Nebraska’s Homecoming matchup with Michigan State was an emotional rollercoaster. Up 14, the Spartans would suck the momentum out of the middle quarters of the game to take the lead, but the Huskers would score 24 unanswered points to win over 38-27.
“I think this is a game in previous years…we could’ve lost,” Husker head coach Matt Rhule said. “Since that UCLA game last year, this was the first game that kinda felt sneaky
With a commemorative coin at the toss to honor the late Sam Foltz and Mike Sadler, the Spartans opening drive was stuffed short by the Blackshirts, forcing a punt that Jacory Barney would bring back into MSU territory. The Huskers would score on their opening drive with a 2 yard run from Emmett Johnson. Heinrich Haarberg would take the snap, hand off to Raiola, and Raiola would hand off to Johnson for the score.
The Spartans next drive a minute and a half later would end in disaster. After the initial punt play was flagged, Nebraska would break through on the second punt. Jamir Conn would solidly block the punt, and Carter Nelson would scoop the ball up at the 3 for the score.
After going up two scores, Michigan State would find their groove. The Spartans would take the ball out of the end of the first quarter, taking almost 10 minutes in the end of the first quarter and start of the second for their first touchdown. Aided by two Defensive Pass Interference penalties in the red zone, backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic found an open Jack Velling in the endzone.
Neither team was able to find momentum through the rest of the second quarter, as the first half ended with a litany of punts, including one where Nebraska punted it away on fourth down and 42 yards. Nebraska would break up the offensive monotony with a pair of DeShon Singleton interceptions, however Nebraska could not go anywhere with them.
The second half started with a Nebraska turning the ball over on downs on a fake punt play, and Michigan State would tie the game on an Aidan Chiles 16 yard scramble. The next play, Raiola’s pass would be intercepted by Jordan Hall. Michigan State would take the lead with a quarterback sneak to Chiles.
The final two minutes of the third quarter would erase all of the bad vibes that the third quarter brought to Memorial Stadium. Raiola would have a big play at his own 25, finding Jacory Barney on a wheel route for a 45 yard field flipping play, and Johnson would complete the drive with a 23 yard right side rush for the touchdown. Michigan State’s special teams woes would continue on the ensuing kickoff with a fumble recovered by Mekhi Nelson. The Huskers would retake the lead with a 27 yard field goal from Kyle Cunanan early in the fourth quarter. Later in the quarter, Raiola would add another long touchdown on a 59 yard pass to Nyziah Hunter to extend the lead to ten points.
Cam Lenhardt essentially called game with five minutes to go, when he sacked Chiles for a ten yard loss on the Spartans second to last drive. Johnson would add his third touchdown from 11 yards out to put the Huskers up 18. Milivojevic would add a touchdown in garbage time to close the scoring in the final two minutes.
The Huskers finished for 261 yards on 55 plays, with 194 yards through the air and 67 on the ground. Michigan State had 240 yards on 68 plays. Raiola was 16-24 passing with Johnson being his favorite target for six receptions. He would also lead the Husker rushing attack with 83 yards to go with his three scores.Hunter had four catches for the Huskers, and Barney had two, alongside the four other Huskers who caught a single pass.
Nebraska is now 4-1, and 1-1 in Big Ten play. They travel to Maryland for their first true road game next week. Kickoff on the Big Ten Network is set for 2:30 p.m., with coverage on KGFW starting at 10:30 a.m., and on Hits 106 (KQKY, 105.9 FM) at 1:45 p.m. Michigan State is 3-2, and 0-2 in Big Ten play. Their conference home opener is next week against UCLA.
