Nebraska’s trip through Michigan isn’t getting any easier.
After a shaky outing against Michigan less than a day earlier, the Huskers are back on the floor Saturday afternoon against a Michigan State team that has taken a clear step forward this season. Nebraska dropped the opening set against Michigan for the first time all year, and the slow starts that have shown up lately are starting to stand out. Their last match that looked fully sharp, according to the source material, came against UCLA last Thursday.
Now the top-ranked Huskers head to East Lansing to close out the trip against a Spartans squad that has already shown it can make noise. Michigan State knocked off then-No. 14 Penn State earlier this season and will try to do the same to Nebraska.
The Spartans have been one of the more interesting teams in the Big Ten this year. They’ve gone from a program that was stuck in the middle in recent seasons to one that looks much more dangerous.
Michigan State is 17-4 overall and 7-4 in conference play, with less than a month left in Big Ten action. The Spartans are in position to make the first Big Ten Tournament in program history unless they hit a serious slide.
That’s a sharp turn from where this program was a year ago. In 2025, Michigan State opened with 10 straight wins, then ran into then-No.
12 Minnesota in its Big Ten opener and got swept. The Spartans managed just one ranked win that season, over Indiana, and finished on a six-match losing streak.
They still ended 18-12 overall, but 10 of those wins came against non-power-conference opponents, and their conference record settled at 8-12.
This season’s nonconference slate was tougher, though still not loaded with elite tests. Michigan State added Miami, LSU, South Carolina, and Cincinnati. Miami is the only one of those that really stands out as a strong win on paper, while LSU and South Carolina sit near the bottom of the SEC standings.
For Nebraska, the message is simple: don’t let a middling record fool you. Michigan already showed the Huskers that a lower-ranked Big Ten team can still push them around for stretches, and Michigan State has enough firepower to do the same if Nebraska comes out flat again.
The Spartans have several players who can make life difficult. Senior outside hitter Alanna Bankston, an Omaha native who attended Millard West, leads the team with 233 kills and is averaging 3.70 kills per set. She also has 88 digs and 35 blocks after starting her college career at Louisville before transferring to Michigan State.
Junior middle blocker Carmen Waye, from Nova Scotia, has been a major presence in the middle. She leads Michigan State’s middle blockers with 155 kills and is hitting .426 this season, while also ranking second on the team with 83 blocks.
Setter Malayah Long is another Nebraska product on the Spartans roster. The Lincoln Southwest alum averages 10.34 assists per set and 1.74 digs per match. Senior middle blocker Zora Hardison, a Rutgers transfer, leads the team with 86 blocks, just ahead of Waye as of 10/25.
Hayley Ogden, Madi Andrews, and Karolina Staniszewska have also been steady offensive pieces, each hitting above .200 this season.
The match is set for 3:30 p.m. CST at the Breslin Center in East Lansing and will stream on B1G+.
Nebraska comes in at 22-0 and 11-0 in the Big Ten. Michigan State enters at 17-4 and 7-4 in conference play.
In Other News...
Anthony Colandrea Is Turning Nebraska's Washington Matchup Into A Bigger Test
Washingtons preparation for Nebraska is getting shaped around Anthony Colandrea, and for good reason. The Huskers quarterback has become the kind of dual-threat problem that forces a defense to account for everything on the field at once, with Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters pointing to Colandreas ability to run and pass effectively as a major challenge.
Walters also singled out the way Colandrea carries the ball, saying he runs more like a running back than a typical quarterback because of his agility and speed. Add in the atmosphere at Memorial Stadium, which Walters acknowledged can be tough on visiting teams, and Nebraskas matchup starts to look like more than just another conference game. [Read more 🡒]
Trae Taylor Just Gave Nebraska Fans A New Reason To Believe
Nebraska fans got another glimpse of what Trae Taylor can bring to the program Friday night, and it came in a playoff setting where the spotlight was already bright. The 2027 quarterback commit powered Millard South to a 56-7 win over Lincoln Standing Bear, showing off the kind of arm talent and mobility that has made him such an important piece of the Huskers future plans.
Taylor completed 16 of 18 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns, then added 70 rushing yards and another score before leaving early with the outcome long decided. His commitment has already carried extra weight after he confirmed on social media that he is staying with Nebraska even with Anthony Colandrea returning as the starting quarterback in 2027, and performances like this only deepen the sense that the Huskers have something promising lined up behind center. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Could Get A Huge Boost Before Its Blackout Showdown
Nebraska is getting healthier at the right time as it heads into its blackout showdown with Washington, with defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel expected back after missing recent games because of injury. Running back Isaiah Mozee also is likely to play, giving the Cornhuskers a little more depth on the offensive side as they prepare for a matchup that already carries plenty of attention.
The availability picture is not completely clean, though. Offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula and safety Jamir Conn have been ruled out, while Washington may also have a key piece trending upward, with quarterback Demond Williams moving from doubtful to probable even as the Huskies have not announced a starter. For Nebraska, the late-week health news adds some optimism, but the final personnel picture still leaves a few important questions hanging over Saturday. [Read more 🡒]