Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
Michigan State (6-4, 4-3) at Nebraska (3-7, 2-5)
When: Saturday, November 17 | 11:00 a.m. (CT)
Where: Memorial Stadium (85,458) | Lincoln, NE
TV: FOX (Brian Custer, Ben Leber)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Ben McLaughlin)
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 113) | XM (Ch. 201)
Internet Broadcast: Huskers.com | TuneIn
Nebraska finishes its 2018 home schedule on Saturday by welcoming Michigan State to Memorial Stadium. The Big Ten clash is set to kick off shortly after 11 a.m. CT and will be televised by FOX. The game can also be heard on the IMG Husker Sports Network.
Nebraska enters the game at 3-7 overall and 2-5 in Big Ten play, and is coming off a 54-35 victory over Illinois on Saturday in Lincoln. The win was Nebraska's third straight home victory, with the Huskers topping 45 points in each of those home wins. The Husker offense continued to roll against the Fighting Illini, racking up 606 yards of offense, including 316 rushing yards. Nebraska has now scored at least 30 points in five straight games and gained 450 yards or more in seven straight contests.
Michigan State will enter the game with a 6-4 record, including a 4-3 mark in Big Ten Conference action. The Spartans are coming off a 26-6 loss to eighth-ranked Ohio State on Saturday in East Lansing. While Nebraska has relied on an explosive offense, Michigan State has been paced by one of the Big Ten's best defenses. The Spartans rank first nationally in rushing defense, while also ranking in the top 25 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, red zone defense and third-down defense.
This Week's Numbers
19 - Nebraska will honor 19 seniors before Saturday's game. The group includes 12 fifth-year seniors, six players in their fourth year in the program and one first-year graduate transfer.
30 - Nebraska has scored at least 30 points in five straight games, marking the first time the Huskers have topped 30 points in five consecutive games since the first five games of 2014. Nebraska's streak of four straight 30-point games in conference play is its longest since 2001.
4, 91 - Stanley Morgan Jr. is poised to establish Nebraska career records for receptions and receiving yards. Morgan needs four receptions and 91 yards in the final two games to surpass Kenny Bell on both of those career receiving charts.
Series History
This will be the 11th meeting all-time between the Huskers and Spartans. Nebraska leads the series 8-2. NU is 5-1 against MSU in Lincoln, and 3-1 against the Spartans at Memorial Stadium. In Big Ten play, Nebraska is 3-2 against Michigan State.
Nebraska owns two victories over top-10 Spartan teams, defeating No. 9 MSU in Lincoln in 2011 and No. 6 MSU in 2015.
Top-ranked Nebraska defeated Michigan State 55-14 on Sept. 7, 1996 in Lincoln. The game marked Head Coach Scott Frost's first start at quarterback for the Huskers.
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)
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)
Nebraska to Honor 19 Seniors on Saturday
Nebraska will hold its Senior Day festivities on Saturday, honoring 19 seniors who will appear in Memorial Stadium for the final time against Michigan State.
The group includes 12 fifth-year seniors, six seniors in their fourth year in the program and graduate transfer Tre Neal.
• Freedom Akinmoladun, DE, Grandview, Mo.
• Cole Conrad, OL, Fremont, Neb.
• Tanner Farmer, OL, Highland, Ill.
• Jerald Foster, OL, Lincoln, Neb.
• Luke Gifford, LB, Lincoln, Neb.
• Matt Jarzynka, DL, Loup City, Neb.
• Bo Kitrell, RB, Ashland, Neb.
• Stanley Morgan Jr., WR, New Orleans, La.
• Tre Neal, DB, Atlanta, Ga.
• Peyton Newell, DL, Hiawatha, Kan.
• Jordan Ober, LS, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Devine Ozigbo, RB, Sachse, Texas
• Antonio Reed, DB, Memphis, Tenn.
• Bryan Reimers, WR, Lincoln, Neb.
• Austin Rose, RB, Lincoln, Neb.
• Mick Stoltenberg, DL, Gretna, Neb.
• Mikale Wilbon, RB, Chicago, Ill.
• Aaron Williams, DB, Atlanta, Ga.
• Dedrick Young II, LB, Peoria, Ariz.
• The 2018 senior class has players from 10 states, including eight native Nebraskans. Two players hail from both Georgia and Illinois, with one player from Missouri, Louisiana, Kansas, Nevada, Texas, Tennessee and Arizona.
• The 19-man senior class has accumulated a total of 331 starts in their Nebraska career. The group has eight players with at least 20 starts including Dedrick Young II (41), Jordan Ober (40), Freedom Akinmoladun (39), Aaron Williams (31), Stanley Morgan Jr. (30), Tanner Farmer (28), Jerald Foster (26) and Mick Stoltenberg (24).
• Stanley Morgan Jr. is in position to leave Nebraska as the school's all-time leader in receptions and receivng yardage. Against Michigan State, he will attempt to tie the school record for most consecutive games with a reception.
• Running back Devine Ozigbo joined the 2,000-yard career rushing club last week. He is in position to post Nebraska's first 1,000-yard rushing season since 2014.
• Linebacker Dedrick Young II is the only player in Nebraska history to record at least 60 tackles in four different seasons. Young has 266 career tackles to rank ninth in school history.
• Offensive lineman Jerald Foster is a two-time team captain. Foster is one just 11 players in Nebraska history to be a two-year captain.
• Eight of Nebraska's 19 seniors are playing the 2018 season as graduate students, with another eight players set to graduate in December.
Scouting Michigan State
Michigan State 2018 Schedule Results (6-4)
Utah State (W 38-31)
at Arizona State (L 13-16)
at Indiana (W 35-21)
Central Michigan (W 31-20)
Northwestern (L 19-29)
at Penn State (W 21-17)
Michigan (L 7-21)
Purdue (W 23-13)
at Maryland (W 24-3)
Ohio State (L 6-26)
at Nebraska
Rutgers
Michigan State is coming off a 26-6 loss against Ohio State on Nov. 10. The game was a defensive battle, in which Michigan State put up only 274 yards of total offense.
Brian Lewerke leads the MSU offense and has gone 162-298 through the air for 1,868 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. Felton Davis and Cody White are Lewerke’s favorite targets. Davis has 31 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns, while White has 30 grabs for 435 yards and two scores. Connor Heyward is the most productive running back with 74 rushes for 359 yards and five touchdowns.
On the opposite side of the ball, Andrew Dowell and Joe Bachie spearhead the defense. Dowell leads the team with 75 tackles and Bachie has racked up 73 takedowns. As a team, the Spartans have racked up 24 sacks, 12 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries
About Michigan State Football
Michigan State has fielded a football team since 1896. On Nov. 3, the team picked up its 700th program win. The Spartans claim six national titles and nine Big Ten Conference championships. The Spartans' latest conference title came in 2015 when they defeated Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. MSU has played in 27 bowl games and holds a 12-15 record in bowl games. Most recently, Michigan State defeated Washington State in the 2017 Holiday Bowl. Additionally, in 2015, the Spartans made the program's only College Football Playoff appearance.
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Enrollment: 50,019
Colors: Green & White
About Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio is in his 12th season as the head coach at Michigan State and sports a record of 106-49 with the Spartans, including a Big Ten record of 64-33. Dantonio has guided MSU to three Big Ten championships (2010, 2013, 2015), 10 bowl appearances, five bowl victories and one appearance in the College Football Playoff (2015). Prior to MSU, Dantonio was head coach at the University of Cincinnati for three seasons, going 18-17 with the Bearcats, giving him an overall college head coaching record of 124-66. Dantonio is 2-3 all-time in his career against Nebraska. Dantonio is an alumnus of South Carolina, where he played defensive back and graduated in 1978. He has assistant coaching stops at Ohio, Purdue, Butler Community Colllege, Ohio State, Akron, Youngstown State, Kansas, and Michigan State before being named the head coach at Cincinnati in 2004.
Last Meeting: November 7, 2015
Nebraska 39, #6 Michigan State 38
Lincoln - In a season of unbelievable endings, the Nebraska football team finally had one go its way, pulling a 39-38 upset of previously unbeaten No. 6 Michigan State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
Playing in front of the 346th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium with a season-high 90,094 fans on hand, Nebraska's two touchdowns in the game's final 1:47 rallied the Huskers from a 38-26 fourth-quarter deficit for the victory to match the largest fourth-quarter comeback in school history.
Tommy Armstrong Jr. produced an heroic fourth quarter, having a hand in all three Nebraska touchdowns to help the Big Red improve to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten. Michigan State slipped to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
Armstrong, who missed last week's game with an injury, returned to complete 19-of-33 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns, while adding seven carries for 19 yards and two more scores on the ground. He also overcame a pair of interceptions.
In the fourth quarter, Armstrong completed 6-of-10 passes for 140 yards, including three huge completions for 91 yards on the game's decisive drive. The Huskers trailed 38-33 with 55 seconds left and faced 91 yards of gridiron against a tough Spartan defense.
On the first play, Armstrong hit Jordan Westerkamp on a 28-yard strike to quickly advance to the NU 37. Seconds later, Armstrong hooked up with Westerkamp down the middle again, this time for 33 yards to the MSU 30. Westerkamp, who finished with nine catches for a season-high 143 yards, left the game with an injury on the play, leaving the receiving heroics to another junior receiver. Westerkamp finished with his school-record-tying fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season.
On second down, Armstrong hit Brandon Reilly, who made a terrific adjustment on the ball after being forced out of bounds by a Spartan defender, on a 30-yard touchdown strike to give the Huskers a 39-38 lead. It was one of three highlight-reel receptions for for Reilly on the night, as he finished with three catches for 87 yards, while adding a 17-yard run.
Following the go-ahead touchdown, the Big Red two-point conversion pass attempt failed again, leaving 17 seconds between Nebraska and victory.
Michigan State still had a chance with two timeouts left after starting the drive at the NU 41. Connor Cook, who finished 23-of-37 through the air for 335 yards and four touchdowns, hit Macgarrett Kings for 17 yards across the middle to push the Spartans to the NU 41 with seven seconds left.
After a timeout, the Huskers collapsed the pocket around Cook, who threw the ball incomplete out of bounds to the Nebraska sideline as time expired, setting off a wild celebration inside the stadium. Husker players, who have been stung by five setbacks by five points or less, remained on the field for several minutes to enjoy the home win inside the historic stadium.
Nebraska finished the game with 499 yards of total offense while Michigan State produced 491 total yards. The Huskers outgained the Spartans on the ground, 179-143, despite an injury to starting running back to Terrell Newby coming into the game. Newby rushed just four times for eight yards on the night.
Imani Cross stepped into carry the rushing load for the Big Red, pounding his way 18 times for 98 yards and one score. MSU's Gerald Holmes led all rushers with 117 yards and one score on 22 carries.
Michigan State outyarded the Huskers through the air, 348-320, but Nebraska made up for it with 123 yards on five kickoff returns, while also benefitting from a pair of tack-on 15-yard penalties on their returns and an MSU kick out of bounds. Those plays consistently set the Huskers up with short fields on offense. The Spartans finished with eight penalties for 76 yards, while Nebraska was flagged just five times for 55 yards. The Huskers did overcome a pair of interceptions.
Trailing 31-20 entering the fourth quarter, Nebraska continued to battle, as Armstrong punched it into the end zone from three yards out early in the fourth quarter to narrow the MSU lead to 31-26 with 13:06 left. Armstrong's first touchdown run capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive, but NU's two-point conversion attempt failed on an incomplete pass from Armstrong to Westerkamp.
Cook then coordinated a massive 16-play, 75-yard march that ate up 8:50 on the clock. The drive culminated with Holmes' one-yard touchdown run to put MSU up 38-26 with just 4:16 left.
But the Huskers refused to fold, as Armstrong orchestrated a 10-play, 53-yard touchdown drive capped by his own one-yard touchdown run. Drew Brown's extra point pulled NU to 38-33 with 1:47 left.
The dramatic ending would not have been possible without a three-and-out from the Blackshirt defense. The Huskers used two timeouts to stop the clock, but the Spartan offensive line may have made the game's biggest mistake with a holding penalty on third down that stopped the clock, preserving precious seconds for Armstrong and the Husker offense.
In a back-and-forth game, Nebraska jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to a 44-yard Brown field goal and a 38-yard touchdown pass from Armstrong to Westerkamp with 2:07 left in the quarter. Armstrong's scoring strike to Westerkamp capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 3:28.
Michigan State closed the gap to 10-3 at the end of the opening quarter on Michael Geiger's 46-yard field goal with 30 seconds left. The Huskers outgained the Spartans 125-84 in the quarter, including an 89-9 edge through the air.
The Spartans continued to rally in the second quarter, as Cook connected with Macgarrett Kings on a 34-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 10 with 11:35 left in the half.
The Huskers answered with a 43-yard field goal from Brown to regain a 13-10 edge with 4:21 left in the half, before Cook and Kings connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds left in the second quarter to take a 17-13 lead into halftime. Kings finished with four catches for 97 yards and two scores.
In stark contrast to the first quarter, the Spartans threw for 129 in the second quarter compared to just three yards for the Huskers. MSU led 225-190 in total yardage at halftime, but NU led 98-87 on the ground.
Nebraska took the lead back on the opening drive of the second half, as Cross blasted his way to paydirt from one yard out with 12:31 left in the third quarter to cap a six-play, 69-yard drive and give the Huskers a 20-17 lead.
Cook and Michigan State answered again with a six-play drive that covered 84 yards in 3:13 capped by a 33-yard touchdown strike to Aaron Burbridge to regain a 24-20 edge. Burbridge finished with game highs of 10 receptions and 164 yards.
The Huskers were prepared to provide an answer of their own again, driving deep into MSU territory before Armstrong threw his second interception of the game. Riley Bullough intercepted the pass near the MSU goaline and returned it 17 yards. The Spartans capitalized 10 plays later with Cook's fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 16-yard connection with Jamal Lyles to send MSU to the fourth quarter with a 31-20 advantage.
Michigan State (6-4, 4-3) at Nebraska (3-7, 2-5)
When: Saturday, November 17 | 11:00 a.m. (CT)
Where: Memorial Stadium (85,458) | Lincoln, NE
TV: FOX (Brian Custer, Ben Leber)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Ben McLaughlin)
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 113) | XM (Ch. 201)
Internet Broadcast: Huskers.com | TuneIn
Nebraska finishes its 2018 home schedule on Saturday by welcoming Michigan State to Memorial Stadium. The Big Ten clash is set to kick off shortly after 11 a.m. CT and will be televised by FOX. The game can also be heard on the IMG Husker Sports Network.
Nebraska enters the game at 3-7 overall and 2-5 in Big Ten play, and is coming off a 54-35 victory over Illinois on Saturday in Lincoln. The win was Nebraska's third straight home victory, with the Huskers topping 45 points in each of those home wins. The Husker offense continued to roll against the Fighting Illini, racking up 606 yards of offense, including 316 rushing yards. Nebraska has now scored at least 30 points in five straight games and gained 450 yards or more in seven straight contests.
Michigan State will enter the game with a 6-4 record, including a 4-3 mark in Big Ten Conference action. The Spartans are coming off a 26-6 loss to eighth-ranked Ohio State on Saturday in East Lansing. While Nebraska has relied on an explosive offense, Michigan State has been paced by one of the Big Ten's best defenses. The Spartans rank first nationally in rushing defense, while also ranking in the top 25 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, red zone defense and third-down defense.
This Week's Numbers
19 - Nebraska will honor 19 seniors before Saturday's game. The group includes 12 fifth-year seniors, six players in their fourth year in the program and one first-year graduate transfer.
30 - Nebraska has scored at least 30 points in five straight games, marking the first time the Huskers have topped 30 points in five consecutive games since the first five games of 2014. Nebraska's streak of four straight 30-point games in conference play is its longest since 2001.
4, 91 - Stanley Morgan Jr. is poised to establish Nebraska career records for receptions and receiving yards. Morgan needs four receptions and 91 yards in the final two games to surpass Kenny Bell on both of those career receiving charts.
Series History
This will be the 11th meeting all-time between the Huskers and Spartans. Nebraska leads the series 8-2. NU is 5-1 against MSU in Lincoln, and 3-1 against the Spartans at Memorial Stadium. In Big Ten play, Nebraska is 3-2 against Michigan State.
Nebraska owns two victories over top-10 Spartan teams, defeating No. 9 MSU in Lincoln in 2011 and No. 6 MSU in 2015.
Top-ranked Nebraska defeated Michigan State 55-14 on Sept. 7, 1996 in Lincoln. The game marked Head Coach Scott Frost's first start at quarterback for the Huskers.
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)
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)
Nebraska to Honor 19 Seniors on Saturday
Nebraska will hold its Senior Day festivities on Saturday, honoring 19 seniors who will appear in Memorial Stadium for the final time against Michigan State.
The group includes 12 fifth-year seniors, six seniors in their fourth year in the program and graduate transfer Tre Neal.
• Freedom Akinmoladun, DE, Grandview, Mo.
• Cole Conrad, OL, Fremont, Neb.
• Tanner Farmer, OL, Highland, Ill.
• Jerald Foster, OL, Lincoln, Neb.
• Luke Gifford, LB, Lincoln, Neb.
• Matt Jarzynka, DL, Loup City, Neb.
• Bo Kitrell, RB, Ashland, Neb.
• Stanley Morgan Jr., WR, New Orleans, La.
• Tre Neal, DB, Atlanta, Ga.
• Peyton Newell, DL, Hiawatha, Kan.
• Jordan Ober, LS, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Devine Ozigbo, RB, Sachse, Texas
• Antonio Reed, DB, Memphis, Tenn.
• Bryan Reimers, WR, Lincoln, Neb.
• Austin Rose, RB, Lincoln, Neb.
• Mick Stoltenberg, DL, Gretna, Neb.
• Mikale Wilbon, RB, Chicago, Ill.
• Aaron Williams, DB, Atlanta, Ga.
• Dedrick Young II, LB, Peoria, Ariz.
• The 2018 senior class has players from 10 states, including eight native Nebraskans. Two players hail from both Georgia and Illinois, with one player from Missouri, Louisiana, Kansas, Nevada, Texas, Tennessee and Arizona.
• The 19-man senior class has accumulated a total of 331 starts in their Nebraska career. The group has eight players with at least 20 starts including Dedrick Young II (41), Jordan Ober (40), Freedom Akinmoladun (39), Aaron Williams (31), Stanley Morgan Jr. (30), Tanner Farmer (28), Jerald Foster (26) and Mick Stoltenberg (24).
• Stanley Morgan Jr. is in position to leave Nebraska as the school's all-time leader in receptions and receivng yardage. Against Michigan State, he will attempt to tie the school record for most consecutive games with a reception.
• Running back Devine Ozigbo joined the 2,000-yard career rushing club last week. He is in position to post Nebraska's first 1,000-yard rushing season since 2014.
• Linebacker Dedrick Young II is the only player in Nebraska history to record at least 60 tackles in four different seasons. Young has 266 career tackles to rank ninth in school history.
• Offensive lineman Jerald Foster is a two-time team captain. Foster is one just 11 players in Nebraska history to be a two-year captain.
• Eight of Nebraska's 19 seniors are playing the 2018 season as graduate students, with another eight players set to graduate in December.
Scouting Michigan State
Michigan State 2018 Schedule Results (6-4)
Utah State (W 38-31)
at Arizona State (L 13-16)
at Indiana (W 35-21)
Central Michigan (W 31-20)
Northwestern (L 19-29)
at Penn State (W 21-17)
Michigan (L 7-21)
Purdue (W 23-13)
at Maryland (W 24-3)
Ohio State (L 6-26)
at Nebraska
Rutgers
Michigan State is coming off a 26-6 loss against Ohio State on Nov. 10. The game was a defensive battle, in which Michigan State put up only 274 yards of total offense.
Brian Lewerke leads the MSU offense and has gone 162-298 through the air for 1,868 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. Felton Davis and Cody White are Lewerke’s favorite targets. Davis has 31 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns, while White has 30 grabs for 435 yards and two scores. Connor Heyward is the most productive running back with 74 rushes for 359 yards and five touchdowns.
On the opposite side of the ball, Andrew Dowell and Joe Bachie spearhead the defense. Dowell leads the team with 75 tackles and Bachie has racked up 73 takedowns. As a team, the Spartans have racked up 24 sacks, 12 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries
About Michigan State Football
Michigan State has fielded a football team since 1896. On Nov. 3, the team picked up its 700th program win. The Spartans claim six national titles and nine Big Ten Conference championships. The Spartans' latest conference title came in 2015 when they defeated Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. MSU has played in 27 bowl games and holds a 12-15 record in bowl games. Most recently, Michigan State defeated Washington State in the 2017 Holiday Bowl. Additionally, in 2015, the Spartans made the program's only College Football Playoff appearance.
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Enrollment: 50,019
Colors: Green & White
About Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio is in his 12th season as the head coach at Michigan State and sports a record of 106-49 with the Spartans, including a Big Ten record of 64-33. Dantonio has guided MSU to three Big Ten championships (2010, 2013, 2015), 10 bowl appearances, five bowl victories and one appearance in the College Football Playoff (2015). Prior to MSU, Dantonio was head coach at the University of Cincinnati for three seasons, going 18-17 with the Bearcats, giving him an overall college head coaching record of 124-66. Dantonio is 2-3 all-time in his career against Nebraska. Dantonio is an alumnus of South Carolina, where he played defensive back and graduated in 1978. He has assistant coaching stops at Ohio, Purdue, Butler Community Colllege, Ohio State, Akron, Youngstown State, Kansas, and Michigan State before being named the head coach at Cincinnati in 2004.
Last Meeting: November 7, 2015
Nebraska 39, #6 Michigan State 38
Lincoln - In a season of unbelievable endings, the Nebraska football team finally had one go its way, pulling a 39-38 upset of previously unbeaten No. 6 Michigan State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
Playing in front of the 346th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium with a season-high 90,094 fans on hand, Nebraska's two touchdowns in the game's final 1:47 rallied the Huskers from a 38-26 fourth-quarter deficit for the victory to match the largest fourth-quarter comeback in school history.
Tommy Armstrong Jr. produced an heroic fourth quarter, having a hand in all three Nebraska touchdowns to help the Big Red improve to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten. Michigan State slipped to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
Armstrong, who missed last week's game with an injury, returned to complete 19-of-33 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns, while adding seven carries for 19 yards and two more scores on the ground. He also overcame a pair of interceptions.
In the fourth quarter, Armstrong completed 6-of-10 passes for 140 yards, including three huge completions for 91 yards on the game's decisive drive. The Huskers trailed 38-33 with 55 seconds left and faced 91 yards of gridiron against a tough Spartan defense.
On the first play, Armstrong hit Jordan Westerkamp on a 28-yard strike to quickly advance to the NU 37. Seconds later, Armstrong hooked up with Westerkamp down the middle again, this time for 33 yards to the MSU 30. Westerkamp, who finished with nine catches for a season-high 143 yards, left the game with an injury on the play, leaving the receiving heroics to another junior receiver. Westerkamp finished with his school-record-tying fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season.
On second down, Armstrong hit Brandon Reilly, who made a terrific adjustment on the ball after being forced out of bounds by a Spartan defender, on a 30-yard touchdown strike to give the Huskers a 39-38 lead. It was one of three highlight-reel receptions for for Reilly on the night, as he finished with three catches for 87 yards, while adding a 17-yard run.
Following the go-ahead touchdown, the Big Red two-point conversion pass attempt failed again, leaving 17 seconds between Nebraska and victory.
Michigan State still had a chance with two timeouts left after starting the drive at the NU 41. Connor Cook, who finished 23-of-37 through the air for 335 yards and four touchdowns, hit Macgarrett Kings for 17 yards across the middle to push the Spartans to the NU 41 with seven seconds left.
After a timeout, the Huskers collapsed the pocket around Cook, who threw the ball incomplete out of bounds to the Nebraska sideline as time expired, setting off a wild celebration inside the stadium. Husker players, who have been stung by five setbacks by five points or less, remained on the field for several minutes to enjoy the home win inside the historic stadium.
Nebraska finished the game with 499 yards of total offense while Michigan State produced 491 total yards. The Huskers outgained the Spartans on the ground, 179-143, despite an injury to starting running back to Terrell Newby coming into the game. Newby rushed just four times for eight yards on the night.
Imani Cross stepped into carry the rushing load for the Big Red, pounding his way 18 times for 98 yards and one score. MSU's Gerald Holmes led all rushers with 117 yards and one score on 22 carries.
Michigan State outyarded the Huskers through the air, 348-320, but Nebraska made up for it with 123 yards on five kickoff returns, while also benefitting from a pair of tack-on 15-yard penalties on their returns and an MSU kick out of bounds. Those plays consistently set the Huskers up with short fields on offense. The Spartans finished with eight penalties for 76 yards, while Nebraska was flagged just five times for 55 yards. The Huskers did overcome a pair of interceptions.
Trailing 31-20 entering the fourth quarter, Nebraska continued to battle, as Armstrong punched it into the end zone from three yards out early in the fourth quarter to narrow the MSU lead to 31-26 with 13:06 left. Armstrong's first touchdown run capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive, but NU's two-point conversion attempt failed on an incomplete pass from Armstrong to Westerkamp.
Cook then coordinated a massive 16-play, 75-yard march that ate up 8:50 on the clock. The drive culminated with Holmes' one-yard touchdown run to put MSU up 38-26 with just 4:16 left.
But the Huskers refused to fold, as Armstrong orchestrated a 10-play, 53-yard touchdown drive capped by his own one-yard touchdown run. Drew Brown's extra point pulled NU to 38-33 with 1:47 left.
The dramatic ending would not have been possible without a three-and-out from the Blackshirt defense. The Huskers used two timeouts to stop the clock, but the Spartan offensive line may have made the game's biggest mistake with a holding penalty on third down that stopped the clock, preserving precious seconds for Armstrong and the Husker offense.
In a back-and-forth game, Nebraska jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to a 44-yard Brown field goal and a 38-yard touchdown pass from Armstrong to Westerkamp with 2:07 left in the quarter. Armstrong's scoring strike to Westerkamp capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 3:28.
Michigan State closed the gap to 10-3 at the end of the opening quarter on Michael Geiger's 46-yard field goal with 30 seconds left. The Huskers outgained the Spartans 125-84 in the quarter, including an 89-9 edge through the air.
The Spartans continued to rally in the second quarter, as Cook connected with Macgarrett Kings on a 34-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 10 with 11:35 left in the half.
The Huskers answered with a 43-yard field goal from Brown to regain a 13-10 edge with 4:21 left in the half, before Cook and Kings connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds left in the second quarter to take a 17-13 lead into halftime. Kings finished with four catches for 97 yards and two scores.
In stark contrast to the first quarter, the Spartans threw for 129 in the second quarter compared to just three yards for the Huskers. MSU led 225-190 in total yardage at halftime, but NU led 98-87 on the ground.
Nebraska took the lead back on the opening drive of the second half, as Cross blasted his way to paydirt from one yard out with 12:31 left in the third quarter to cap a six-play, 69-yard drive and give the Huskers a 20-17 lead.
Cook and Michigan State answered again with a six-play drive that covered 84 yards in 3:13 capped by a 33-yard touchdown strike to Aaron Burbridge to regain a 24-20 edge. Burbridge finished with game highs of 10 receptions and 164 yards.
The Huskers were prepared to provide an answer of their own again, driving deep into MSU territory before Armstrong threw his second interception of the game. Riley Bullough intercepted the pass near the MSU goaline and returned it 17 yards. The Spartans capitalized 10 plays later with Cook's fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 16-yard connection with Jamal Lyles to send MSU to the fourth quarter with a 31-20 advantage.
