nebraska offense: keep the momentum going and keep the Spartans from dictating terms.
Michigan State will have its own run-game ambitions to sort out. The Spartans have traditionally leaned on the ground, with recent examples like Kenneth Walker and Le'Veon Bell serving as reminders of what that program likes to do. This season, former UConn back Cam Cook leads the way with 288 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and Michigan State is averaging 121 yards per game on the ground.
Still, the Spartans had trouble last week against Notre Dame, finishing with just 44 rushing yards as a team. That makes Saturday another chance for Michigan State to get its run game moving, and for Nebraska’s defense to show it can control the line of scrimmage.
That battle up front may end up deciding a lot. Nebraska’s offensive line has given Colandrea time to operate and created space for the backs, while the defensive front has shown some bite as well. Against North Dakota last week, the Huskers pressured quarterback Jerry Kamiski repeatedly and finished with five sacks.
Notre Dame also got to Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, forcing him into tight throws and leading to his first two interceptions of the season. Nebraska has been improving as a pass-rushing unit, and that pressure will matter again in East Lansing.
Another piece Nebraska needs to handle is early downs. The Huskers are averaging 7.4 yards per play and have done a strong job staying ahead of the chains. If that continues on the road, it gives Nebraska a much better chance to control the game.
The location matters too. Nebraska has struggled away from home in recent seasons, and during the Matt Rhule era the Huskers are 4-10 in road games. They also carry a three-game losing streak in East Lansing into this one.
The most recent trip there came in 2023, Rhule’s first season in Lincoln, when Nebraska fell 20-17. The other two road losses to Michigan State were 23-20 in overtime in 2021 and 27-22 in 2014.
For the Huskers, Saturday is about more than opening conference play. It is a chance to snap that skid in East Lansing and get the Big Ten slate started the right way.
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