Nebraska football did not have enough Saturday in East Lansing.
The Huskers fell 20-17 to Michigan State. That leaves NU at 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in the Big Ten Conference.
First, the uncontrollables for Nebraska:
- No call on a clear facemask
- Michigan State touchdown appeared to be an incomplete pass (call stood)
- No call on a clear pass interference
- Missed spot to give Nebraska the first down and stop the clock on the final drive
- Missed incomplete pass call resulting in a fumble and running the clock on the second to last play of the game.
All of that out of the way, Nebraska did not help itself in any phase of the game.
The Husker offense managed 283 total yards, including 154 yards on the ground. The passing game remained a giant issue as Heinrich Haarberg completed 12-of-28 passes for 128 yards and a pair of interceptions. That includes Haarberg starting the game 3-for-6 for -2 yards and a pick.
Defensively, the Blackshirts were gashed for runs and continually lost one-on-one battles in the pass game. Michigan State got just 63 yards on the ground, though that includes a trio of sacks that lost the Spartans 20 yards. Through the air, MSU tallied 232 yards on 15-of-24 passing, which includes four Spartans throwing a pass. NU did not take the ball away once.
Then on special teams, Nebraska’s only unit to perform well may have been for field goals. Tristan Alvano hit made his only attempt. Neither kick return unit did anything so that is a wash. But on punt and punt return, things did not go well for NU.
On punt return, Billy Kemp IV suited up with the role of fair catching every punt. He did his job, but that routinely set the Husker offense up with poor field position despite room to run. Only once, on the final MSU punt of the game, did Ethan Nation get a chance to return the ball, which he did for three yards.
Brian Buschini averaged 35.4 yards a punt and only put one of them inside the 20. It was a less than stellar day for a unit that needed to be above average.
The Huskers will look to become bowl eligible next Saturday in Lincoln hosting Maryland.
Nebraska Postgame Notes
- With the loss, Nebraska’s edge in the series dropped to 9-4, with Michigan State holding a 3-2 lead in East Lansing, including winning the past three meetings at Spartan Stadium.
- Nebraska held Michigan State to 63 rushing yards in the game, marking the eighth time in nine games the Huskers held their opponent under 100 rushing yards. The eight games with less than 100 rushing yards ties the 2009 defense for the most games holding an opponent under 100 yards this century. (1999 team held nine opponents under 100 rushing yards)
- Nebraska did not allow a rushing touchdown to Michigan State. The Huskers have not allowed a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games, marking the first time since the first four games of the 2012 season that Nebraska has gone four straight games without allowing a rushing touchdown.
- Nebraska was not charged with a penalty in the game, marking the first time the Huskers were not penalized since Sept. 3, 2005, against Maine.
- Thomas Fidone’s 27-yard reception in the first quarter was the second-longest reception of his Nebraska career.
- Fidone finished with three receptions for 43 yards. The 43 yards are a career best, surpassing 42-yard efforts against Northern Illinois and at Illinois.
- Mikai Gbayor shared a first-quarter sack, marking the first sack of his Nebraska career.
- Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg had his fifth rushing TD of the season in the second quarter. It marks the sixth straight season and ninth time in the past 10 years Nebraska has had a quarterback rush for at least five touchdowns.
- Luke Reimer finished with seven tackles in the game. His final tackle was the 275th of his career, as he became the seventh Husker to total 275 career tackles.
- Michigan State kicked a field goal in the first quarter, marking the first opponent in four road games this season to score in the first quarter. Overall, MSU is just the third opponent to score against Nebraska in the first quarter this season.
- Michigan State converted a second-quarter red-zone trip into a touchdown. That TD ended a streak of seven consecutive opponent red-zone trips without a touchdown, including a first-quarter field goal by Michigan State.
- Today’s game captains were QB Heinrich Haarberg, OT Bryce Benhart, S Isaac Gifford and S Marques Buford Jr.