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Nebraska football vs. Michigan State recap, stats and highlights
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- Nebraska football vs. Michigan State recap, stats and highlights
The Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0) opened Big Ten play on the road Saturday. The Huskers traveled to East Lansing, Michigan , to face the Michigan State Spartans (2-2) .
Nebraska got the 31-13 win over Michigan State despite a very uneven night. The Spartans struck first, getting a 48-yard field goal. The Huskers responded with Anthony Colandrea hitting Kwazi Gilmer from 44 yards out. Mekhi Nelson then reached in from four yards out for Nebraska's second touchdown before Owen Chambliss secured an interception that led to a field goal. The Spartans bounced back on their next drive, punching it in and making it a 17-10 game.
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Vincent Genatone, however, helped put Nebraska back up by 14 with a 13-yard check down touchdown. Michigan State managed to cut the lead to 24-13 on a field goal in the third. The Huskers put the game away in the fourth, however. Genatone capped off a long drive with a one-yard score.
Colandrea led the offense, going 15-of-27 in the air for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He also tallied a game-high 66 rushing yards on 10 attempts. Nelson finished just behind Colandrea in rushing, earning 61 yards on 15 carries. Gilmer led the receiving corps, hauling in four catches for 101 yards.
The Blackshirts also put together a big game, forcing three turnovers and six sacks in the win. Michigan State finished 19-of-28 in the air for 218 yards. On the ground, the Huskers held the Spartans to 39 rushing yards on 32 carries.
Nebraska returns home for its next game, welcoming in Maryland for a Saturday afternoon showdown. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT on FS1.
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Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Michigan State Spartans box score
| Quarter |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
— |
Score |
| Nebraska |
7 |
17 |
0 |
7 |
— |
31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSU |
3 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
— |
13 |
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Michigan State Spartans live updates, analysis
Final
08:48 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Big Ten win (Final: 31-13 Nebraska)
08:32 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
The Huskers win their first Big Ten game of the season to improve to 4-0.
Comes up short (1:06/4th Quarter: 31-13 Nebraska)
08:31 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Nebraska turns it over despite making it down to the 13.
Huskers in the redzone (2:00/4th Quarter: 31-13 Nebraska)
08:25 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Nebraska is down on the 17-yard line with two minutes left.
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Marshall picks it (6:43/4th Quarter: 31-13 Nebraska)
08:14 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Andrew Marshall shuts down a promising Michigan State drive with a pick.
Genatone punches it in (10:05/4th Quarter: 31-13 Nebraska)
08:02 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Genatone scores on the goal line to push Nebraska's lead to 17.
On to the fourth
07:57 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Shanked kick (1:27/3rd Quarter: 24-13 Nebraska)
07:47 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Nebraska survives the drive by forcing a missed field goal.
Turnover on downs (5:56/3rd Quarter: 24-13 Nebraska)
07:37 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
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Nebraska's fourth down attempt comes up short. Michigan State takes over.
Strip sacked (7:23/3rd Quarter: 24-13 Nebraska)
07:28 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Donovan Jones strips the ball during a sack, giving Nebraska the ball.
Another three and out (8:43/3rd Quarter: 24-13 Nebraska)
07:22 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
The Huskers get nothing going again and punt it away.
Another field goal (10:02/3rd Quarter: 24-13 Nebraska)
07:16 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
The Spartans start the third with a 46-yard field goal.
Three and out (14:14/3rd Quarter: 24-10 Nebraska)
07:11 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
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Huskers go backwards to open the third.
Almost time
07:05 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Right before the break
06:53 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Genatone makes it in (0:02/2nd Quarter: 24-10 Nebraska)
06:43 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Vincent Genatone scores on the 13-yard check down for Nebraska.
Huskers in the enemy territory (2:00/2nd Quarter: 17-10 Nebraska)
06:34 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Nebraska is across midfield at the two-minute timeout.
Spartans respond (6:07/2nd Quarter: 17-10 Nebraska)
06:24 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Michigan State marches down the field to cut the lead to seven.
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Field goal (10:00/2nd Quarter: 17-3 Nebraska)
06:14 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
The drive stalls and Nebraska gets a 32-yard field goal.
Chambliss with the pick (11:11/2nd Quarter: 14-3 Nebraska)
06:08 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Owen Chambliss picks off the Spartans to set Nebraska up.
Touchdown number two
06:06 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Touchdown number one
06:05 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Nelson reaches in (11:54/2nd Quarter: 14-3 Nebraska)
06:01 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Mekhi Nelson extends for a four-yard touchdown run to extend Nebraska's lead.
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Score through one
05:57 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Three and out (0:05/1st Quarter: 7-3 Nebraska)
05:49 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Huskers force a three and out just before the end of the first.
Gilmer hauls it in (1:45/1st Quarter: 7-3 Nebraska)
05:45 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Colandrea hits Gilmer deep for a 44-yard touchdown, giving Nebraska the lead.
Block negated (3:04/1st Quarter: 3-0 Michigan State)
05:40 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
A block punt is negated by a penalty and gives Nebraska a first down.
Field goal (5:10/1st Quarter: 3-0 Michigan State)
05:34 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
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Huskers get two sacks to force a field goal.
Spartans on the move (8:10/1st Quarter: 0-0)
05:29 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Penalties and a big screen pass puts Michigan State on the Nebraska 34-yard line.
Three and out (11:14/1st Quarter: 0-0)
05:16 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Michigan State brings pressure and forces a three and out.
Forced punt (12:10/1st Quarter: 0-0)
05:11 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Huskers get a big sack to force a punt on the opening drive.
Nebraska's captains
05:01 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Nebraska's starters
04:55 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Today's coin
04:50 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Opportunity awaits
04:45 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Road ready
04:31 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Almost time
04:15 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
Big Ten opener
04:01 PM ET, September 26 2026, Thomas Codo
This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska football vs. Michigan State recap, stats and highlights
