Every game on Nebraska’s schedule is not a must-win game, but the Michigan State game Saturday is just that. There are several fans who are reluctant to agree this is a different Nebraska team. If they don’t win this one, those fans will be right, same old Huskers, same old Matt Rhule.

Rhule has had back-to-back 7-6 seasons and taken the Husker to two consecutive bowl games. The next step, consistently win games against the bottom eleven Big Ten teams. The fan’s expectations aren’t unreal. They can stomach the occasional losses to the top six in the conference, Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, Michigan, Penn State, and USC. Especially if they are competitive.

But they will no longer except losses to Iowa, Washington, Illinois, Minnesota, UCLA, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. Those games must be consistently won. And as for Northwestern, Maryland, Rutgers, and Purdue, in the current landscape, those games should never be lost.  

Do those expectations create tremendous pressure – yes – but to those whom much is given, much is expected. It’s time Rhule and his team turned the corner.

Fans are leery of this game. They liked what they’ve seen in the non-conference, but the competition didn’t tell us anything. It leaves us with a feeling of hope that may not be real. A win on the road against Michigan State would change that.

This game won’t be about scoring points, it’ll be about walking away with a win, even if it’s by a single point. It doesn't matter what it looks like, style points are out the door, The Huskers just need a Big Ten win to start the season.

Why Fans are Nervous

Husker fans have plenty of reasons for concern, Nebraska hasn’t had a win to open conference play since 2019, and the last time Nebraska won in East Lansing they were led by quarterback Taylor Martinez.

If that isn’t enough, Michigan State’s new head coach Pat Fitzgearld led Northwestern to 10 bowl appearances in 17 seasons. He consistently did more with less and now has better resources and knows what it takes to win in the Big Ten. With multiple wins against the Huskers, he’s far from intimidated. And of as late, why would he be.

To prove he knows what he’s doing, his first move as the new Spartan’s head coach was to retain defensive coordinator Joe Rossi. Before going to Michigan State Rossi was the DC at Minnesota and went 5-0 against Nebraska as the Gopher’s defensive coordinator.

Fitzgearld’s second move, he hired Iowa’s special team coordinator LaVar Woods. Woods was with Kirk Ferentz from 2008-2025 and was the ST coordinator for the last eight years. His special teams at Iowa were elite and were behind wins over the Huskers more than once. If you want more on his credentials, there’s speculation he left Iowa to gain additional experience before becoming the next head coach after Ferentz.

 If this game were being played at Christmas consider Rhule in the role of Scrooge and facing the ghost of Past, Present, and Yet to Come.

MSU Offense

The Spartan offense has passed for 194.7 yards and rushed for 150.7 yards per game on the season and averages 25 points per contest. Fitzgearld has shown to use a two-quarterback system occasionally with Alessio Milivojevic and Cam Fancher. Both led scoring drives against Notre Dame. The 6’0”, 205-pound Fancher rushed twice for 18 yards and 1 TD.

Nebraska is familiar with Alessio Milivojevic as he appeared in nine games making four starts last season as a redshirt freshman. He passed for 1,267 yards and 10 TDs, completing 63.8% of his passes. Even though he was sacked 16 times behind a porous offensive line he averaged 246.5 yards passing per contest.

So far this season he’s thrown for 540 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 interceptions. Both interceptions came against Notre Dame as he finished 9-of-17 for 123 yards. It was a tough outing for the Spartans as they only had 167 total yards of offense.

Running back Camryn Edwards averages 96 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry but could only picked up 38 yards on 12 carries against he Irish. The 5’11”, 206-pound Edwards transferred from Connecticut where he rushed for over 2,600 yards and 27 TDs in three seasons. He’s also an effective receiver making 47 receptions for 467 yards and 4 TDs at Uconn.

While Michigan State lost to Notre Dame 27-10, a game they typically lose by 25-to-30 points over the last few seasons, Fitzgerald’s team kept it close early. Overall talent and depth caught up with them, and they were outmanned by games end.

“Yeah, there’s no such thing as a moral victory. You guys are going to get to know me, but I’m a competitive S.O.B., so I’m not happy right now. You fix it by getting back to work,” Fitzgerld said Saturday night.

“Listen, we’re taking the standard up and getting it to where it needs to be, and it’s my job to get it there,” Fitzgerld said after hearing positive feedback. “I’d be lying to you if I didn’t tell you that I think a little bit of that is rat poison. Like, ‘hey, good job, you played hard.’ That drives me nuts.”

The Blackshirts

When talking about facing Michigan State and Pat Fitzgearld, Rhule had this to say, “They’re going to be committed to winning the physical battle,” he said. “His guys are going to execute at a really high level. They’re going to win the turnover battle; they’re not going to have penalties. I mean, they have half as many penalties, through three games, as we do. They’re going to run the football…They’re going to have a powerful offensive line. They’re going to play great special teams…It’s a really good formula.”

Like most Big Ten games, it’ll be won in the trenches. Michigan State has a big experienced offensive line, especially on the left side – left tackle 6’7”, 340-pounds, left guard 6’6”, 311-pounds, center 6’1”, 306-pounds, right guard 6’2”, 351-pounds, and right tackle 6’4”, 296-pounds.

Aurich has seen enough of Michigan State to know they can and will run the football. Their passing game has not been one of their strong suits this season. But if the Huskers can keep Edwards and MSU’s running game in check, if they can do that, putting pressure on the QB becomes less important.

“Michigan State is dedicated to running the football; that’s their DNA,” Rob Aurich said. “They want to establish that, so they can open up opportunities for their quarterback in the play-action pass game… I think we’re going to see a team dedicated to running the football.”

He’s right. Michigan has run the ball nearly twice as often as they’ve passed. But when they do pass, they’ll go up against Donavan Jones, Dewayne McDougle, and Andrew Marshall. Marshall, in the first three games, has only allowed two catches on 11 targets for a total of 10 yards. He’s one of three cornerbacks in the FBS with at least 75 coverage snaps to have allowed 10 yards of fewer in receptions this season.

After tossing two interceptions last week, Nebraska’s secondary will be on high alert trying to meet their DC’s goal of picking up turnovers.

“I certainly want to see more,” Aurich said. “Three a game is obviously a lofty goal, but it is a goal. It’s high for a reason. We haven’t hit the mark when it comes to takeaway generation. There’s a number of reasons why. I think we need to target and prioritize the ball more as pass rushers when we get the opportunity to.”

MSU got over the top on Notre Dame’s secondary, and there are those that claim the Irish secondary is better than Nebraska’s. The Huskers must be aware of the play action and avoid explosive plays from MSU’s passing game.

As for defense in this game, I think former Husker Jeremiah Sirles said it best during his show, the ‘Sideline Slice’, “Everyone on the defense needs to understand they are 1/11th, you just have to do your 1/11th in this defense, you don’t have to force anything, let the scheme bring the plays to you, and just make sure when the play does come to you, you’re in the proper position, you’re using the proper technique, and then just go and finish the play,” he said. “I like the way this 4-2-5 is starting to fall into place for coach Aurich.”

Nebraska’s Offense

Holgorsen needs to take a page from Tom Osborne’s 1983 Huskers and add a dash of “Scoring Explosion.” Michigan State has given up some big plays over the top this season and Nebraska has the receivers to make quick strikes possible. But Holgorsen can’t concentrate solely on big plays. He’ll need to stay balanced and continue to be consistent on offense, run the ball and keep the chains moving.

We’ve seen a cool calm and collected Colandrea in the first three games, keeping turnover type throws to a minimum. However, after last week’s game he indicated he was excited for Big Ten play.

“I don’t know, I thought that team tonight was really good, and I thought the past two games we played have been good. Big Ten play’s gonna be fun.”

Will his excitement escalate with an upgrade in opponent and does the extra pressure of a Big Ten conference game change Colandrea’s approach? It’ll be important for Dana Holgorsen and Glenn Thomas to keep him steady and consistent. The offensive line protecting him will help. There will be greater pressure from MSU than they’ve faced thus far. And this is the first step as each week moving forward pass protection will become progressively harder with games against Maryland, Indiana, and Oregon.

Picture perfect weather is expected for the game, that gives the advantage to Nebraska. The Huskers have better skill players and weather can be the great equalizer slowing down the team with better skill talent. However, the game will be on a grass field and that is something to watch for.

Of note: Nebraska has scored TDs in 10 of 11 redzone visits. Michigan State has allowed scores in every red zone visit this season.

MSU Defense

Joe Rossi’s defense allowed Notre Dame 37 minutes of possession and over 65 plays on offense but held them to a total of 395 yards and 27 points, the Irish’s lowest total this season.

On the season the Spartans allow 182.7 yards passing, 113 yards rushing and 18 points per game. They have 16 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery on the season.

They are led by a strong linebacker group with Brady Pretzlaff, Jordan Hall, and Dion Crawford being three of the top four tacklers. Last season the 6’3”, 250-pound Hall led the team with 88 tackles and had 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 3 forced fumbles. Hall, considered MSU’s best defender, has 17 tackles and 1 ½ sacks in three games this season. As of now Pretzlaff appears to be out for the game and could be replaced by Caleb Wheatland who is seen as good on coverage and stopping the run.

On the defensive line the Husker will have their hands full, as Kenny Sores Jr. got good penetration against Notre Dame and could be a handful for Gunnar Gottula. Nose tackle Ben Roberts 6’3”, 325-pounds is a good pass rusher in the middle and had two QB hurries last week. Derrick Simmons, future All-Big Ten defensive tackle according to Rossi, is disruptive on the interior and can pass rush.

Safety Devin Vaught, transfer from Maine, is good in coverage and willing to come down into the box on runs. He is currently MSU’s leading tackler with 18.

Nebraska Special Teams

There has been plenty of talk about Nebraska’s special teams. Most will tell you it has fallen off with the absence of Mike Ekeler. But has it?  If bad things happen against Michigan State it won’t be on the kickers. I have zero concerns about Kyle Cunanan and Archie Wilson.

The two missed field goals by Cunanan were both over 50 yards. It was the first three games of the season and Nebraska isn’t likely to attempt those kicks in conference play. Cunanan was very consistent at 40-yards and closer last season. The 50-yard attempts were this coaching staff simply gauging their kickers range before Big Ten play.

As for Archie Wilson’s punting it’s, “much ado about nothing.” Ekeler or no Ekeler, he’s a more than capable punter. In three games he’s made six kicks. Of those six there hasn’t been one returned by the opponent. Zero. And no big returns due to poor kicks.

One of those kicks went for 49 yards before being downed. So, he can obviously kick it long. Another kick traveled 33 yards, but the kick was made from the Nebraska 43-yard line and was fair caught at the ten-yard line by the opponent.

In all fairness, he did have one kick for 35 yards that was fair caught at the 38. That can’t happen against Michigan State, but then again, it isn’t a back breaking play.

It’ll be the return teams and coverage teams that will need to avoid the backbreaker. Jacory Barney is dangerous as a returner, but he needs to be smart. Make the fair catch when needed and try not to make catches in traffic. A fumble at the wrong time could cost the Huskers the game.  

As for coverage, Husker coaches need to remember who the Spartans return man is, former Husker Kenneth Willimas. We saw what Williams was capable of last season against Maryland. He’s had a couple of long returns again this season. Nebraska needs to avoid kicking to him if possible. Kicks must go through the endzone on kickoffs and deep or out of bounds on punts.

Keys to victory, take care of the ball, no turnovers, and no snafus on special teams. You don’t have to win the game with special teams, but you can’t lose the game due to special teams either.

Husker fans have been getting ahead of themselves talking about the path to a 5-0 start, but Michigan State is a Big Ten team and will have something to say about that. 5-0 is dream talk until it isn’t.

GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!

Art worked designed and owned by Lyle Harmon and ‘Off the Cob’.

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