5 things to know about Nebraska vs. Michigan State

After a disappointing home loss to Michigan, Nebraska football will return to Lincoln Memorial Stadium on Saturday in need of a win.

The Huskers and Spartans are each 3-1. Both teams are 0-1 in Big Ten play. It’s a crucial game and it’s one that head coach Matt Rhule can’t afford to lose.

Here are five things to know. Kickoff is at 3 PM CST on Fox Sports 1.

Nebraska vs. Michigan State odds

According to Vegas oddsmakers, Nebraska is a 10.5-point favorite on Saturday. The over/under is 51.5, and the money line is +330 for Michigan State. It is -425 for the Huskers.

History tells us to expect a close game

Michigan State and Nebraska have played some classic games against each other since joining the Big Ten. Six of the last seven have been decided by a single possession. The Spartans have won the past two games, as well as four of the last seven.

Rhule is 0-1 against the Spartans. This will be his first game against Jonathan Smith as MSU’s head coach.

Two dynamic quarterbacks

Nebraska averages 351 passing yards per game. Not all of those are Dylan Raiola’s. However, the former five-star quarterback is throwing for 284 yards per game. He’s got 11 touchdowns compared to one interception and is completing 75.6 percent of his passes.

Chiles has also improved in his second full season as a starter. The redshirt sophomore is getting NFL draft buzz, like as a first-rounder in 2026. He’s completing 68.6 percent of his passes, has nine touchdowns, and one interception. The Spartans, like Nebraska, also played a Power 4 team in nonconference.

Chiles is Michigan State’s second-leading rusher with 154 yards. He has a pair of touchdowns, too, and has to be licking his chops after watching Nebraska try to defend Bryce Underwood and Brendan Sorsby on the ground.

The legs of Chiles could be an X-factor.

Michigan State’s defense is bad

The Spartans rank 105th in all of college football in scoring defense. They have allowed 28.8 points per game. The Spartans have 26 tackles for loss; however, they also have six sacks in four games, just like Nebraska, as well as four takeaways.

Michigan State is allowing 263 passing yards per game. The Spartans are also giving up 4.2 yards per attempt on the ground.

If Nebraska doesn’t hang a 30 burger in this one, something is wrong.

Matt Rhule has something up his sleeve

In his press conference on Monday, Rhule said he had a “plan” at the backup running back position. He sort of said the same thing about the left tackle job. Yet, he wouldn’t reveal what it was until Kickoff.

Emmett Johnson has been great for Nebraska. Yet, he’s carried the ball more than any other running back in the Big Ten (71). We’ll see if that’s sustainable. Mekhi Nelson, Kwinten Ives, and Isaiah Mozee are still listed as the backup running backs, yet they said they have a surprise. He said the same thing about left tackle, which has been a battle between Gunnar Gottula and Elijah Pritchett. Teddy Prochazaka is playing right tackle.

Regardless, Nebraska needs more out of those positions. We’ll see what Rhule means. There are only so many things the coaching staff can do, but he’s playing it close to the vest.