Nebraska left East Lansing with a 31-13 win over Michigan State, and the result gave the Huskers a few notable firsts to hang onto after a road opener in Big Ten play.
The Cornhuskers improved to 4-0 and 1-0, and they did it by pulling away late in a game that wasn’t clean for long stretches. Still, the unbeaten start is Nebraska’s first 4-0 opening since 2016, and the win in its conference debut was the program’s first Big Ten opener victory since a 42-38 win at Illinois in 2019.
Anthony Colandrea was right in the middle of everything. Nebraska piled up 369 yards of total offense, and Colandrea accounted for 278 of them. He finished with 212 passing yards and added 66 more on the ground, leading the Huskers in both directions.
The offense also kept a rare streak alive. Nebraska scored two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in the win, giving the Huskers at least one rushing and one passing score in each of their first four games. The last time Nebraska did that was in 1999.
The night wasn’t perfect, though, and the biggest concern came with running back Jamal Rule. The freshman was hurt in the first quarter and did not return. Nebraska is expected to release an updated injury report on Wednesday.
On the other side of the ball, the Blackshirts held Michigan State to 257 total yards and forced three turnovers. Linebacker Owen Chambliss picked off a pass and finished with a season-high eight tackles. Williams Nwaneri turned in the kind of disruptive performance that changes games, posting a career-high 2.0 sacks and adding a blocked field goal.
Nebraska now heads back to Lincoln for a home game against Maryland at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT on FS1.
In Other News...
Nebraska Just Won A Recruiting Battle Fans Had Reason To Fear
Corey Hadley Jr. gave Nebraska a needed bit of stability this week by reaffirming his commitment to the Cornhuskers despite the pull of Georgia. The defensive back from Tyrone, Georgia, has been pledged to Nebraska since April, and as one of the top safeties in the 2027 class, he remains a notable piece in the Huskers long-term defensive plans.
Hadleys decision not to take a second visit to Georgia came after discussions with his family, a development Nebraska fans had reason to watch closely given the schools involved. For a program still building out its 2027 defensive backfield class, keeping a prospect of Hadleys caliber in the fold is the kind of recruiting win that can matter well beyond the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Face A Tough Memorial Stadium Ticket Reality
The next couple of football seasons at Memorial Stadium are going to ask Nebraska fans to do something many of them have not had to think about in years: pick new seats. As part of the University of Nebraskas $600 million renovation project, season ticketholders will be required to select fresh locations for the 2027 and 2028 seasons while the stadium is being reworked ahead of a planned completion before 2028.
For a fan base that has built its game-day routine around familiar rows and sightlines, the change adds an uncomfortable layer to an already massive construction effort. The project also includes moving the Holland Computing Center and making do with temporary concessions arrangements during the rebuild, reminders that this is not just a facelift but a full-scale reset of the stadium experience. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Gave Fans A Bigger Big Ten Debate
Nebraskas Big Ten opener against Michigan State did more than put a win in the column. The Cornhuskers controlled the game, especially after halftime, and leaned on a sharp outing from Anthony Colandrea, who accounted for 278 total yards and two touchdown passes while the defense kept turning the Spartans away.
The larger question now is how much this performance changes the conversation around Nebraska in the league. Six sacks and three takeaways made the defense look disruptive, the special teams and coaching grades added to the overall picture, and the injury notes will matter as the schedule tightens, but the way Nebraska looked in a 31-13 win has only made the Big Ten debate louder. [Read more 🡒]