Nebraska vs Michigan State: The Spark becomes a Flame

Two hours and fifty-three minutes. That’s all it took to clip the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota. You heard a lot of talk around here about being careful with North Dakota. Maybe even be alert to an upset. Maybe even the Profizer gave them a bit too much respect. But from the moment that ball was kicked in Lincoln on Saturday night, the game never felt in doubt.

It was sportsmanlike. Methodical. Almost boring. The Huskers controlled the ball. Suffocated the Hawks on defense and essentially coasted to the 34-7 victory. Not a lot of flash, but that appeared to be intentional. At the end of the day, Nebraska did exactly what it needed to. They took an inferior team to the woodshed and finished another non-conference season undefeated.

What have we learned from the non-conference slate in 2026? I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something does feel a little different than seasons past. There’s less talk. More substance. At least this far. Nebraska teams, especially under Matt Rhule have always seemed to hit at least one extended lull in each game, most noticeably on the offensive side of the ball. It would always be a quick point burst, followed by at least two and a half quarters of barely being able to move the football, allowing any and all teams ample time to catch up and in all honesty, beat us. They knew all they had to do was weather the storm, get through the scripted stuff and then we were sitting ducks, ripe for the picking. The sample size is admittedly small, but I haven’t seen that this season. Colandrea and Holgerson appear to be very much on the same page. You’re seeing fewer checks at the line of scrimmage. You’re seeing a game plan being stuck to and a leader of the offense that by all accounts is unafraid.  The offense maybe hasn’t been super powered and spectacular for four quarters; it just hasn’t disappeared for two of them. Is this finally a team that will put its foot on the opponent’s throat, kill all hope, and finish teams when opportunities present themselves?

The defense appears like it can be capable. It’s hard to say exactly what this defense is capable of when Aurich and Co. has intentionally kept things close to the vest through the first three weeks. A couple of things are for certain though. Owen Chambliss may be the most important player for the Blackshirts this year, knowing Aurich’s system in and out, being another coach on the field has paid dividends through his first two starts as a Husker. On a more concerning note, a four man pass rush just doesn’t seem like it will get it done for this version of the Blackshirts. We saw a bit more pressure on the QB Saturday night, generating five sacks, which was welcome, but going forward, the Blackshirts are only going to see better and better competition. Defense becomes a lot easier to play when you can count on a four man pass rush creating some havoc. Now, Aurich’s blitz packages are always whispered about, but we haven’t seen them yet, and rightfully so. I’m excited to see what this team can do when fully unleashed.

The non-con is now a thing of the past. Good memories, a 3-0 record, and a roster that came out of it relatively healthy. You can’t ask for too much more. There is a quiet sense of confidence within the walls in Lincoln. You can feel it. But the real tests are yet to come. First things first. B1G play starts, and it starts on the road in East Lansing, where Nebraska will meet up with an old rival, just wearing a different color. Pat Fitzgerald is back. And to be honest, he is a guy that has always given the Huskers trouble. Often at the helm of teams that are overlooked by folks in Lincoln, he over delivers. He is a hell of a coach, and he is out to prove it. Rest assured he will have his Michigan State Spartans ready to go Saturday evening. Can the Huskers keep it rolling and spoil Pat Fitzgerald’s return to the B1G conference? If these three tasks are accomplished, the Huskers should be able to walk out of East Lansing with a victory. It’s the Profizer’s Pigskin Preview – Nebraska vs Michigan State:

1.      Weather the Storm – All signs point to a beautiful night for football in East Lansing come Saturday, but a different storm is bound to make landfall. Outside of the first half of football against Ohio, maybe even just the first drive, this 2026 Husker team really hasn’t been punched in the mouth yet. How will the fellas respond to some adversity? While Michigan State may not be at the top of the B1G heap, all conference opponents must be respected. Something will go wrong on Saturday evening. This Husker team cannot let mistakes snowball like they have in the past. Make it through the initial storm front, and there will be blue skies on the horizon.

2.      Spartan Ground War – Michigan State is going to want to run the ball at you. That is just what a Pat Fitzgerald coached team does, and Cam Edwards is a capable back. Through three games, he averages 20 carries per game. The Blackshirts have to be up to the challenge of stopping a true B1G rushing attack and resist being lulled to sleep because Alessio Milivojevic can throw the ball, especially when that run game gets rolling and play action is available. You don’t have to think back too far when Milivojevic entered the game late against Nebraska and moved the ball with ease last year in Lincoln. Disciplined eyes, assignment football. The Blackshirts toughest test to date.

3.      Stick Together – Does this team have what it takes to win on the road in the B1G? I think we are all curious to see how it looks outside the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium. Can the offense continue to operate at a high level with opposing crowd noise? Is Anthony Colandrea, Jamal Rule and the rest of the Big Red offense cool, calm and collected? Stick to the game plan and stay within the offense. We don’t need to be fielding and returning punts inside the five yard line. Get north and south when carrying the ball. Make the simple plays. Not every play has to be a homerun. Not every tackle needs to be a hit stick. You’re going to have to stick together and play as a team to win on the road in the B1G. Time to prove we have what it takes.

Pat Fitzgerald called the Huskers a completely different team from last year, with a true identity of what they want to do. High praise from a guy who has built his career around doing more with less. Building football programs around an identity of toughness. The Huskers are going to have to show up right from the start Saturday evening in East Lansing. No more dumb opening drive turnovers or defensive busts. You’re going to have to beat a Pat Fitzgerald coached team, because they won’t beat themselves. The Spartans are battle tested group, having faced off and played Notre Dame tough on the road in South Bend. In the Profizer’s eyes, this is the kind of game Nebraska has to win if 2026 is actually going to be different. The path only gets more treacherous from here.

Three games have given Husker Nation reason to believe this Nebraska team could be different. East Lansing gives Nebraska its first chance to prove it.

Hope burns eternal. All Husker fans know this, but there is a little something about this group that is beginning to ignite something else.

The spark becomes a flame in East Lansing Saturday night.

Toe meets leather at 4 pm.

Sparta falls by 7:30.

Nebraska 27 – Michigan State 14