By: NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska improved to 11-4 all-time against Michigan State, including 6-4 as Big Ten opponents. The Huskers tied the series in East Lansing at three wins apiece.
Nebraska completed the month of September at 4-0, marking its first undefeated September since 2016. It is also Nebraska’s first 4-0 start since 2016.
Nebraska won its Big Ten opener for the first time since a 42-38 win at Illinois to open the 2019 Big Ten slate.
Linebacker Owen Chambliss had a second-quarter interception, marking his first interception at Nebraska and the second of his career. Chambliss finished the game with a season-high eight tackles.
Defensive end Williams Nwaneri recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks for 25 yards. His previous high was 1.5 sacks against Michigan State last season. Nwaneri was also credited with a blocked field goal in the third quarter, marking his first career blocked kick.
Nickel back Donovan Jones had a third-quarter strip sack and fumble recovery. It marked the second straight week Jones has had a sack. It was also the first fumble caused and recovered of his career.
Cornerback Andrew Marshall had an interception in the fourth quarter. It was his first interception of the season and second of his career.
Riley Van Poppel had 1.0 tackle for loss against Michigan State, and he has 1.0 TFL in every game this season. He is the first Husker to have at least 1.0 TFL in each of a season’s first four games since Freedom Akinmoladun in 2015.
The Nebraska defense recorded six sacks for 50 yards, including four sacks in the first half. It marks Nebraska’s most sacks since also have sick sacks against Colorado in 2024.
Nebraska had five sacks last week and this marks the first time Nebraska has had five or more sacks in back-to-back games since 2013 when the Blackshirts did so against Northwestern and at Michigan.
Nebraska has at least two sacks in every game this season. The last time the Huskers had multiple sacks in four consecutive games in the same season was 2019.
Nebraska scored two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. The Huskers have had at least one rushing and passing touchdown in every game this season. The last time the Huskers had both a rushing and passing touchdown in each of the first four games was 1999.
Running back Vincent Genatone caught a 13-yard TD pass with two seconds left in the first half to give NU a 24-10 lead. It marked Genatone’s first career reception and his first career touchdown. He added his second career touchdown on a 1-yard fourth quarter run.
Genatone became the third Husker to score both a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game this season, joining Mekhi Nelson and Jamal Rule. Prior to this year, only three Huskers in the past 10 seasons had a game with both a rushing and receiving touchdown.
Running back Mekhi Nelson scored on a 4-yard TD run in the second quarter, marking his third touchdown of the season (2 rushing, 1 receiving). Nelson finished the game with 15 carries for 61 yards.
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea accounted for 278 yards of total offense, including 212 passing yards and 66 on the ground. It marks the third time in four games he has topped 250 yards of total offense.
Receiver Kwazi Gilmer caught a 44-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. The 44-yard reception was a season long and the fourth TD catch of the season.
Gilmer finished the game with four receptions for 101 yards. He posted the first 100-yard receiving game of his career.
Receiver Jacory Barney Jr. caught one pass for 12 yards. Barney has caught a pass in all 30 games of his career. He is the sixth Husker to have a 30-game reception streak.
Nebraska had a 14-play scoring drive just before the end of the first half, marking the Huskers’ longest drive of the season in terms of plays.
Center Justin Evans made his 30th consecutive start for the Huskers, including the last 17 games at center.