Some Match Notes for No. 1 Nebraska at No. 16 Penn State and Rutgers this weekend courtesy of Nebraska Athletics Communications:

MATCH PREVIEW:

• The top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team begins the month of November on the road with a match on Friday at No. 16 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. (CT) and a match on Sunday at Rutgers at Noon (CT).

• Friday’s match at Penn State will air on Big Ten Network and be streamed on FoxSports.com. Sunday’s match at Rutgers will not be televised but will instead have a B1G+ stream.

• The Huskers Radio Network will broadcast all the action on their radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and AM 590 in Omaha. A live audio stream will be provided at Huskers.com and on the Huskers app.

• John Baylor is in his 30th season doing play-by-play for the Husker volleyball program. Lauren (Cook) West, a former All-American setter for the Huskers, will provide color commentary.


ABOUT THE HUSKERS:

• Nebraska (21-0, 12-0 Big Ten) is off to its best start to a season since beginning the 2006 season with a 23-0 record. The Huskers began the 2005 season with a 28-0 record.

• The Huskers, who led the nation in defense in 2022, have held their opponents this season to a combined .125 hitting percentage, which leads the nation.

• Nebraska has been sharp offensively this season, hitting .288 to rank ninth nationally and second in the Big Ten. The Huskers lead all Big Ten teams and rank 13th nationally with 13.95 kills per set.

• Two-time All-American and All-Big Ten libero Lexi Rodriguez paces the Husker defense with 3.55 digs per set.

• Junior opposite hitter Merritt Beason, a Florida transfer, contributes a team-leading 3.64 kills per set and adds 2.01 digs per set with a team-high 21 service aces. Beason is a three-time Big Ten Player of the Week this season and was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 24 following 21 kills in a 3-2 win over No. 1 Wisconsin.

• Freshman outside hitter Harper Murray is averaging 3.37 kills per set and 1.92 digs per set with 18 service aces. Murray has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season.

• Junior outside hitter Lindsay Krause adds 2.50 kills per set and has a .366 hitting percentage since the Sept. 29 win at Purdue, though she has not played since Oct. 14 because of an injury.

• Sophomore middle blocker Bekka Allick leads the Huskers at the net with 1.30 blocks per set to go with 1.57 kills per set.

• Freshman middle blocker Andi Jackson is off to a strong start as a Husker, averaging 2.19 kills per set on a team-high .401 hitting percentage, which ranks second among Big Ten players. Jackson is also contributing 1.17 blocks per set.

• Freshman setter Bergen Reilly is putting up 10.52 assists and 2.48 digs per set. Reilly, who leads all Big Ten players in assists per set, became just the second true freshman setter to be a day one starter under John Cook (Nicklin Hames). Reilly has been named Big Ten Setter of the Week three times this year and Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice.

• From Sept. 12-Sept. 29, Nebraska played five straight ranked teams and won all five matches. It was the sixth time in school history Nebraska played five matches in a row against ranked teams but the first time NU won all five.

• The Huskers went undefeated in non-conference play for the first time since 2016 and just the second time since 2008.


SCOUTING REPORT ON PENN STATE:

• Penn State (15-6, 9-3 Big Ten) has dropped three of its last five matches after starting Big Ten play 7-0. The Nittany Lions fell at Michigan State in five sets last Saturday.

• The Nittany Lions rank first in the Big Ten in blocks (2.98 per set) and are fourth in hitting percentage (.245) and third in opponent hitting percentage (.171).

• Jess Mruzik leads Penn State with 4.45 kills per set, which ranks third in the Big Ten. Mac Podraza puts up 10.20 assists per set. Allie Holland leads the team in blocks at 1.45 per set.


SCOUTING REPORT ON RUTGERS:

• Rutgers (10-12, 2-10 Big Ten) hosts Indiana on Friday night before playing Nebraska on Sunday.

• Alissa Kinkela leads Rutgers with 3.10 kills per set. Tina Grkovic contributes 2.20 kills per set and is hitting .340 with a team-high 21 service aces.

• As a team, the Scarlet Knights are hitting .209 this season and have an opponent hitting percentage of .207.


SERIES HISTORY:

• Nebraska is 27-11 all-time against Penn State and has won the last six matches. The Huskers are 13-1 against the Nittany Lions since 2015. Nebraska swept Penn State, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19, on Oct. 14 in Lincoln.

• Nebraska is 13-1 all-time against Rutgers and has won the last 13 meetings since Rutgers’ lone win in 1978. Nebraska swept Rutgers last Saturday at the Devaney Center, 25-22, 25-15, 25-12.

November 2
1783 - General George Washington issued his Farewell Address to the Army near Princeton, New Jersey.

1861 - During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln relieved Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont of his command of the Army’s Department of the West based in St. Louis, following Fremont’s unauthorized efforts to emancipate slaves in Missouri.

1889 - North Dakota and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th states, respectively.

1917 - British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued a declaration expressing support for a “national home” for the Jews in Palestine.

1920 - White mobs rampaged through the Florida citrus town of Ocoee, setting fire to Black-owned homes and businesses, after a Black man, Mose Norman, showed up at the polls to vote on Election Day; some historians estimate as many as 60 people were killed.

1947 - Howard Hughes flew the "Spruce Goose" on its first and only flight.

1948 - To the surprise of pollsters and newspapers, Harry S. Truman defeated Thomas E. Dewey in the greatest presidential election upset in history.

1959 - "Twenty-One" game show contestant Charles Van Doren admitted that he had been given questions and answers in advance.

1976 - Jimmy Carter defeated President Gerald Ford, becoming the first U.S. president from the deep South since the Civil War.

1984 - Velma Margie Barfield, a convicted murderer, became the first woman to be executed since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.

1994 - A jury in Pensacola, Florida, convicted Paul Hill of murder for the shotgun slayings of an abortion provider and his escort; Hill was executed in September 2003.

2000 - American astronaut Bill Shepherd and two Russian cosmonauts, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, became the first residents of the international space station.

2003 - V. Gene Robinson was consecrated as a bishop by the U.S. Episcopal Church, becoming the first openly gay bishop in the church.

2003 - In Iraq, insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter carrying dozens of U.S. soldiers, killing 16.

2004 - President George W. Bush was elected to a second term and Republicans strengthened their control of Congress.

2007 - British college student Meredith Kercher, 21, was found slain in her bedroom in Perugia, Italy; her roommate, American Amanda Knox and Knox’s Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted of killing Kercher, but both were later exonerated.

2017 - Authorities in Los Angeles and New York said they had opened new investigations prompted by sexual misconduct allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

2018 - The Trump administration restored U.S. sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal but carved out exemptions for eight countries that would still be able to import Iranian oil.

2020 - In the closing hours of the presidential campaign, President Donald Trump charged across the nation delivering a false allegation that the election was being rigged, while Democrat Joe Biden pushed to claim states that were once seen as safely Republican.

2022 - The two largest U.S. pharmacy chains, CVS Health and Walgreen Co., announced agreements in principle to pay about $5 billion each to settle lawsuits nationwide over the toll of opioids.

Birthdays
25 - Dess Dior (rapper)
25 - Jordan Love (football player)
25 - Brielle Barbusca (actress)
32 - Jimmy Garoppolo (football player)
33 - Kendall Schmidt (actor/singer)
34 - Katelyn Tarver (singer)
35 - Negin Mirsalehi (model)
37 - Erika Jo (singer)
46 - Reshma Shetty (actress)
48 - Danny Cooksey (actor)
49 - Nelly (rapper)
52 - Marisol Nichols (actress)
52 - Meta Golding (actress)
57 - David Schwimmer (actor)
57 - Sean Kanan (actor)
59 - Lauren Velez (actress)
62 - k.d. lang (singer)
64 - Peter Mullan (actor)
76 - Kate Linder (actress)
81 - Stefanie Powers (actress)

==================================

Today in Sports History - November 2
1938 - It was announced that George Herman "Babe" Ruth had applied for the job of Manager of the St. Louis Browns after being released as a coach from the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1958 - Los Angeles Rams beat Chicago Bears, 41-35 before 90,833 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum; NFL single-game attendance record.

1969 - Quarterbacks Billy Kilmer of New Orleans and St Louis' Charlie Johnson each pass for 6 touchdowns for combined NFL record of 12 passing TDs in a game; Saints beat Cardinals, 51-42 at Busch Memorial Stadium.

1972 - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton wins the Cy Young with a 27-game win season, despite his team only winning 59 total games on the year.

1974 - The Atlanta Braves trade Hank Aaron to the Milwaukee Brewers.

1978 - Wayne Gretzky is sold to the Edmonton Oilers after just eight games with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA.

1990 - The Phoenix Suns defeat the Utah Jazz 119-96 in Tokyo, Japan in the first regular season contest by an American professional sports league held outside North America.

1990 - The Golden State Warriors defeat the Denver Nuggets 162-158, with the 320 total points scored setting an NBA record for most points scored by two teams in a non-overtime game.

1991 - Nevada records the largest comeback in NCAA football history to date, overcoming a 35-point third quarter deficit to defeat Weber State 55-49.

1992 - Magic Johnson retired from the NBA again, this time for good because of fear due to his HIV infection.

1996 - Miami Heat’s Pat Riley becomes eighth coach to win 800 games in 97-95 win at Indiana; milestone accomplished 2 weeks shy of his 15th coaching anniversary, faster than any coach in NBA history.

1997 - Eric Metcalf (San Diego Chargers) set an NFL record when he ran back two kicks for touchdowns. The two returns gave him the league record with 10 in his career.

1999 - NBA.com TV was launched.

2016 - The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings in Game 7 to win their first World Series since 1908.

2021 - The Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros in six games to win the World Series.

2022 - Houston Astros pitcher Cristian Javier and 3 relievers combine for no-hitter in 5-0 win over Phillies to tie series 2-2 at Citizen's Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the only other Series no-hitter was Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956.

For Husker historians and alumni/fans that want to teach your kids/grandkids. Young folks and current students don’t know Bob Devaney, only the last name where Huskers pack the house In volleyball. But did you know…..

Robert Simon Devaney (April 13, 1915 – May 9, 1997) was a college football coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 and at the University of Nebraska from 1962 to 1972, compiling a career record of 136–30–7 (.806). Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers won consecutive national championships in 1970 and 1971 and three consecutive Orange Bowls.

Devaney also served as the athletic director at Nebraska from 1967 to 1993, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1981. He died of a heart attack at age 82 in 1997,[1][2] and is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park in Lincoln.

Playing and early coaching career​

Devaney graduated from Alma College in 1939, where he played end on the football team. Devaney coached high school football in Michigan at Big Beaver, Keego Harbor, Saginaw, and Alpena, before joining the Michigan State Spartans staff as an assistant coach under Biggie Munn and continuing under Duffy Daugherty.

Head coach​

Wyoming​

Devaney's first college head coaching job was at the University of Wyoming, where he went 35–10–5 (.750) in five seasons (1957–1961). The Cowboys won the Sun Bowl in his second season and won or shared the Skyline Conference title in his final four seasons in Laramie. Devaney was released from his contract by the university's board of trustees in February 1962,[3][4] and was hired at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln at an annual salary of $17,000.[5]

Nebraska​

Devaney was the fourth choice of Nebraska's athletic director, Tippy Dye. Utah's Ray Nagel and Utah State's John Ralston had turned down the job. Michigan State coach Duffy Daugherty also turned down Dye, but recommended Devaney, his former assistant, for the Cornhuskers. When Devaney balked at leaving Wyoming for Nebraska, it was Daugherty who convinced him to accept the position because he could potentially win a national title at Nebraska, a goal that Wyoming was unlikely to attain. Devaney joined Nebraska in 1962 and immediately reestablished the program as a force in the Big Eight Conference. Prior to Devaney's arrival, Nebraska football had fallen on hard times with seven consecutive losing seasons. The 1961 team under Bill Jennings went 3–6–1 overall and 2–5 in conference. After a winning tradition up until the early 1940s, Nebraska had only three winning seasons in the two decades preceding Devaney's arrival.[6]

Devaney engineered an immediate turnaround with a 9–2 record in 1962 that included a victory in the Gotham Bowl at Yankee Stadium over the Miami Hurricanes. It was the first of forty consecutive winning seasons for Nebraska. Devaney followed this up with an even better 10–1 season the next year, including a perfect 7–0 record in the Big Eight to claim the conference title and an Orange Bowl victory over Auburn. His success continued through 1966, with records of 9–2, 10–1, and 9–2, bringing his record at Nebraska to 47–8 (.855) in his first five seasons. This had so revived Nebraska football that Memorial Stadium was enlarged significantly by enclosing both ends. For the first time, Nebraska was on television once or twice a year and fans all over the state sat down to watch the Bob Devaney TV show each week, in which he used his folksy manner to review the tape of the game for all of the fans who hadn't seen it in person.[7]

Consecutive 6–4 seasons followed in 1967 and 1968; allegedly known as a drinker,[citation needed] Devaney became subject to a whispering campaign about whether he had peaked. However, he had brought in an innovative offensive thinker as an assistant coach, Tom Osborne. Devaney and Osborne revamped the offensive scheme, an I formation with an unbalanced line, and upgraded the recruiting effort. Nebraska began the 1969 season at 2–2 start and in its fifth game needed a last-minute comeback at home to beat a Kansas team that finished the season with only one win. But the Huskers kept winning and concluded the regular season at 8–2, then routed Georgia 45–6 in the Sun Bowl. This set the stage for the highlight of Devaney's coaching career.[citation needed]

National championships​

The 1970 Nebraska team returned most of the key offensive starters from the previous year, and added sophomore Johnny Rodgers, an explosive punt returner and wide receiver, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1972 as a senior. Nebraska tied USC in Los Angelesearly in the season and was ranked #3 going into the Orange Bowl against LSU.

A late touchdown by quarterback Jerry Tagge gave the Huskers a 17–12 victory to finish the season at 11–0–1. This secured a share of the national championship, after the other two undefeated teams in the nation, Texas and Ohio State, lost their bowl games earlier in the day.[8] The final AP Poll, conducted after the bowl games were played, picked Nebraska as champion,[9] while the final UPI Poll, released in early December before the bowl games, had Texas first with Nebraska third.[10][11][12]

With most of its key players back and its defense vastly improved in 1971, Nebraska rolled through the first ten games. The top-ranked Huskers met unbeaten #2 Oklahoma in Norman on Thanksgiving Day in the Game of the Century, one of the most celebrated games in college football history. A late touchdown by tailback Jeff Kinney gave the Huskers a hard-fought 35–31 victory. When Nebraska crushed unbeaten Alabama 38–6 in the Orange Bowl to finish 13–0, the Cornhuskers were said by many to be the greatest team in college football history.[13] In fact, the Huskers defeated the teams ranked second, third, and fourth in the final AP Poll: Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alabama.[14]

Lets take a look back at Michigan State (projected depth chart) vs the Huskers as recruits.

Today's the day, folks!

The new 2024 Big Ten football schedule with dates and matchups will be unveiled on Big Ten Network at 3 p.m. CT this afternoon.

AL East teams ( Baltimore, Toronto, TB ) laid a big egg. Who do you have going forward?

Nebraska will continue to pursue the Arizona commit. Will be interesting to see how this plays out:

Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)


WHEN: Saturday, November 4 | 11:00 AM (CT)

WHERE: Spartan Stadium | East Lansing, Michigan

TV: FOX Sports 1 (Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman)

RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)

NEBRASKA
Record: 5-3 (3-2 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. Purdue (W 31-14)
Streak: Won 3
Rank: NR
Coach: Matt Rhule (5-3, 1st year NU | 52-46, 8th year overall | 0-0 vs. Michigan State)

MICHIGAN STATE
Record: 2-6 (0-5 Big Ten)
Last Game: at Minnesota (L 12-27)
Streak: Lost 6
Rank: NR
Coach: Harlon Barnett (interim) (0-6, 1st year MSU | 0-6, 1st year overall | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)

THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS

7 - The combined margin in the past three meetings between Nebraska and Michigan State. The Huskers posted a one-point win in 2015 and a three-point victory in 2018, before the Spartans had a three-point overtime victory in 2021 in East Lansing

70 - Nebraska has three plays of more than 70 yards this season, most recently a 73-yard touchdown pass last week against Purdue. The Huskers' three plays of better than 70 yards rank in a tie for fifth nationally.

100 - Nebraska limited Purdue to less than 100 yards in both rushing (96) and passing (99) in last week's win. The defensive effort marked the first time since a 2012 win over Michigan that Nebraska held an opponent to les than 100 yards rushing and passing.

THE MATCHUP
Nebraska begins the final third of the regular season with the first of four November games on Saturday at Michigan State. Kickoff between the Huskers and Michigan State will be shortly after Noon ET (11 a.m. CT) at Spartan Stadium, with television coverage provided by FS1. The game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, the official Huskers App and Huskers.com.

Nebraska heads to East Lansing as winners of three straight games and five of its last six contests. Nebraska's three-game win streak is its first since 2016, and the Huskers just completed an unbeaten October for the first time since 2001. The win streak has Nebraska at 5-3 overall and tied for first in the Big Ten West Division with a 3-2 league record. The Huskers are one win from achieving bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2016 season.

Nebraska is coming off a 31-14 victory over Purdue on Saturday in Lincoln with the offense, defense and special teams all playing critical roles. The Blackshirt defense forced three Boilermaker turnovers, while the special teams got into the scoring column by returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the third quarter. The Huskers also limited a conference opponent to less than 200 yards of total offense for the first time in six seasons in the victory.

Michigan State brings a 2-6 record, including an 0-5 mark in Big Ten play, into Saturday's contest. The Spartans opened the year with a pair of victories, but have dropped six straight games against one of the nation's most difficult schedules. MSU is led by acting head coach Harlon Barnett, who took over the program in mid-September.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting will be the 13th matchup in the Nebraska-Michigan State series and the fifth all-time at Spartan Stadium. The Huskers own a 9-3 edge, including a 4-3 advantage since joining the Big Ten.

- Five of the seven meetings since Nebraska joined the Big Ten have been decided by five or fewer points, with the past three games decided by a combined total of seven points

- Nebraska's 39-38 win over No. 6 Michigan State in 2015 marks Nebraska's most recent win over a Top-10 ranked team

- One of the two teams has been ranked in nine of the 10 most recent meetings prior to this year's matchup. The 2011 and 2014 matchups pitted a pair of Top 20 teams, with the home team winning each meeting.

Nebraska vs. Michigan State Series
1914: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 0 (Lincoln)
1920: Nebraska 35, Michigan State 7 (Lincoln)
1995: #2 Nebraska 50, Michigan State 10 (East Lansing)
1996: #1 Nebraska 55, Michigan State 14 (Lincoln)
2003: #22 Nebraska 17, Michigan State 3 (Alamo Bowl)
-----------------Big Ten------------------
2011: #13 Nebraska 24, #9 Michigan State 3 (Lincoln)
2012: #21 Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24 (East Lansing)
2013: #14 Michigan State 41, Nebraska 28 (Lincoln)
2014: #10 Michigan State 27, #19 Nebraska 22 (East Lansing)
2015: Nebraska 39, #6 Michigan State 38 (Lincoln)
2018: Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6 (Lincoln)
2021: #20 Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (OT) (East Lansing)

RED OCTOBER
Saturday's 31-14 victory over Purdue was Nebraska's third straight win, all in the month of October. With wins over Illinois (20-7), Northwestern (17-9), and Purdue (31-14) in October, Nebraska completed its first unbeaten month of October since 2001

- Nebraska's three-game win streak is its first at any point in a season since an eight-game winning streak including a bowl game in 2015 and the first seven games of the 2016 season

- Nebraska's defense allowed just two touchdowns in the month of October. The Blackshirts did not allow a touchdown for a stretch of more than 142 game minutes from the second quarter of the Illinois victory to a fourth-quarter TD pass by Purdue.

- Nebraska held all three opponents to 14 or fewer points in October, the first time NU has held three straight opponents to less than 15 points since 2009. The Blackshirts allowed a total of 30 points in October, and the 10.0 ppg were the fourth-best scoring defense in the nation in the month of October.

- The Blackshirt defense allowed only five scoring drives (2 TDs) in 39 opponent possessions in October. Opponents began five drives in Nebraska territory following a Husker turnover and scored only nine points on those five drives (1 TD, 1 FG)

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State owns a winning all-time record and the Spartans were one of the nation's top programs in the 1950s and 1960s, claiming six national titles (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, and 1966). Michigan State has also won nine conference titles, with the latest coming in 2015.

The Spartans have gone undefeated three times and have won 10 games in a season nine times. Michigan State has played in 30 bowl games in their history, including five Rose Bowls. In their last bowl game, the Spartans recorded a 31-21 win against Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in 2021.

First Year: 1896
All-Time Record: 728-485-44
Bowl Record: 14-16
Conference Titles: 9
National Titles: 6 (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966)
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Capacity: 74,886
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Enrollment: 50,023
School Colors: Green & White

2023 Michigan State Schedule/Results
Central Michigan (W 31-7)
Richmond (W 45-14)
Washington (L 7-41)
Maryland (L 9-31)
at Iowa (L 16-26)
at Rutgers (L 24-27)
Michigan (L 0-49)
at Minnesota (L 12-27)
Nebraska
at Ohio State
at Indiana
Penn State

The Spartans enter Saturday averaging 322.1 yards per game, with 214.1 yards per game through the air and 108.0 yards per game on the ground. Noah Kim has completed 91-of-160 passes for 1,090 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions, while Katin Houser has completed 51-of-89 passes for 509 yards with two scores and a pair of interceptions. Montorie Foster Jr. has hauled in 29 receptions for 342 yards and a touchdown, followed by Tre Mosley with 28 catches for 288 yards and two scores. Nate Carter leads the Spartan rushing attack with 141 carries for 609 yards and four touchdowns through eight games.

Defensively, Michigan State is allowing 360.1 yards per game and 27.8 points per game. Cal Haladay leads the Spartans with 59 tackles this season. Aaron Brule has posted team-high totals of 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while Jaden Mangham has recorded a team-high three interceptions.



ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE INTERIM COACH HARLON BARNETT
Harlon Barnett is in his first season as the interim head coach at Michigan State and has posted an 0-6 record through six games with the Spartans.

Barnett returned to Michigan State after a two-year stint as a defensive coordinator at Florida State in 2018 and 2019. Before his two seasons in Tallahassee, Barnett was a member of the Michigan State coaching staff from 2007 to 2017, holding roles of secondary coach, co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

Prior to his stops at Michigan State and Florida State, Barnett was an assistant coach at Cincinnati (2004-06) and graduate assistant at LSU (2003).

Barnett was a four-year letterwinner and named captain his senior year as a defensive back at Michigan State in 1989. Barnett played seven seasons in the NFL, including stints with the Cleveland Browns (1990-92), New England Patriots (1993-94) and Minnesota Vikings (1995-96).

LAST MEETING: SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

#20 Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (OT)

EAST LANSING - The Nebraska defense held Michigan State without a first down in second-half regulation, but the Huskers fell 23-20 in overtime at No. 20 Michigan State on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.

The Blackshirts shut out the Spartans in the first and third quarters, and the only MSU score in the fourth quarter came on a 62-yard Jayden Reed punt return touchdown that tied the game at 20. At the time, the defense had held Michigan State (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) to five total yards of offense in the second half.

The punt return touchdown and ensuing extra point were enough to send the game to overtime after Nebraska had held a 20-13 fourth-quarter lead and the ball with four minutes remaining in the game.

Adrian Martinez, who completed 24-of-34 passes for 248 yards in the game and rushed 20 times for 65 yards including both of Nebraska's scores, threw a third-down interception on NU's opening possession of overtime. MSU defensive back Chester Kimbrough returned the pick 62 yards, before Martinez made a desperate sliding tackle attempt in front of three Spartans that allowed center Cam Jurgens to chase down Kimbrough.

The Blackshirts gave up their only first down after halftime on Kenneth Walker III's 23-yard run to the NU 2 on MSU's first offensive play after the interception. But the defense backed Walker and the Spartans up one yard on the next two plays before Matt Coghlin kicked a 21-yard game-winning field goal. It was Coghlin's third field goal of less than 30 yards in the game. Walker, one of the nation's leading rushers, was held to just 39 yards on 16 carries in regulation by the Blackshirts.

Nebraska, which slipped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten with its third road loss by one score, trailed 13-10 at halftime with all the scoring for both teams coming in the second period. The Huskers tied the score on their first possession of the third quarter on Connor Culp's second field goal of the game. Culp's kick capped a 14-play, 60-yard drive that consumed the first 5:50 of the second half.

The Huskers continued to build offensive momentum as Adrian Martinez jogged into the end zone early in the fourth quarter to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive to give Nebraska its first lead of the game at 20-13 with 7:29 left in regulation.

The Blackshirts continued to dominate, forcing three-and-outs by Michigan State on every second-half possession.

However, Michigan State ruled the field position game on the night. In the first half, Will Przystup closed with a 7-yard punt that gave MSU an opportunity for a late field goal attempt that would have pushed the margin to 16-10 going into the locker room. Instead, the Huskers blocked the attempt and went to halftime down three.

With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Daniel Cerni, who had relieved Przystup, booted a short punt toward the left hashmark as Nebraska's punt coverage team ran in pursuit of a punt apparently intended to head toward the right hash. MSU's Jayden Reed caught the ball and sprinted 62 yards untouched into the end zone.

On the night, Nebraska punted seven times for an average of 32.7 yards, while Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer boomed six punts for an average of 58.8 yard. In addition to the 124-yard edge in the punt game, MSU had three kickoff returns for 84 yards, the 62-yard punt return for the game-tying touchdown and a 62-yard interception return to set up the winning score in overtime.

The massive edges in special teams and return yardage (320 yards) were enough to overcome Nebraska's overall edge in total offense, which was 440-254 on the night.

In addition to 313 yards of total offense from Martinez for the Huskers, Rahmir Johnson led all rushers in the game with 19 carries for 76 yards. Sevion Morrison added three carries for 15 yards. Zavier Betts led the Husker receivers with five catches for 62 yards. Samori Toure had five catches for 40 yards. while Austin Allen and Omar Manning also notched four receptions while

Reed did the most damage for the Spartans in the game, hauling in five receptions for 59 yards including a 35-yard touchdown catch on a second-quarter flea-flicker that gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead. Reed also had two kick returns for 69 yards and a carry for two yards to finish with 192 all-purpose yards on just nine touches. Fellow receiver Tre Mosley added six catches for a game-high 70 yards.

The Blackshirts completely shut down MSU quarterback Payton Thome in the second half, as he finished with 14 completions on 23 attempts for 183 yards in the game. He also carried seven times for minus-5 yards.

Luke Reimer led the Blackshirts with 11 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack. Nick Henrich pitched in nine stops and half a sack, while Garrett Nelson was a disruptive force in the second half and finished with six tackles and two tackles for loss with one sack.

Xavier Henderson led the Spartan defense with 17 tackles.

dude can do it all and has HOME run ability

The buffs are going to get completely embarrassed by TCU

Buy the -10 Nebraska now while you still can

This team will be lucky to win 2 games

Here's a bit more information for those wondering about Michigan State. The Spartans have a QB problem.

Better fill that semi’s trailer with cash and get it on the road

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Do any of you Arizonians know if any of the watch sites might be carrying the Maryland game on Peacock? The internet where we are doesn't always do well with streaming. Thanks

Canned by the Raiders . Does Belichick give him another shot at OC.?

Looking for 3 tickets together for Iowa.

Good stuff as always from Tony White. Here are his quick hits on the Tuesday of Michigan State week.

I know he gets criticism from some posters but I'm liking him more and more. He explained on Sports Nightly how he is currently adjusting the offense to fit the talent they currently have and the offense will evolve to what they want to be as they get their recruits/players in place. Very reasonable approach IMO and different than what a lot of OC's have done previously when they try to fit a square peg in a round hole. He also pays more attention the the OL capabilities.

Hopefully 1-0 again this weekend!

Finally puts it all together in a game? They’ve certainly been doing better with the OL penalties. Now it seems mainly the fumbles need to be fixed. If they play a clean game what is their ceiling? Still not that great?

Without turnovers they probably put up close to 40 points @Illinois and maybe even more against Purdue. Just playing clean on offense could make for an impressive finish paired with their defense.

Tony White, just 2 days into fall camp, said his defense was preparing for the "championship months" of October, November, December.

Well, here we are. It’s November 1 and Nebraska has a realistic shot of reaching the Big Ten Championship Game.

More on White's plan, how we got here and a few more takeaways from Tuesday:

College ball is just so much more fun. Never change Lane.

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Entire conversation as well.