Nebraska is done with the non-conference portion of the schedule and now turns the page to Big Ten play with a road trip to East Lansing, where the Huskers will face Michigan State (2-1) on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Matt Rhule said Monday afternoon that he’s eager to see his team open conference play away from home.
“I’m excited to get started with Big Ten play, go on the road for the first time,” head coach Matt Rhule said to the media on Monday afternoon. “We have a group of guys committed to doing things the right way; I’m excited to take them on the road to a hostile environment. I feel very confident in my group that they’ll be ready to go.”
Michigan State comes in after a 27-10 loss to No. 3 Notre Dame, a game in which the Spartans scored all 10 of their points in the second quarter. Rhule pointed out that they also have the fewest penalties in the conference and have already been tested by elite competition.
“They had every chance to win on Saturday night,” Rhule said. “They have certainly faced big-time competition.”
For Nebraska, this won’t be a finesse matchup. Rhule expects a rugged game that will come down to who handles the details better.
“It’ll be a physical, physical game; this won’t be a schematic game. This will be an execution game,” Rhule said on Monday.
Rhule also had plenty of respect for Michigan State’s first-year head coach, Pat Fitzgerald.
“It’s a pleasure to go against Coach Fitzgerald,” Rhule said. “We did a lot of things together.
I know the time of man he is, the person he is. Obviously, we are both going to compete; both want to win.
I have infinite respect for him and everything he has done in coaching.”
On the Spartans’ roster, senior linebacker Jordan Hall stood out to Rhule as one of the league’s top players. Hall finished with 13 total tackles, including four solo stops, in the loss to Notre Dame. Rhule also mentioned senior edge rusher Kenny Soares as part of a disruptive duo.
“Jordan Hall, I think he’s as good of a player there is in the Big Ten,” Rhule said. “When you can put Hall to the field and (MSU senior edge rusher Kenny) Soares on the boundary, you have two really dynamic players who can anchor things.”
Rhule said Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi has already put together an aggressive, pressure-heavy defense. He expects the Spartans to attack Nebraska without backing off.
“Coach Rossi is going to limit explosive (plays), he’s going to stop the run, try to win the turnover battle,” Rhule said. “He’s not afraid to play man; they are going to play press all day.”
Nebraska’s own early-season work, Rhule said, has helped prepare the Huskers for what’s ahead. He pointed to the challenges posed by Ohio and North Dakota, especially the way those offenses forced Nebraska to stay sharp on its fits and coverage.
“I think when you face Ohio and North Dakota, and they’re challenging you schematically with zone reads, zone options,” Rhule said. “Offenses like that, if you’re not perfect on your fit, the ball can get out.”
He said North Dakota presented a different kind of stress, one based on familiarity and precision.
“North Dakota schematics were really, really challenging; these guys are challenging in a different way,” Rhule said on Monday. “They know everything they’re gonna get. You ran a route on them; their off DB’s are turning to the route before you even break.”
That stretch has also helped Nebraska build depth in the backfield. True freshman running back Jamal Rule has piled up 38 carries for 329 rushing yards and six total touchdowns through three games, including a second 100-yard outing in the win over North Dakota. Rhule praised Rule’s feel for the position and his burst.
“The biggest thing for Jamal is just stacking weeks,” Rhule said. “The unique thing about Jamal is that he has great running back instincts, and he’s good at great bursts.”
Rule has already broken off two touchdown runs longer than 55 yards, but Nebraska has also gotten production from junior Mekhi Nelson and sophomore Isaiah Mozee. Rhule said that balance matters, especially with a game he expects to turn into a grind.
“Isaiah, Mekhi have had a ton of explosive plays, with great runs,” Rhule said. “We don’t have to overuse anybody. This won’t be a game where you remain fresh; this will be a battle - a four-quarter war.”
Rhule also praised defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, saying his style fits the rest of the league and that he was hired with a specific purpose in mind.
Rhule said he can’t stand when people tell him “We just didn’t execute today.”
“That’s our job as coaches,” Rhule said on Monday. “We have to give our guys the best possible plan. I don’t care what happened before I got here, I don’t care what happened last week right now, I just care about today to be honest with you.”
Nebraska and Michigan State kick off at 4 p.m. CT in East Lansing, with Big Ten Network carrying the game.
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