3 keys to victory for Nebraska football against Michigan State

As Nebraska football offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said this week, the preseason is over. The Huskers open Big Ten play on Saturday against 2-1 Michigan State.

The Spartans look like a different program under Pat Fitzgerald. The Spartans haven’t made a bowl game since 2021, but gave Notre Dame a game last week in South Bend.

Nebraska football is a 5.5-point favorite. The Huskers are 3-0 against the spread so far this season. Their offense has been dynamic. Jamal Rule is third in the Big Ten in rushing yards. Anthony Colandrea is the highest-rated Power-4 quarterback, according to Pro Football Focus.

Yet, the schedule wasn’t all that difficult. Ohio and North Dakota are solid programs at the G6/FCS level, which is about the same, at least the top-tier FCS aren’t much different from the G6.

The Spartans two wins have also come over MAC teams. Both teams have a lot to prove and here are three keys to victory for Nebraska football against Michigan State.

Run the damn ball, well

It’s going to be an interesting chess match on Saturday. Michigan State is going to play a lot of quarters. They will probably crash down their safeties some, too, trying to stop the run game.

Nebraska has the 7th-best rush offense in college football. Michigan State is 53rd in rush defense allowing 113 yards per game.

The Spartans will have some decisions to make. Will they make Anthony Colandrea be patient and play their safeties back, or they will be aggressive in the run game, forcing Nebraska into unfavorable down and distances?

It could be a good day going over the seam. You need protection for that, though, and protecting the quarterback becomes much easier when you can run the ball.

It feels like the team that runs the ball better will win this game. It should be Nebraska. The Spartans average 150 yards per game on the ground (89th). Cam Edwards is averaging 4.8 yards per carry and the Nebraska run defense is ranked 45th. It hasn’t been tested by a Big Ten offensive line yet.

You can expect the Spartans to make Nebraska prove it can stop the run. It’s not fancy, but the team that gets more rushing yards, will probably win this game.

Don’t get dominated on special teams

Nebraska fans know how dangerous LeVar Woods’ special teams units can be. That’s a lesson they learned well over the years when he was the special teams coordinator for Iowa.

Fitzgerald stole him away in what was the former Northwestern head coaches’ best hire. The Spartans are first nationally in kickoff returns and 18th in punt return defense. MSU ranks in the top 8 nationally in punt return yardage and punt return defense.

Nebraska has given up zero punt return yards. The Huskers are 48th in kickoff return defense. To win, the Huskers need to keep this part of the game competitive.

Nebraska can’t miss field goals, kick the ball out of bounds, or allow some sort of special teams touchdown. That’s a recipe for a Michigan State upset.

Protect and affect the quarterback

Matt Rhule said Nebraska football was going to do this when he got hired, but it hasn’t really worked out. Last week, it did.

Nebraska sacked North Dakota QB Jerry Kaminsky five times. Colandrea wasn’t sacked once. It’s naive to think things will go that well in East Lansing.

It’s not crazy to think the team that does a better job of protecting their quarterback, will win the game. Colandrea has been protected well all season and if he gets time on Saturday, he will carve up the Spartans.

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