Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
WHEN: Saturday, October 4 | 3:00 PM (CT)
WHERE: Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: FOX Sports 1 (Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Kyle Crooks, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
HUSKERS
Record: 3-1 (0-1 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. #21 Michigan (L 27-30)
Streak: L1
Rankings: AP (NR) | Coaches (RV)
Head Coach: Matt Rhule (15-14, 3rd year NU | 62-57, 10th year overall | 0-1 vs. Michigan State)
SPARTANS
Record: 3-1 (0-1 Big Ten)
Last Game: at #25 USC (L 31-45)
Streak: L1
Rankings: AP (NR) | Coaches (NR)
Head Coach: Jonathan Smith (8-8, 2nd year MSU | 42-43, 8th year overall | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
5 - Each of the past five meetings between Nebraska and Michigan State have been decided by five or fewer points dating back to 2014
15 - Nebraska's offense ranks among the top 15 nationally in numerous categories including passing offense (2nd), completion percentage (2nd), scoring offense (12th) and total offense (13th)
114 - Saturday's game will mark the 114th Homecoming game in University of Nebraska history. The Huskers are 86-23-4 all-time on Homecoming and have won 13 of their last 15 Homecoming games. NU is 10-2 against Big Ten schools in Homecoming games. This is the first-ever Homecoming game against Michigan State
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska completes a four-game homestand on Saturday afternoon when the Huskers play host to Michigan State at Memorial Stadium. The contest also serves as Nebraska's 2025 Homecoming Game in Lincoln. Kickoff between the Huskers and Spartans is set for 3 p.m. CT, with television coverage on FS1. The game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com and the Huskers App.
The Michigan State game completes a stretch of four straight home games over a span of five weeks. Following this week's game, the Huskers will play their first true road game next Saturday at Maryland. Nebraska is away from Lincoln for four of its next six contests.
Nebraska comes into the game off a bye week and stands at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten Conference play. The Huskers fell 30-27 to No. 21 Michigan in their last outing on Sept. 20. Nebraska remains among the nation's top teams both in throwing the football and defending the pass. The Huskers rank second nationally in both passing offense at 351.8 yards per game, and completion percentage at 77.6 percent. Defensively, Nebraska is limiting opponents to a nation-leading 75.8 passing yards per game, and just a 50.6 completion percentage.
Michigan State, in its second year under Head Coach Jonathan Smith, also stands at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play. The Spartans dropped their most recent game, a 45-31 setback at USC on Sept. 20. Michigan State averages nearly 375 yards of total offense, including 220 yards per game through the air, while scoring more than 34 points per contest. The Spartans also boast one of the nation's best special teams units, ranking among the nation's leaders in net punting, kickoff returns and punt returns.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game is the 14th all-time meeting between Nebraska and Michigan State. The Huskers own a 9-4 advantage in the series, with the schools splitting eight games since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.
- Saturday's game will mark the first meeting between the two programs in Lincoln since 2018, when Nebraska defeated Michigan State, 9-6. That marked Nebraska's first win without scoring a touchdown since 1937.
- The past five meetings have been decided by a total of 15 points, with the margin in each of those five games being five or fewer points. MSU has won the past two games by three points apiece.
- Nebraska's 39-38 victory over No. 6 Michigan State in Lincoln in 2015 was just the third time in school history an unranked Nebraska team defeated a top-10 opponent.
Series History
1914: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 0 (Lincoln)
1920: Nebraska 35, Michigan State 7 (Lincoln)
1995: Nebraska 50, Michigan State 10 (East Lansing)
1996: Nebraska 55, Michigan State 14 (Lincoln)
2003: Nebraska 17, Michigan State 3 (Alamo Bowl)
-----------Big Ten-------------
2011: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 3 (Lincoln)
2012: Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24 (East Lansing)
2013: Michigan State 41, Nebraska 28 (Lincoln)
2014: Michigan State 27, Nebraska 22 (East Lansing)
2015: Nebraska 39, Michigan State 38 (Lincoln)
2018: Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6 (Lincoln)
2021: Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (East Lansing)
2023: Michigan State 20, Nebraska 17 (East Lansing)
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State owns a winning all-time record and the Spartans were one of the nation's top programs in the 1950s and 1960s, claiming six national titles (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, and 1966). Michigan State has also won nine conference titles, with the latest coming in 2015.
The Spartans have gone undefeated three times and have won 10 games in a season nine times. Michigan State has played in 30 bowl games in their history, including five Rose Bowls. In their last bowl game, the Spartans recorded a 31-21 win against Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in 2021.
First Year: 1896
All-Time Record: 738-495-44
Bowl Record: 14-16
Conference Titles: 9
National Titles: 6 (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966)
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Capacity: 74,886
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Enrollment: 52,089
Colors: Green & White
ABOUT 2025 MICHIGAN STATE FOOTBALL
Schedule/Results
Western Michigan (W 23-6)
Boston College (W 42-40) (2OT)
Youngstown State (W 41-24)
at #25 USC (L 31-45)
at Nebraska
UCLA
at Indiana
Michigan
at Minnesota
Penn State
at Cockeye
vs. Maryland (at Detroit)
Michigan State is 3-1 after falling in the Spartans' Big Ten opener 45-31 at No. 25 USC on Sept. 20.
The Spartans are averaging 374.2 yards per game, with 220.2 yards per game through the air and 154.0 yards per game on the ground. Makhi Frazier leads the rushing attack with 57 carries for 267 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Aidan Chiles with 154 yards and two scores on 39 rushes.
In the passing game, Chiles has completed 70-of-102 passes for 868 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception. Omari Kelly has a team-high 21 receptions for 317 yards and a score, followed by Nick Marsh with 18 grabs for 222 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Spartans are allowing 28.8 points per game and 384.0 yards per game. Jordan Hall leads the Michigan State defense with a team-high 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Wayne Matthews III and Malik Spencer have 26 and 17 tackles, respectively, while Anelu Lafaele is tied with a team-leading two sacks.
ABOUT HEAD COACH JONATHAN SMITH
Jonathan Smith is in his second season as the head coach at Michigan State, leading the Spartans to an 8-8 record through 16 games.
Prior to Michigan State, Smith posted a 34-35 record in six seasons as the head coach at Oregon State (2018-2023). Named the 2022 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year, Smith led the Beavers, who were ranked as high as 11th in the CFP rankings in 2023, to an 8-4 record and their third straight bowl appearance.
Before OSU, Smith worked four seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Washington (2014-2017). Smith helped the Huskies to one of their best seasons in school history in 2016, when UW won 12 games, claimed the Pac-12 title, earned a berth in the College Football Playoff, and finished No. 4 in the national polls.
Smith's coaching career also includes stints as quarterbacks coach at Boise State (2012-2013), offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Montana (2010-2011) and quarterbacks coach at Idaho (2004-2009).
Smith began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oregon State (2002-2003). As a player, Smith was a four-year letterwinner as a quarterback for the Beavers from 1998 to 2001.
Saturday's matchup will be Smith's first ever meeting vs. Nebraska.
LAST MEETING: NOVEMBER 4, 2023
Michigan State 20, Nebraska 17
Nebraska had chances on the road but was unable to mount enough offense to overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit in a 20-17 loss at Michigan State on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing.
The Huskers, who slipped to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten, held Michigan State to just 63 rushing yards on 31 carries, but the Spartans (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) used several long pass plays to help amass 232 yards through the air. Nebraska went for 154 rushing yards on 41 carries, but managed just 129 yards on 12-of-28 passing.
The Spartans out-gained the Huskers 295-283, but MSU was also flagged seven times for 70 yards, while Nebraska committed no penalties on the day. Nebraska also racked up 19 first downs compared to just 11 for Michigan State.
However, the Spartans got four long pass plays from three different throwers to account for nearly half (141) of their total yardage (295) in the game, including a 46-yard first-quarter pass from Katin Houser to Jaylan Franklin, a 42-yard pass from Alante Brown to Montorie Foster Jr. in the second quarter, a 28-yard pass from Houser to Tyrell Henry early in the third quarter, and a 25-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to Foster early in the fourth quarter. All four big plays led to MSU's scores in the game, including Foster's touchdown grab that put the Spartans up 20-10.
Haarberg, who managed 37 yards on 14 carries on the day with one touchdown despite being sacked seven times, answered with a big play of his own, a 43-yard fourth-quarter run that set up a four-yard Emmett Johnson touchdown with 3:35 left to cut MSU's lead to 20-17. Johnson led Nebraska with 57 yards on 13 carries on the day.
Michigan State missed a field goal attempt with less than a minute remaining, and Nebraska took over with 43 seconds left at its own 27 needing a field goal to send the game to overtime. Haarberg opened the drive with a nine-yard completion to Malachi Coleman before a 10-yard defensive holding penalty put the Huskers near midfield with 19 second left.
Haarberg's next pass attempt was knocked out of his hand as his arm moved forward, but the play was ruled a fumble on the field. With Nebraska out of timeouts, the clock kept running and one last pass attempt fell incomplete as time expired, ending Nebraska's three-game winning streak.
Tight end Thomas Fidone led the Huskers with three receptions for 43 yards, while Alex Bullock added three catches for 37 yards. Coleman contributed a pair of catches for 39 yards.
Luke Reimer led the Blackshirts with seven tackles, while Isaac Gifford, Nick Henrich, Jibari Butler and Javin Wright all added five stops apiece.
Houser's 46-yard pass to Franklin on Michigan State's fourth offensive play set up Jonathan Kim's 35-yard field goal to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead just over three minutes into the game. Houser finished the day 13-of-20 for 165 passing yards with one touchdown.
The MSU lead held until early in the second quarter when Haarberg ran into the end zone untouched from five yards out with 12:40 left in the half to give Nebraska a 7-3 lead.
Michigan State answered with Houser's 11-yard touchdown pass to Christian Fitzpatrick just over three minutes later. The key play on the drive was Brown's 42-yard pass to Foster, after an initial lateral from Houser to Brown.
The Spartans led 10-7 until Tristan Alvano tied the score with his 24-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the half. Alvano's field goal capped a 12-play, 74-yard drive that consumed 4:56 and sent the two teams to the halftime locker room tied at 10.
Nebraska opened the second half with the ball but had its drive stall near midfield. MSU took over at its own 14 and began its drive with Houser's 28-yard pass to Henry. The big play sparked a 12-play, 53-yard drive that ate up 6:24 on the clock and resulted in Kim's 50-yard field goal to give the Spartans a 13-10 lead heading to the final quarter.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (3-1, 0-1) | at | NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (3-1, 0-1) |
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WHEN: Saturday, October 4 | 3:00 PM (CT)
WHERE: Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: FOX Sports 1 (Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Kyle Crooks, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
HUSKERS
Record: 3-1 (0-1 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. #21 Michigan (L 27-30)
Streak: L1
Rankings: AP (NR) | Coaches (RV)
Head Coach: Matt Rhule (15-14, 3rd year NU | 62-57, 10th year overall | 0-1 vs. Michigan State)
SPARTANS
Record: 3-1 (0-1 Big Ten)
Last Game: at #25 USC (L 31-45)
Streak: L1
Rankings: AP (NR) | Coaches (NR)
Head Coach: Jonathan Smith (8-8, 2nd year MSU | 42-43, 8th year overall | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
5 - Each of the past five meetings between Nebraska and Michigan State have been decided by five or fewer points dating back to 2014
15 - Nebraska's offense ranks among the top 15 nationally in numerous categories including passing offense (2nd), completion percentage (2nd), scoring offense (12th) and total offense (13th)
114 - Saturday's game will mark the 114th Homecoming game in University of Nebraska history. The Huskers are 86-23-4 all-time on Homecoming and have won 13 of their last 15 Homecoming games. NU is 10-2 against Big Ten schools in Homecoming games. This is the first-ever Homecoming game against Michigan State
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska completes a four-game homestand on Saturday afternoon when the Huskers play host to Michigan State at Memorial Stadium. The contest also serves as Nebraska's 2025 Homecoming Game in Lincoln. Kickoff between the Huskers and Spartans is set for 3 p.m. CT, with television coverage on FS1. The game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com and the Huskers App.
The Michigan State game completes a stretch of four straight home games over a span of five weeks. Following this week's game, the Huskers will play their first true road game next Saturday at Maryland. Nebraska is away from Lincoln for four of its next six contests.
Nebraska comes into the game off a bye week and stands at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten Conference play. The Huskers fell 30-27 to No. 21 Michigan in their last outing on Sept. 20. Nebraska remains among the nation's top teams both in throwing the football and defending the pass. The Huskers rank second nationally in both passing offense at 351.8 yards per game, and completion percentage at 77.6 percent. Defensively, Nebraska is limiting opponents to a nation-leading 75.8 passing yards per game, and just a 50.6 completion percentage.
Michigan State, in its second year under Head Coach Jonathan Smith, also stands at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play. The Spartans dropped their most recent game, a 45-31 setback at USC on Sept. 20. Michigan State averages nearly 375 yards of total offense, including 220 yards per game through the air, while scoring more than 34 points per contest. The Spartans also boast one of the nation's best special teams units, ranking among the nation's leaders in net punting, kickoff returns and punt returns.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game is the 14th all-time meeting between Nebraska and Michigan State. The Huskers own a 9-4 advantage in the series, with the schools splitting eight games since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.
- Saturday's game will mark the first meeting between the two programs in Lincoln since 2018, when Nebraska defeated Michigan State, 9-6. That marked Nebraska's first win without scoring a touchdown since 1937.
- The past five meetings have been decided by a total of 15 points, with the margin in each of those five games being five or fewer points. MSU has won the past two games by three points apiece.
- Nebraska's 39-38 victory over No. 6 Michigan State in Lincoln in 2015 was just the third time in school history an unranked Nebraska team defeated a top-10 opponent.
Series History
1914: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 0 (Lincoln)
1920: Nebraska 35, Michigan State 7 (Lincoln)
1995: Nebraska 50, Michigan State 10 (East Lansing)
1996: Nebraska 55, Michigan State 14 (Lincoln)
2003: Nebraska 17, Michigan State 3 (Alamo Bowl)
-----------Big Ten-------------
2011: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 3 (Lincoln)
2012: Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24 (East Lansing)
2013: Michigan State 41, Nebraska 28 (Lincoln)
2014: Michigan State 27, Nebraska 22 (East Lansing)
2015: Nebraska 39, Michigan State 38 (Lincoln)
2018: Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6 (Lincoln)
2021: Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (East Lansing)
2023: Michigan State 20, Nebraska 17 (East Lansing)
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State owns a winning all-time record and the Spartans were one of the nation's top programs in the 1950s and 1960s, claiming six national titles (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, and 1966). Michigan State has also won nine conference titles, with the latest coming in 2015.
The Spartans have gone undefeated three times and have won 10 games in a season nine times. Michigan State has played in 30 bowl games in their history, including five Rose Bowls. In their last bowl game, the Spartans recorded a 31-21 win against Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in 2021.
First Year: 1896
All-Time Record: 738-495-44
Bowl Record: 14-16
Conference Titles: 9
National Titles: 6 (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966)
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Capacity: 74,886
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Enrollment: 52,089
Colors: Green & White
ABOUT 2025 MICHIGAN STATE FOOTBALL
Schedule/Results
Western Michigan (W 23-6)
Boston College (W 42-40) (2OT)
Youngstown State (W 41-24)
at #25 USC (L 31-45)
at Nebraska
UCLA
at Indiana
Michigan
at Minnesota
Penn State
at Cockeye
vs. Maryland (at Detroit)
Michigan State is 3-1 after falling in the Spartans' Big Ten opener 45-31 at No. 25 USC on Sept. 20.
The Spartans are averaging 374.2 yards per game, with 220.2 yards per game through the air and 154.0 yards per game on the ground. Makhi Frazier leads the rushing attack with 57 carries for 267 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Aidan Chiles with 154 yards and two scores on 39 rushes.
In the passing game, Chiles has completed 70-of-102 passes for 868 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception. Omari Kelly has a team-high 21 receptions for 317 yards and a score, followed by Nick Marsh with 18 grabs for 222 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Spartans are allowing 28.8 points per game and 384.0 yards per game. Jordan Hall leads the Michigan State defense with a team-high 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Wayne Matthews III and Malik Spencer have 26 and 17 tackles, respectively, while Anelu Lafaele is tied with a team-leading two sacks.
ABOUT HEAD COACH JONATHAN SMITH
Jonathan Smith is in his second season as the head coach at Michigan State, leading the Spartans to an 8-8 record through 16 games.
Prior to Michigan State, Smith posted a 34-35 record in six seasons as the head coach at Oregon State (2018-2023). Named the 2022 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year, Smith led the Beavers, who were ranked as high as 11th in the CFP rankings in 2023, to an 8-4 record and their third straight bowl appearance.
Before OSU, Smith worked four seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Washington (2014-2017). Smith helped the Huskies to one of their best seasons in school history in 2016, when UW won 12 games, claimed the Pac-12 title, earned a berth in the College Football Playoff, and finished No. 4 in the national polls.
Smith's coaching career also includes stints as quarterbacks coach at Boise State (2012-2013), offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Montana (2010-2011) and quarterbacks coach at Idaho (2004-2009).
Smith began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oregon State (2002-2003). As a player, Smith was a four-year letterwinner as a quarterback for the Beavers from 1998 to 2001.
Saturday's matchup will be Smith's first ever meeting vs. Nebraska.
LAST MEETING: NOVEMBER 4, 2023
Michigan State 20, Nebraska 17
Nebraska had chances on the road but was unable to mount enough offense to overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit in a 20-17 loss at Michigan State on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing.
The Huskers, who slipped to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten, held Michigan State to just 63 rushing yards on 31 carries, but the Spartans (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) used several long pass plays to help amass 232 yards through the air. Nebraska went for 154 rushing yards on 41 carries, but managed just 129 yards on 12-of-28 passing.
The Spartans out-gained the Huskers 295-283, but MSU was also flagged seven times for 70 yards, while Nebraska committed no penalties on the day. Nebraska also racked up 19 first downs compared to just 11 for Michigan State.
However, the Spartans got four long pass plays from three different throwers to account for nearly half (141) of their total yardage (295) in the game, including a 46-yard first-quarter pass from Katin Houser to Jaylan Franklin, a 42-yard pass from Alante Brown to Montorie Foster Jr. in the second quarter, a 28-yard pass from Houser to Tyrell Henry early in the third quarter, and a 25-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to Foster early in the fourth quarter. All four big plays led to MSU's scores in the game, including Foster's touchdown grab that put the Spartans up 20-10.
Haarberg, who managed 37 yards on 14 carries on the day with one touchdown despite being sacked seven times, answered with a big play of his own, a 43-yard fourth-quarter run that set up a four-yard Emmett Johnson touchdown with 3:35 left to cut MSU's lead to 20-17. Johnson led Nebraska with 57 yards on 13 carries on the day.
Michigan State missed a field goal attempt with less than a minute remaining, and Nebraska took over with 43 seconds left at its own 27 needing a field goal to send the game to overtime. Haarberg opened the drive with a nine-yard completion to Malachi Coleman before a 10-yard defensive holding penalty put the Huskers near midfield with 19 second left.
Haarberg's next pass attempt was knocked out of his hand as his arm moved forward, but the play was ruled a fumble on the field. With Nebraska out of timeouts, the clock kept running and one last pass attempt fell incomplete as time expired, ending Nebraska's three-game winning streak.
Tight end Thomas Fidone led the Huskers with three receptions for 43 yards, while Alex Bullock added three catches for 37 yards. Coleman contributed a pair of catches for 39 yards.
Luke Reimer led the Blackshirts with seven tackles, while Isaac Gifford, Nick Henrich, Jibari Butler and Javin Wright all added five stops apiece.
Houser's 46-yard pass to Franklin on Michigan State's fourth offensive play set up Jonathan Kim's 35-yard field goal to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead just over three minutes into the game. Houser finished the day 13-of-20 for 165 passing yards with one touchdown.
The MSU lead held until early in the second quarter when Haarberg ran into the end zone untouched from five yards out with 12:40 left in the half to give Nebraska a 7-3 lead.
Michigan State answered with Houser's 11-yard touchdown pass to Christian Fitzpatrick just over three minutes later. The key play on the drive was Brown's 42-yard pass to Foster, after an initial lateral from Houser to Brown.
The Spartans led 10-7 until Tristan Alvano tied the score with his 24-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the half. Alvano's field goal capped a 12-play, 74-yard drive that consumed 4:56 and sent the two teams to the halftime locker room tied at 10.
Nebraska opened the second half with the ball but had its drive stall near midfield. MSU took over at its own 14 and began its drive with Houser's 28-yard pass to Henry. The big play sparked a 12-play, 53-yard drive that ate up 6:24 on the clock and resulted in Kim's 50-yard field goal to give the Spartans a 13-10 lead heading to the final quarter.
