Michigan State had enough chances to make Saturday feel different. Instead, the Spartans kept running into one bad break after another, and Nebraska walked out of Spartan Stadium with the win after a game that kept slipping away from Michigan State in all the worst ways.
The opening quarter gave the home crowd a reason to believe. Alessio Milivojevic connected with Cam Edwards for 23 yards on the first drive, and Michigan State finished the series with a field goal.
Then the defense seemed to set up something bigger. The Spartans forced a three-and-out and blocked the punt, only to have a holding penalty erase the play.
Nebraska got a fresh set of downs, and the Cornhuskers made the most of it with a 61-yard touchdown pass that flipped the game on its head.
From there, Nebraska kept pushing. The Cornhuskers put together a nine-play drive in the second quarter and punched in a four-yard rushing touchdown.
Michigan State tried to work both quarterbacks, but Cam Fancher threw an interception, sending the defense right back onto the field. Nebraska added a field goal, and what had started as a 3-0 Michigan State lead had become a 17-3 deficit.
The Spartans did find a response. With starting running back Cam Edwards out because of a knee injury, Jaziun Patterson took over and gave Michigan State a needed spark. Patterson handled seven carries on the drive and finished it with a two-yard touchdown run, trimming the margin to 17-10.
That momentum didn’t last long. Nebraska answered with a touchdown drive late in the second quarter, scoring with just two seconds left before halftime.
The injury picture only got worse after the break. Michigan State opened the third quarter with a strong defensive stand, but star linebacker Jordan Hall, who has battled injuries throughout the season, ended up in the medical tent and stayed there through the Spartans’ next offensive possession. Michigan State still managed a field goal and cut the score to 24-13, but it was hard to shake the feeling that the game was getting away from them.
Then came one of the night’s biggest swings. Chrishon McCray turned in one of the best catches of the season, reaching out for a one-handed grab on second down to keep the drive moving. On the very next play, though, Milivojevic was hit hard under pressure and coughed up the ball.
Michigan State’s defense kept fighting. The Spartans stopped Nebraska on fourth-and-1 with 6:30 left in the third quarter, giving the offense another shot.
Jayden Savoury then made a phenomenal catch that pushed Michigan State deep into Nebraska territory, but the play was overturned after review. The Spartans settled for a field-goal try, and Liam Boyd missed it.
That was a brutal sequence, and it left Michigan State with too much to overcome. Nebraska kept finding ways to move the ball, the Spartans couldn’t string together enough stops, and Milivojevic eventually forced a late interception that ended any real hope of a comeback.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Michigan State, one defined by injuries, turnovers, missed chances and several critical plays that went against the Spartans after penalties and reviews. The loss sends Michigan State into a two-game skid, but the season still has plenty left in front of it.
Next up is Wisconsin, with Michigan State traveling to face the Badgers next Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
In Other News...
Michigan States Hot Start Just Ran Into A Big Ten Reality Check
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Alanna Bankston led Michigan State with 14 kills, while Malayah Long finished with 26 assists, but it was not enough to slow a Washington team that stayed perfect at 10-0. The Spartans are now 10-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, with the early setback creating an immediate test for how they respond in one of the nations toughest conferences. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Took A Brutal Loss But One Spartans Effort Stood Out
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Even in a lopsided result, there were a few Spartans efforts worth noting. Lola Munoz de Verger and Catherine Wolf combined for 10 saves, and the back line had to deal with wave after wave of Northwestern pressure. Michigan State never found the offensive breakthrough it needed, but the way it kept battling in the circle and in front of goal offered one of the few bright spots on a difficult day. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Just Made Its Strongest Early Season Statement Yet
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All three goals came in a seven-minute burst around halftime, the kind of stretch that can flip a conference match in a hurry and leave little doubt about which team seized control. The result pushed MSU to 3-0-0 in Big Ten play and 7-1-1 overall, the best league start in program history, and it gave the Spartans another reminder that their early-season momentum is no fluke. [Read more 🡒]