Nebraska’s defense didn’t just beat Michigan State on Saturday night - it smothered the Spartans in all three phases of the box score that matter most. In a 31-13 win, the Huskers piled up 10 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and three takeaways, a performance that stood out as the sharpest showing yet from the Blackshirts this season.
The pressure came in waves, and the front was the biggest reason why. Nebraska hit Michigan State quarterbacks on 18 of 28 dropbacks, with 14 of those pressures and three sacks credited to the defensive line.
Williams Nwaneri led the way with 2.0 sacks, putting together his best statistical outing in scarlet and cream. Jahsear Whittington kept his own momentum rolling too, bringing his season sack total to 2.5 after another productive night.
That surge up front has become a pattern. Nebraska followed a six-tackle-for-loss outing against North Dakota with an even bigger number against the Spartans, and the results showed up in the run game. Michigan State managed 78 rushing yards before sacks were factored in, and just 39 when those losses were included.
The linebackers had their fingerprints all over the win as well. Owen Chambliss was everywhere, finishing with a team-high eight tackles and his second interception in college.
Vincent Shavers moved ahead of Dexter Foster in snap count after seeing the third-most action against North Dakota, and he responded with four tackles and a quarterback hurry. Dawson Merritt added a sack, while Derek Wacker made the most of his two snaps by recording a tackle on each play.
Nebraska’s secondary also delivered when the game tightened up. Andrew Marshall picked off his first pass of the season, didn’t give up a catch on three targets, and posted an 80.3 coverage grade that was the best by any Husker defender this year. Donovan Jones added three tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery, while his 79.1 coverage grade marked the top number of his career.
Transfers Dwayne McDougle and Victor Evans continued to look like real pieces in the back end, combining for 14 tackles and two tackles for loss. Danny Odem also logged the most snaps of his young career. And while Michigan State still finished with 218 passing yards, Nebraska clamped down when it counted and held the Spartans to 13 points.
In all, 26 Husker defenders saw the field in the 18-point win, and the numbers from Pro Football Focus reflect how thorough the effort was across the board. The defense even added two of Nebraska’s six sacks from the defensive backs, a sign of just how disruptive the entire unit was from start to finish.
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 🡒]