Michigan State’s shot at pulling off the upset against Nebraska starts with three names, and all three sit right in the middle of what the Spartans need most on Saturday evening.
The setup is clear enough. Nebraska comes in at 3-0 after beating Ohio, Bowling Green, and North Dakota, while Michigan State is 2-1 after a tough loss to Notre Dame in South Bend. Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers are favored by 5.5 points heading into East Lansing for the Big Ten opener, and the matchup gives both teams a chance to make an early statement as conference play begins.
Michigan State isn’t walking into this like a team ready to flinch, though. The Spartans pushed Notre Dame enough to earn some national respect, even if Pat Fitzgerald wasn’t pleased with how things played out. Now comes the next test, and if Michigan State is going to spring the upset, the path runs through Ben Roberts, Chrishon McCray, and Cam Edwards.
Roberts has been one of the biggest reasons Michigan State’s defense has steadied itself after a disappointing 2025 season. The senior defensive lineman has generated real NFL draft buzz, and even with only five tackles on the stat sheet, his impact has shown up in the middle of the defense.
He was especially effective against Notre Dame, and that kind of disruption is exactly what Michigan State needs again if it wants to slow down Jamal Rule and Anthony Colandrea. Roberts has to clog running lanes, absorb blockers, and make Nebraska work for every inch inside.
McCray is the other piece Michigan State needs to get moving in a hurry. He opened the year with eight catches for 69 yards, but the last two weeks have been quiet by comparison.
He’s supposed to be the Spartans’ top receiver, yet the production has dipped, even with Alessio Milivojevic missing him on a couple of open deep chances that could have turned into easy touchdowns. Nebraska’s pass defense has been one of the best in the country through three weeks, which only raises the pressure on McCray to look more like the Week 1 version of himself than the one Michigan State has seen since.
Then there’s Edwards, who may be the most obvious answer on the board but still has the heaviest lift. He’s the engine of the offense, and after a disappointing outing against Notre Dame, Michigan State needs him to hit another gear. If the Spartans are going to beat Nebraska, Edwards likely has to top 100 rushing yards and help grind down the Cornhuskers so Milivojevic can take his shots through the air.
That’s the formula for Michigan State. Roberts disrupts, McCray stretches the defense, and Edwards sets the tone on the ground. If all three show up, the Spartans have a real chance to turn Saturday evening into something bigger.
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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 🡒]
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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
Michigan States mens soccer team kept building on its fast start Friday night at DeMartin Stadium, using Alumni Night to deliver another performance that looked every bit like an early statement in the Big Ten. Richie Ludwig scored twice and Dom Dono added the other goal as the Spartans rolled past Wisconsin 3-0, with the match turning sharply after the Badgers were reduced to 10 men.
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 🡒]