Nebraska already knows special teams can swing a game against Michigan State.
Last year, the Huskers beat the Spartans 38-27 and did damage in that phase of the game. Archie Wilson got a reminder of what Memorial Stadium can do to a punt when the wind sent one back his way.
Jacory Barney broke loose for a 57-yard punt return. Then Jamir Conn got in so fast he blocked a punt with his lower body, and Carter Nelson turned it into a touchdown.
That’s the backdrop heading into this week’s trip to East Lansing, where Michigan State has made a notable move to tighten up its own special teams. Pat Fitzgerald hired LeVar Woods this offseason, bringing in Iowa’s longtime special teams coordinator after 14 seasons in that job at his alma mater.
"LeVar's a great coach. I interviewed him at one point when I was in the NFL. I thought he was one of the best that there is in college," Matt Rhule said Monday.
Michigan State also has a familiar name helping on the return game: former Husker Kenneth Williams, who earned All-Big Ten honors last season. Williams led Nebraska with 395 kickoff-return yards, the most by a Husker since 2017.
"Obviously he's from Detroit and Lincoln and I know he's had some great returns for them, so always rooting for him," Rhule said. "So we'll have to just play.
There's some rules that everyone is adjusting to. We've had too many penalties on the special teams.
Some I thought were good calls, some I didn't think they were. But it doesn't really matter what you think.
They're going to call what they call and so we have to just continue to be cleaner and be ready to go this Saturday against a good unit."
Williams has already shown up for the Spartans this season, taking a 47-yard kickoff return against Toledo in Michigan State’s 30-20 season-opening win and adding two more returns for 43 yards against Notre Dame.
Nebraska’s own special teams have had some bright spots. Quinn Clark blocked a kick, Nyziah Hunter delivered a strong kickoff return, and Barney has flashed danger on a few punt returns.
But the unit has also been held back by flags, including four holding penalties.
In Other News...
Nebraska Is Getting A Very Different Michigan State Test Saturday
Michigan State is heading into Big Ten play with a very different feel under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and that makes Saturdays matchup a little harder to frame than the usual conference opener. According to Stephen Brooks of 247Sports, Fitzgerald has already changed the energy around the program, leaning into a grinder mentality and a work-first approach that has given the Spartans a clearer identity early on.
For Nebraska, that means preparing for a team that may look less like a rebuild and more like a group buying into a specific style of play. Fitzgeralds familiarity with the Big Ten and his reputation as a charismatic leader have helped him win over fans and players quickly, and that early buy-in is part of what makes this a tricky test for the Cornhuskers as they begin to sort out where they stand in conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Face A Memorial Stadium Shakeup Beyond The Renovations
Memorial Stadium is entering a stretch of change that goes beyond cranes and construction crews. Nebraskas Big Red Rebuild is already underway, and with capacity temporarily reduced during renovations, the athletic department is preparing a reseating process ahead of the 2027 season while also rolling out changes to ticket pricing, seating contributions and stadium amenities.
For fans, the next two seasons figure to bring a different game-day experience before the building settles into its final form. Some renovated areas are expected to be ready for 2027, but the full project remains aimed at completion by the 2028 season, when Memorial Stadium is expected to have its full capacity back in place. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas 3-0 Start Is Setting Up A Bigger Debate Than Expected
Nebraskas 34-7 win over North Dakota added another layer to a 3-0 start that has brought a real sense of progress under Matt Rhule. The Cornhuskers have looked more organized in the early going, and the changes around the program have been part of the story too, with several new coaches joining the staff and a new defensive coordinator installing a 4-3-5 scheme.
Now the conversation is shifting from simple improvement to what comes next, because the schedule is about to demand a sharper answer. Michigan State, Maryland and Indiana are waiting, and the early optimism in Lincoln is set to meet a stretch that should say plenty about how real this start actually is. [Read more 🡒]