Michigan State came into Saturday night hoping for something cleaner, sharper and a lot more convincing in its Big Ten opener. Instead, Nebraska walked out of Spartan Stadium with a 31-13 win, and the game turned into the kind of messy, one-sided slog the Spartans could not afford.
There were a few bright spots buried in the chaos, though, along with a handful of clear setbacks that shaped the night. Here are the biggest winners and losers from Michigan State’s loss to Nebraska.
Jaz Patterson was one of the few offensive positives. He got thrust into a bigger role after Cam Edwards went down in the first half, and while the box score won’t jump off the page, Patterson handled the moment well. He finished with 54 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and he kept running with force even as Michigan State’s offensive line had trouble creating much room.
The biggest loss, by far, was Michigan State’s health. The injury list kept growing all night.
Tre Bell was already out before kickoff after getting hurt in warmups and being in street clothes. Then came Edwards, who was carted off.
Conner Moore was hurt. Jordan Hall exited.
Keshawn Williams was in the tunnel early. Dion Crawford and Caleb Wheatland also left at one point with what appeared to be minor injuries.
It was a rough night on that front from start to finish.
Chrishon McCray gave the Spartans a needed spark in the passing game. For the first time since Week 1, someone other than Rod Bullard Jr. stepped forward.
McCray got on the same page with Alessio Milivojevic and caught four passes for 47 yards, highlighted by the best play of the game for Michigan State: an incredible one-handed grab in the third quarter as the Spartans were moving the ball. That drive ended in a turnover soon after, but McCray may have given himself a real confidence boost.
The fans were another casualty of the night. The stadium was not as full as it probably should have been for the first Big Ten opener of the Fitzgerald era, and the people who did show up had to sit through a game packed with mistakes, injuries, poor officiating and drives that went nowhere.
Michigan State’s early 3-0 lead vanished quickly, turning into a 17-3 deficit in the blink of an eye. For what should have been a major home showcase, it was a dud.
Andrew Brinson IV also emerged as a winner. This was the first real look Michigan State fans got at him since his true freshman season in 2024, and he made it count.
With Tre Bell, Tyran Chappell and Keshawn Williams sidelined, Brinson had a chance to play meaningful snaps and looked solid. Charles Brantley struggled again, which only made Brinson’s performance stand out more.
He even prevented a touchdown on Nebraska’s final offensive play. That kind of showing could keep him in the regular rotation even when the cornerback room gets healthier.
The Cam Fancher package, though, did not fare well. It had been a useful wrinkle entering the Nebraska game, especially near the goal line, but Michigan State tried it in the first half in a bad spot and paid for it.
Deep in its own territory, the Spartans saw Fancher take a heavy sack and then throw a bad interception that gave Nebraska the ball with favorable field position. The Cornhuskers turned that into another score, and it is hard to imagine that package showing up anywhere but the red zone anytime soon.
In Other News...
Michigan State Now Faces A Bigger Problem Than The Nebraska Loss
The Nebraska loss itself was ugly enough for Michigan State, but the bigger concern coming out of Lincoln was the damage done to the roster. The Spartans were already thin in key spots, and the injury situation started before kickoff when starting cornerback Tre Bell was hurt in warmups and never made it into the game.
It only got worse from there. Running back Cam Edwards and offensive lineman Connor Moore went down on the same play, and defensive leader Jordan Hall also left with a leg injury after being taken off the field on a cart, leaving Michigan State with plenty to sort through beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces A Bigger Offensive Problem Than Fans Feared
Michigan States offense has looked increasingly out of sync over the last few games, and the numbers underline just how much work remains. Through four games, the Spartans have managed only 88 points and nine touchdowns, both among the lowest marks in the Big Ten, while quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has been dealing with plenty of pressure, sacks and interceptions as the unit struggles to find any sort of rhythm.
The bigger concern is that the problems have not been limited to execution. Injuries have already thinned out the group and left the staff trying to patch together answers on the fly, with the offensive line and backfield both taking hits that make every snap feel a little more fragile. Michigan State is still searching for stability, but the margin for error keeps shrinking as the offense tries to get healthy enough to even resemble what it was supposed to be. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Faces A Depth Chart Test Against Wisconsin
Michigan State left its trip to Nebraska with more than one injury concern, and the timing could not be worse with Wisconsin next on the schedule. Running back Cam Edwards and linebacker Jordan Hall were among the players hurt in the game, leaving the Spartans to sort through a depth chart that may look different by the time they line up again.
The backfield is especially worth watching because backup Jaziun Patterson handled relief work well after Edwards exited, and the staff is already leaning on him as it prepares for the next matchup. The bigger question now is how Michigan State will piece together its roster across the board if the injury list forces more changes, with the full extent of those setbacks still unclear. [Read more 🡒]