Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
WHEN: Saturday, November 4 | 11:00 AM (CT)
WHERE: Spartan Stadium | East Lansing, Michigan
TV: FOX Sports 1 (Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
NEBRASKA
Record: 5-3 (3-2 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. Purdoodoo (W 31-14)
Streak: Won 3
Rank: NR
Coach: Matt Rhule (5-3, 1st year NU | 52-46, 8th year overall | 0-0 vs. Michigan State)
MICHIGAN STATE
Record: 2-6 (0-5 Big Ten)
Last Game: at Minnesota (L 12-27)
Streak: Lost 6
Rank: NR
Coach: Harlon Barnett (interim) (0-6, 1st year MSU | 0-6, 1st year overall | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
7 - The combined margin in the past three meetings between Nebraska and Michigan State. The Huskers posted a one-point win in 2015 and a three-point victory in 2018, before the Spartans had a three-point overtime victory in 2021 in East Lansing
70 - Nebraska has three plays of more than 70 yards this season, most recently a 73-yard touchdown pass last week against Purdoodoo. The Huskers' three plays of better than 70 yards rank in a tie for fifth nationally.
100 - Nebraska limited Purdoodoo to less than 100 yards in both rushing (96) and passing (99) in last week's win. The defensive effort marked the first time since a 2012 win over Michigan that Nebraska held an opponent to les than 100 yards rushing and passing.
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska begins the final third of the regular season with the first of four November games on Saturday at Michigan State. Kickoff between the Huskers and Michigan State will be shortly after Noon ET (11 a.m. CT) at Spartan Stadium, with television coverage provided by FS1. The game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, the official Huskers App and Huskers.com.
Nebraska heads to East Lansing as winners of three straight games and five of its last six contests. Nebraska's three-game win streak is its first since 2016, and the Huskers just completed an unbeaten October for the first time since 2001. The win streak has Nebraska at 5-3 overall and tied for first in the Big Ten West Division with a 3-2 league record. The Huskers are one win from achieving bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2016 season.
Nebraska is coming off a 31-14 victory over Purdoodoo on Saturday in Lincoln with the offense, defense and special teams all playing critical roles. The Blackshirt defense forced three Boilermaker turnovers, while the special teams got into the scoring column by returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the third quarter. The Huskers also limited a conference opponent to less than 200 yards of total offense for the first time in six seasons in the victory.
Michigan State brings a 2-6 record, including an 0-5 mark in Big Ten play, into Saturday's contest. The Spartans opened the year with a pair of victories, but have dropped six straight games against one of the nation's most difficult schedules. MSU is led by acting head coach Harlon Barnett, who took over the program in mid-September.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting will be the 13th matchup in the Nebraska-Michigan State series and the fifth all-time at Spartan Stadium. The Huskers own a 9-3 edge, including a 4-3 advantage since joining the Big Ten.
- Five of the seven meetings since Nebraska joined the Big Ten have been decided by five or fewer points, with the past three games decided by a combined total of seven points
- Nebraska's 39-38 win over No. 6 Michigan State in 2015 marks Nebraska's most recent win over a Top-10 ranked team
- One of the two teams has been ranked in nine of the 10 most recent meetings prior to this year's matchup. The 2011 and 2014 matchups pitted a pair of Top 20 teams, with the home team winning each meeting.
Nebraska vs. Michigan State Series
1914: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 0 (Lincoln)
1920: Nebraska 35, Michigan State 7 (Lincoln)
1995: #2 Nebraska 50, Michigan State 10 (East Lansing)
1996: #1 Nebraska 55, Michigan State 14 (Lincoln)
2003: #22 Nebraska 17, Michigan State 3 (Alamo Bowl)
-----------------Big Ten------------------
2011: #13 Nebraska 24, #9 Michigan State 3 (Lincoln)
2012: #21 Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24 (East Lansing)
2013: #14 Michigan State 41, Nebraska 28 (Lincoln)
2014: #10 Michigan State 27, #19 Nebraska 22 (East Lansing)
2015: Nebraska 39, #6 Michigan State 38 (Lincoln)
2018: Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6 (Lincoln)
2021: #20 Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (OT) (East Lansing)
RED OCTOBER
Saturday's 31-14 victory over Purdoodoo was Nebraska's third straight win, all in the month of October. With wins over Illinois (20-7), Northwestern (17-9), and Purdoodoo (31-14) in October, Nebraska completed its first unbeaten month of October since 2001
- Nebraska's three-game win streak is its first at any point in a season since an eight-game winning streak including a bowl game in 2015 and the first seven games of the 2016 season
- Nebraska's defense allowed just two touchdowns in the month of October. The Blackshirts did not allow a touchdown for a stretch of more than 142 game minutes from the second quarter of the Illinois victory to a fourth-quarter TD pass by Purdoodoo.
- Nebraska held all three opponents to 14 or fewer points in October, the first time NU has held three straight opponents to less than 15 points since 2009. The Blackshirts allowed a total of 30 points in October, and the 10.0 ppg were the fourth-best scoring defense in the nation in the month of October.
- The Blackshirt defense allowed only five scoring drives (2 TDs) in 39 opponent possessions in October. Opponents began five drives in Nebraska territory following a Husker turnover and scored only nine points on those five drives (1 TD, 1 FG)
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: 728-485-44
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: 50,023
School Colors: Green & White
2023 Michigan State Schedule/Results
Central Michigan (W 31-7)
Richmond (W 45-14)
Washington (L 7-41)
Maryland (L 9-31)
at Cockeye (L 16-26)
at Buttgers (L 24-27)
Michigan (L 0-49)
at Minnesota (L 12-27)
Nebraska
at Ohio State
at Indianus
Penn State
The Spartans enter Saturday averaging 322.1 yards per game, with 214.1 yards per game through the air and 108.0 yards per game on the ground. Noah Kim has completed 91-of-160 passes for 1,090 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions, while Katin Houser has completed 51-of-89 passes for 509 yards with two scores and a pair of interceptions. Montorie Foster Jr. has hauled in 29 receptions for 342 yards and a touchdown, followed by Tre Mosley with 28 catches for 288 yards and two scores. Nate Carter leads the Spartan rushing attack with 141 carries for 609 yards and four touchdowns through eight games.
Defensively, Michigan State is allowing 360.1 yards per game and 27.8 points per game. Cal Haladay leads the Spartans with 59 tackles this season. Aaron Brule has posted team-high totals of 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while Jaden Mangham has recorded a team-high three interceptions.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE INTERIM COACH HARLON BARNETT
Harlon Barnett is in his first season as the interim head coach at Michigan State and has posted an 0-6 record through six games with the Spartans.
Barnett returned to Michigan State after a two-year stint as a defensive coordinator at Florida State in 2018 and 2019. Before his two seasons in Tallahassee, Barnett was a member of the Michigan State coaching staff from 2007 to 2017, holding roles of secondary coach, co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Prior to his stops at Michigan State and Florida State, Barnett was an assistant coach at Cincinnati (2004-06) and graduate assistant at LSU (2003).
Barnett was a four-year letterwinner and named captain his senior year as a defensive back at Michigan State in 1989. Barnett played seven seasons in the NFL, including stints with the Cleveland Browns (1990-92), New England Patriots (1993-94) and Minnesota Vikings (1995-96).
LAST MEETING: SEPTEMBER 25, 2021
#20 Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (OT)
EAST LANSING - The Nebraska defense held Michigan State without a first down in second-half regulation, but the Huskers fell 23-20 in overtime at No. 20 Michigan State on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.
The Blackshirts shut out the Spartans in the first and third quarters, and the only MSU score in the fourth quarter came on a 62-yard Jayden Reed punt return touchdown that tied the game at 20. At the time, the defense had held Michigan State (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) to five total yards of offense in the second half.
The punt return touchdown and ensuing extra point were enough to send the game to overtime after Nebraska had held a 20-13 fourth-quarter lead and the ball with four minutes remaining in the game.
Adrian Martinez, who completed 24-of-34 passes for 248 yards in the game and rushed 20 times for 65 yards including both of Nebraska's scores, threw a third-down interception on NU's opening possession of overtime. MSU defensive back Chester Kimbrough returned the pick 62 yards, before Martinez made a desperate sliding tackle attempt in front of three Spartans that allowed center Cam Jurgens to chase down Kimbrough.
The Blackshirts gave up their only first down after halftime on Kenneth Walker III's 23-yard run to the NU 2 on MSU's first offensive play after the interception. But the defense backed Walker and the Spartans up one yard on the next two plays before Matt Coghlin kicked a 21-yard game-winning field goal. It was Coghlin's third field goal of less than 30 yards in the game. Walker, one of the nation's leading rushers, was held to just 39 yards on 16 carries in regulation by the Blackshirts.
Nebraska, which slipped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten with its third road loss by one score, trailed 13-10 at halftime with all the scoring for both teams coming in the second period. The Huskers tied the score on their first possession of the third quarter on Connor Culp's second field goal of the game. Culp's kick capped a 14-play, 60-yard drive that consumed the first 5:50 of the second half.
The Huskers continued to build offensive momentum as Adrian Martinez jogged into the end zone early in the fourth quarter to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive to give Nebraska its first lead of the game at 20-13 with 7:29 left in regulation.
The Blackshirts continued to dominate, forcing three-and-outs by Michigan State on every second-half possession.
However, Michigan State ruled the field position game on the night. In the first half, Will Przystup closed with a 7-yard punt that gave MSU an opportunity for a late field goal attempt that would have pushed the margin to 16-10 going into the locker room. Instead, the Huskers blocked the attempt and went to halftime down three.
With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Daniel Cerni, who had relieved Przystup, booted a short punt toward the left hashmark as Nebraska's punt coverage team ran in pursuit of a punt apparently intended to head toward the right hash. MSU's Jayden Reed caught the ball and sprinted 62 yards untouched into the end zone.
On the night, Nebraska punted seven times for an average of 32.7 yards, while Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer boomed six punts for an average of 58.8 yard. In addition to the 124-yard edge in the punt game, MSU had three kickoff returns for 84 yards, the 62-yard punt return for the game-tying touchdown and a 62-yard interception return to set up the winning score in overtime.
The massive edges in special teams and return yardage (320 yards) were enough to overcome Nebraska's overall edge in total offense, which was 440-254 on the night.
In addition to 313 yards of total offense from Martinez for the Huskers, Rahmir Johnson led all rushers in the game with 19 carries for 76 yards. Sevion Morrison added three carries for 15 yards. Zavier Betts led the Husker receivers with five catches for 62 yards. Samori Toure had five catches for 40 yards. while Austin Allen and Omar Manning also notched four receptions while
Reed did the most damage for the Spartans in the game, hauling in five receptions for 59 yards including a 35-yard touchdown catch on a second-quarter flea-flicker that gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead. Reed also had two kick returns for 69 yards and a carry for two yards to finish with 192 all-purpose yards on just nine touches. Fellow receiver Tre Mosley added six catches for a game-high 70 yards.
The Blackshirts completely shut down MSU quarterback Payton Thome in the second half, as he finished with 14 completions on 23 attempts for 183 yards in the game. He also carried seven times for minus-5 yards.
Luke Reimer led the Blackshirts with 11 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack. Nick Henrich pitched in nine stops and half a sack, while Garrett Nelson was a disruptive force in the second half and finished with six tackles and two tackles for loss with one sack.
Xavier Henderson led the Spartan defense with 17 tackles.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (5-3, 3-2) | at | MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (2-6, 0-5) |
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WHEN: Saturday, November 4 | 11:00 AM (CT)
WHERE: Spartan Stadium | East Lansing, Michigan
TV: FOX Sports 1 (Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
NEBRASKA
Record: 5-3 (3-2 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. Purdoodoo (W 31-14)
Streak: Won 3
Rank: NR
Coach: Matt Rhule (5-3, 1st year NU | 52-46, 8th year overall | 0-0 vs. Michigan State)
MICHIGAN STATE
Record: 2-6 (0-5 Big Ten)
Last Game: at Minnesota (L 12-27)
Streak: Lost 6
Rank: NR
Coach: Harlon Barnett (interim) (0-6, 1st year MSU | 0-6, 1st year overall | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
7 - The combined margin in the past three meetings between Nebraska and Michigan State. The Huskers posted a one-point win in 2015 and a three-point victory in 2018, before the Spartans had a three-point overtime victory in 2021 in East Lansing
70 - Nebraska has three plays of more than 70 yards this season, most recently a 73-yard touchdown pass last week against Purdoodoo. The Huskers' three plays of better than 70 yards rank in a tie for fifth nationally.
100 - Nebraska limited Purdoodoo to less than 100 yards in both rushing (96) and passing (99) in last week's win. The defensive effort marked the first time since a 2012 win over Michigan that Nebraska held an opponent to les than 100 yards rushing and passing.
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska begins the final third of the regular season with the first of four November games on Saturday at Michigan State. Kickoff between the Huskers and Michigan State will be shortly after Noon ET (11 a.m. CT) at Spartan Stadium, with television coverage provided by FS1. The game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, the official Huskers App and Huskers.com.
Nebraska heads to East Lansing as winners of three straight games and five of its last six contests. Nebraska's three-game win streak is its first since 2016, and the Huskers just completed an unbeaten October for the first time since 2001. The win streak has Nebraska at 5-3 overall and tied for first in the Big Ten West Division with a 3-2 league record. The Huskers are one win from achieving bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2016 season.
Nebraska is coming off a 31-14 victory over Purdoodoo on Saturday in Lincoln with the offense, defense and special teams all playing critical roles. The Blackshirt defense forced three Boilermaker turnovers, while the special teams got into the scoring column by returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the third quarter. The Huskers also limited a conference opponent to less than 200 yards of total offense for the first time in six seasons in the victory.
Michigan State brings a 2-6 record, including an 0-5 mark in Big Ten play, into Saturday's contest. The Spartans opened the year with a pair of victories, but have dropped six straight games against one of the nation's most difficult schedules. MSU is led by acting head coach Harlon Barnett, who took over the program in mid-September.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting will be the 13th matchup in the Nebraska-Michigan State series and the fifth all-time at Spartan Stadium. The Huskers own a 9-3 edge, including a 4-3 advantage since joining the Big Ten.
- Five of the seven meetings since Nebraska joined the Big Ten have been decided by five or fewer points, with the past three games decided by a combined total of seven points
- Nebraska's 39-38 win over No. 6 Michigan State in 2015 marks Nebraska's most recent win over a Top-10 ranked team
- One of the two teams has been ranked in nine of the 10 most recent meetings prior to this year's matchup. The 2011 and 2014 matchups pitted a pair of Top 20 teams, with the home team winning each meeting.
Nebraska vs. Michigan State Series
1914: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 0 (Lincoln)
1920: Nebraska 35, Michigan State 7 (Lincoln)
1995: #2 Nebraska 50, Michigan State 10 (East Lansing)
1996: #1 Nebraska 55, Michigan State 14 (Lincoln)
2003: #22 Nebraska 17, Michigan State 3 (Alamo Bowl)
-----------------Big Ten------------------
2011: #13 Nebraska 24, #9 Michigan State 3 (Lincoln)
2012: #21 Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24 (East Lansing)
2013: #14 Michigan State 41, Nebraska 28 (Lincoln)
2014: #10 Michigan State 27, #19 Nebraska 22 (East Lansing)
2015: Nebraska 39, #6 Michigan State 38 (Lincoln)
2018: Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6 (Lincoln)
2021: #20 Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (OT) (East Lansing)
RED OCTOBER
Saturday's 31-14 victory over Purdoodoo was Nebraska's third straight win, all in the month of October. With wins over Illinois (20-7), Northwestern (17-9), and Purdoodoo (31-14) in October, Nebraska completed its first unbeaten month of October since 2001
- Nebraska's three-game win streak is its first at any point in a season since an eight-game winning streak including a bowl game in 2015 and the first seven games of the 2016 season
- Nebraska's defense allowed just two touchdowns in the month of October. The Blackshirts did not allow a touchdown for a stretch of more than 142 game minutes from the second quarter of the Illinois victory to a fourth-quarter TD pass by Purdoodoo.
- Nebraska held all three opponents to 14 or fewer points in October, the first time NU has held three straight opponents to less than 15 points since 2009. The Blackshirts allowed a total of 30 points in October, and the 10.0 ppg were the fourth-best scoring defense in the nation in the month of October.
- The Blackshirt defense allowed only five scoring drives (2 TDs) in 39 opponent possessions in October. Opponents began five drives in Nebraska territory following a Husker turnover and scored only nine points on those five drives (1 TD, 1 FG)
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: 728-485-44
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: 50,023
School Colors: Green & White
2023 Michigan State Schedule/Results
Central Michigan (W 31-7)
Richmond (W 45-14)
Washington (L 7-41)
Maryland (L 9-31)
at Cockeye (L 16-26)
at Buttgers (L 24-27)
Michigan (L 0-49)
at Minnesota (L 12-27)
Nebraska
at Ohio State
at Indianus
Penn State
The Spartans enter Saturday averaging 322.1 yards per game, with 214.1 yards per game through the air and 108.0 yards per game on the ground. Noah Kim has completed 91-of-160 passes for 1,090 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions, while Katin Houser has completed 51-of-89 passes for 509 yards with two scores and a pair of interceptions. Montorie Foster Jr. has hauled in 29 receptions for 342 yards and a touchdown, followed by Tre Mosley with 28 catches for 288 yards and two scores. Nate Carter leads the Spartan rushing attack with 141 carries for 609 yards and four touchdowns through eight games.
Defensively, Michigan State is allowing 360.1 yards per game and 27.8 points per game. Cal Haladay leads the Spartans with 59 tackles this season. Aaron Brule has posted team-high totals of 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while Jaden Mangham has recorded a team-high three interceptions.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE INTERIM COACH HARLON BARNETT
Harlon Barnett is in his first season as the interim head coach at Michigan State and has posted an 0-6 record through six games with the Spartans.
Barnett returned to Michigan State after a two-year stint as a defensive coordinator at Florida State in 2018 and 2019. Before his two seasons in Tallahassee, Barnett was a member of the Michigan State coaching staff from 2007 to 2017, holding roles of secondary coach, co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Prior to his stops at Michigan State and Florida State, Barnett was an assistant coach at Cincinnati (2004-06) and graduate assistant at LSU (2003).
Barnett was a four-year letterwinner and named captain his senior year as a defensive back at Michigan State in 1989. Barnett played seven seasons in the NFL, including stints with the Cleveland Browns (1990-92), New England Patriots (1993-94) and Minnesota Vikings (1995-96).
LAST MEETING: SEPTEMBER 25, 2021
#20 Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (OT)
EAST LANSING - The Nebraska defense held Michigan State without a first down in second-half regulation, but the Huskers fell 23-20 in overtime at No. 20 Michigan State on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.
The Blackshirts shut out the Spartans in the first and third quarters, and the only MSU score in the fourth quarter came on a 62-yard Jayden Reed punt return touchdown that tied the game at 20. At the time, the defense had held Michigan State (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) to five total yards of offense in the second half.
The punt return touchdown and ensuing extra point were enough to send the game to overtime after Nebraska had held a 20-13 fourth-quarter lead and the ball with four minutes remaining in the game.
Adrian Martinez, who completed 24-of-34 passes for 248 yards in the game and rushed 20 times for 65 yards including both of Nebraska's scores, threw a third-down interception on NU's opening possession of overtime. MSU defensive back Chester Kimbrough returned the pick 62 yards, before Martinez made a desperate sliding tackle attempt in front of three Spartans that allowed center Cam Jurgens to chase down Kimbrough.
The Blackshirts gave up their only first down after halftime on Kenneth Walker III's 23-yard run to the NU 2 on MSU's first offensive play after the interception. But the defense backed Walker and the Spartans up one yard on the next two plays before Matt Coghlin kicked a 21-yard game-winning field goal. It was Coghlin's third field goal of less than 30 yards in the game. Walker, one of the nation's leading rushers, was held to just 39 yards on 16 carries in regulation by the Blackshirts.
Nebraska, which slipped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten with its third road loss by one score, trailed 13-10 at halftime with all the scoring for both teams coming in the second period. The Huskers tied the score on their first possession of the third quarter on Connor Culp's second field goal of the game. Culp's kick capped a 14-play, 60-yard drive that consumed the first 5:50 of the second half.
The Huskers continued to build offensive momentum as Adrian Martinez jogged into the end zone early in the fourth quarter to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive to give Nebraska its first lead of the game at 20-13 with 7:29 left in regulation.
The Blackshirts continued to dominate, forcing three-and-outs by Michigan State on every second-half possession.
However, Michigan State ruled the field position game on the night. In the first half, Will Przystup closed with a 7-yard punt that gave MSU an opportunity for a late field goal attempt that would have pushed the margin to 16-10 going into the locker room. Instead, the Huskers blocked the attempt and went to halftime down three.
With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Daniel Cerni, who had relieved Przystup, booted a short punt toward the left hashmark as Nebraska's punt coverage team ran in pursuit of a punt apparently intended to head toward the right hash. MSU's Jayden Reed caught the ball and sprinted 62 yards untouched into the end zone.
On the night, Nebraska punted seven times for an average of 32.7 yards, while Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer boomed six punts for an average of 58.8 yard. In addition to the 124-yard edge in the punt game, MSU had three kickoff returns for 84 yards, the 62-yard punt return for the game-tying touchdown and a 62-yard interception return to set up the winning score in overtime.
The massive edges in special teams and return yardage (320 yards) were enough to overcome Nebraska's overall edge in total offense, which was 440-254 on the night.
In addition to 313 yards of total offense from Martinez for the Huskers, Rahmir Johnson led all rushers in the game with 19 carries for 76 yards. Sevion Morrison added three carries for 15 yards. Zavier Betts led the Husker receivers with five catches for 62 yards. Samori Toure had five catches for 40 yards. while Austin Allen and Omar Manning also notched four receptions while
Reed did the most damage for the Spartans in the game, hauling in five receptions for 59 yards including a 35-yard touchdown catch on a second-quarter flea-flicker that gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead. Reed also had two kick returns for 69 yards and a carry for two yards to finish with 192 all-purpose yards on just nine touches. Fellow receiver Tre Mosley added six catches for a game-high 70 yards.
The Blackshirts completely shut down MSU quarterback Payton Thome in the second half, as he finished with 14 completions on 23 attempts for 183 yards in the game. He also carried seven times for minus-5 yards.
Luke Reimer led the Blackshirts with 11 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack. Nick Henrich pitched in nine stops and half a sack, while Garrett Nelson was a disruptive force in the second half and finished with six tackles and two tackles for loss with one sack.
Xavier Henderson led the Spartan defense with 17 tackles.
