Nebraska Football doesn’t Dominate Michigan State. It Cashes In. and the Morning After

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During the week and leading into the matchup between Nebraska and Michigan State, there were two Spartan players we were told that would be problems for Nebraska.

Those two players were starting running back Cam Edwards and linebacker Jordan Hall.

Both left the game with injuries and neither of those injuries appear to be promising.

The first play of the game for Michigan State was an 8-yard physical downhill run by Cam Edwards. My immediate reaction was – “Oh, this is not good.” Unfortunately for Michigan State and for Cam Edwards he left with an apparent knee injury later in the first quarter.

Michigan State’s ability to run the ball at the Nebraska defense front was what I thought would determine who won the game. Immediately, that threat went out the window and Nebraska capitalized.

Nebraska also capitalized on some extremely untimely penalties by Michigan State. The first was a holding penalty called on Michigan State on Nebraska’s second punt. That punt by Nebraska was blocked by the Michigan State special teams. The score at the time was Michigan State 3-0 and they were ready to take advantage but the refs bailed Nebraska out.

Those calls happen in every game but on a Saturday in September against Michigan State, Nebraska actually took advantage of the penalty for once. A couple plays later Nebraska scored on a 44-yard touchdown pass to Kwazi Gilmer and the game suddenly changed.

Then with about six minutes left in the second quarter the Nebraska offense was stalling and Nebraska Quarterback Anthony Colandrea threw an incomplete pass. On the previous play Nebraska’s Paul Mubenga was called for false start so Nebraska was behind the sticks. Well, luckily for Nebraska there was an unsportsmanlike conduct 15-yard penalty called on Michigan State. Here is a clip of why that flag was thrown because I did not see any reason why it should have been thrown.

But Nebraska took advantage. The result was a 13-yard touchdown pass to North Platte’s own Vince Genatone. The score at the end of the first half 24-10 and Nebraska felt like it was in control.

Then in the first play from scrimmage in the 2nd half, Michigan State’s Jordan Hall was injured.

Michigan State was dealing with body blow after body blow and they kept on fighting.

Nebraska’s offense entirely stalled out in the third quarter. According to the play-by-play at ESPN.com Nebraska did not get a first down in the third quarter. This has been an issue for Matt Rhule’s team during his entire tenure. Their third quarters have been awful.

If it wasn’t for the great sack and fumble recovery by Donovan Jones with 7:23 left in the third quarter on Michigan State’s second drive it truly looked like Michigan State found the formula against Nebraska’s defense. Their first drive the quarter was a nine play 42 yard drive that resulted in the field goal. On Michigan State’s third drive it was a 10 play drive that ended up resulting in a missed field goal.

Another break for Nebraska.

This is not a negative for Nebraska. In fact, this is a positive. On following drive (into the fourth quarter) Nebraska’s offense went on a 12 play, 66 yard drive that resulted in Vince Genatone’s second touchdown of the game. It was a one yard touchdown run.

This was a game of Michigan State giveth, and Nebraska finally taketh.

It is true that Nebraska also lost one of its best players in terms of Jamal Rule. We all hope that he can get back soon. We also hope that the load of Michigan State players that left with injuries also get back soon as well. Michigan State plays Wisconsin next week and the Badgers beat Penn State last night.

Nebraska took advantage of some breaks on the road in East Lansing and looking to go 5-0 against a wounded Maryland team in Lincoln.

This is exactly how it should be.

The Morning After

Steven Sipple: As Nebraska stays undefeated, visions of an interesting October dance in one’s head
EAST LANSING, Michigan — If you’re a Nebraska football fan, you might be tempted to peek ahead a bit. Just a tad.

My counsel would be to resist the temptation and try to bask in Nebraska’s 31-13 victory against Michigan State on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. The Huskers took care of business in workmanlike fashion. Maybe it wasn’t always pretty, but I’d be surprised if a lot of Big Red fans are in intense nitpicking mode at the moment.

Opposing Sideline: What Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald said after loss to Nebraska
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Nebraska (4-0, 1-0) kicked off conference play on Saturday with a 31-13 win against Michigan State (2-2, 0-1). The Blackshirts had arguably their best performance of the season with six sacks, 10 tackles for loss, a strip sack and two interceptions

After the game, Spartans head coach Pat Fitzgerald shared his thoughts on the loss. Here is what he had to say from the opposing sideline…

Quick second-half thoughts from Nebraska’s win over Michigan State
Fast thoughts from the second half of  Nebraska football’s first Big Ten road game of the season at Michigan State. 

The third quarter had some disorder, but there was no complaining with a final result in a 31-13 Nebraska win.

Nebraska stays unbeaten behind Anthony Colandrea and big-play defense
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Nebraska is 4-0 for the first time in a decade after it started Big Ten play with a win Saturday for the first time since 2019, defeating Michigan State 31-13 at Spartan Stadium in a tone-setting game for coach Matt Rhule’s fourth team.

“Great first step,” Rhule said.

Arguably, it was more than that.

Instant Recap: All goes wrong for Michigan State in 31-13 loss to Nebraska
Well, it can’t get worse than this, right?

This game was full of injuries for Michigan State, had multiple questionable calls, and it felt like every 50/50 ball bounced Nebraska’s way tonight.

An early blocked punt by MSU that would’ve put them in scoring position with a 3-0 lead was negated due to a holding call, and that resulted in a 44-yard touchdown for Nebraska. Charles Brantley was called for a late hit after Anthony Colandrea continued to run despite stepping out of bounds several yards earlier, which set up a 4-yard Nebraska touchdown. Kenny Soares Jr. got into shenanigans after a 3rd down stop that kept the drive alive, only for that drive to result in another Nebraska TD with two seconds left before halftime to make it a 24-10 Cornhuskers lead. It was pretty much over then.

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