Nebraska’s trip to East Lansing looked like more than just a solid road win. The Huskers handled Michigan State 31-13, and the numbers from Saturday night painted a pretty clear picture: six sacks, a plus-three edge in turnovers, and just 39 rushing yards allowed.
That kind of defensive squeeze is exactly why the mood around this team feels different right now. Nebraska is 4-0 for the first time since 2016, and it picked up its first road win at Michigan State since November 3, 2012.
The Spartans were not an easy measuring stick, but Nebraska still came away with a more convincing margin than Notre Dame did the week before. The current No. 3 team in the nation beat Michigan State 27-10; Nebraska won by 18.
There were missing pieces on both sides, too. Michigan State was short-handed, but Nebraska also had to deal with losing key players for most of the game, including starting running back Jamal Rule and starting wide receiver Jacory Barney, Jr.
The bigger story was the edge the Huskers brought on defense. The Blackshirts played with the kind of nasty attitude Nebraska fans have been waiting to see again, and Michigan State kept having to stop play for injured players. Whatever label you want to put on it, the Huskers looked like a team that came in ready to hit first and keep hitting.
Now Nebraska turns home for Maryland, which visits Lincoln on Saturday at 3:00 CDT. The Terrapins are 2-2, and Nebraska is listed as a 12.5 to 14.5 point favorite.
Maryland opened the season with wins over Hampton, 62-0, and Connecticut, 38-14, but has since dropped back-to-back games to Virginia Tech, 35-26, and UCLA, 54-3. Mike Locksley’s team went 4-8 last season, and he brings that group into a matchup that looks tough on paper.
The defensive numbers are stacked heavily in Nebraska’s favor. The Huskers lead Maryland in scoring defense, rush defense, pass defense and total defense, while Maryland’s only edge on offense comes in passing offense.
Nebraska sits at No. 10 in scoring defense to Maryland’s No. 93, No. 21 in rush defense to No.
53, No. 7 in pass defense to No. 45, and No. 5 in total defense to No. 39.
That’s part of why the conversation around Maryland quickly turns to what comes next for Locksley. The schedule doesn’t offer much breathing room, with Ohio State looming the following week, plus trips to USC on November 21 and Penn State on November 28.
Nebraska’s win in East Lansing changed the tone. The next step is seeing whether the Huskers can carry that same edge into another Big Ten game at home.
In Other News...
Nebraska Suddenly Faces A Dylan Raiola Twist Matt Rhule Didnt Hide
Dylan Raiolas name has suddenly come back into Nebraskas orbit in a way few around the program probably expected. During Oregons game against USC, starter Dante Moore went down with an injury and Raiola stepped in, then helped push the Ducks to a 41-27 win. For Nebraska, it adds another layer to a matchup that already carried plenty of interest, especially with Raiola having once been part of the Cornhuskers future before ending up in Eugene.
Matt Rhule didnt try to hide his regard for Raiola when the topic came up, and that only sharpens the intrigue around what comes next. Raiola has looked strong in his Oregon appearances, and there is a real possibility he could be the one lining up against Nebraska in the upcoming game. For the Huskers, it would turn a familiar name into a very different kind of problem, and one they may have to prepare for quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhule Just Shut Down One Nebraska Oregon Storyline
Matt Rhule pushed back on the chatter surrounding Dylan Raiola after the former Nebraska quarterback transferred to Oregon, making it clear there is no lingering issue between them. Rhule said he continues to support his former players and even praised Raiola for how he handled the job after stepping in for an injured Dante Moore, a reminder that the Nebraska-Oregon matchup has more than one storyline attached to it.
The timing makes the whole thing feel even more relevant, with Nebraska set to face Oregon and Raiola potentially in line to start if Moore is still recovering. For Husker fans, it adds another layer to a game that already had plenty of interest, but Rhules comments helped shut down the idea that this one needs to come with personal baggage attached. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska QB Commit Just Delivered One Of The Weeks Wildest Highlights
A busy week of high school football produced plenty of clips worth slowing down for, and Nebraskas quarterback commit was right in the middle of the conversation. The roundup also spotlighted several other highly rated prospects, including quarterbacks Trae Taylor and Chase Grove, running back David Gabriel Georges and wide receiver Dakota Guerrant, a reminder that the Huskers are tracking a deep group of playmakers as the fall schedule starts to heat up.
Among the biggest moments was a game-winning Hail Mary catch by Braylen Gibbs, the kind of finish that tends to travel fast across recruiting circles. For Nebraska fans, the headline grab from a future signal-caller is the obvious hook, but the larger takeaway is that the Cornhuskers continue to have a presence in a weekly showcase loaded with committed talent and late-game drama. [Read more 🡒]