Nebraska opens Big Ten play this week against Michigan State, a matchup that carries plenty of intrigue. The Spartans enter at 2-1 after keeping things tight against top ranked Notre Dame last week in a hard fought 27-10 battle. Even though Michigan State stumbled early, they have proven they possess the grit and potential to trade punches with top tier programs. However, Husker fans walking into this weekend should prepare to be pleasantly surprised by what this Nebraska team is about to unveil.
Through the first three weeks of the season, it has felt like Nebraska has been running with a governor on the engine, keeping both the offense and defense operating far below their true ceiling. We caught a real glimpse of the unleashed potential last week against North Dakota, where brilliant pressure packages routinely disrupted a capable offense. Expect the defensive staff to build on that momentum this week. The aggressive blitzes and varied front looks Nebraska brings will stifle the Spartan offense, creating relentless pocket pressure and forcing costly turnovers.
On the other side of the ball, the offense has been playing a similar long game. Nebraska’s physical ground attack will once again force Michigan State’s defense to stack the box to stop the run. That defensive compression will open up the entire field for Anthony Colandrea to showcase his big play ability. As Big Ten play heats up, Colandrea’s knack for extending plays when the pocket breaks down will become invaluable. Expect him to turn opposing turf into "The Corn-landrea," making magic out of scramble drills and tearing apart single coverage downfield.
Nebraska desperately needs to set the tone for conference play, and they are primed to take this one handily in a 34-17 statement win.
Looking past the scoreboard, the deeper statistical benchmarks will tell the true story of Nebraska’s ceiling. To build real optimism for the rest of the fall, the defense needs to hold Michigan State under 125 rushing yards while the Husker offense churns out over 150 yards on the ground. Achieving that against Michigan State is no small feat. The Spartans boast a stingy run defense that held Toledo to 77 rushing yards, Eastern Michigan to 101, and Notre Dame to 161.
Equally important will be pass protection. Nebraska’s offensive line must keep Colandrea comfortable by allowing 1-2 sacks maximum against a solid Spartan front. If the Huskers can hit those statistical marks and secure a decisive victory, they will prove that the early season patience was intentional, establishing a dominant foundation for a very bright Big Ten campaign ahead.
