The Cornhuskers could very well be a ranked team in Week 5.
Nebraska (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) traveled to East Lansing and defeated Michigan State (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten), 31-13. NU is now 4-0 for the first time since 2016, when the Big Red finished the season 9-4 overall.
Here are five things we learned from Nebraska’s convincing 18-point win over the Spartans.
1. Nebraska’s defense is improving every week
While Nebraska’s offense was the star of the show in Weeks 1 and 2, the Huskers’ defense performed at a borderline elite level in Weeks 3 and 4. Against Ohio and Bowling Green, NU combined for four sacks and 10 tackles for loss. In his most recent two games, those numbers rose to 11 and 16, respectively.
NU also used its pressure to force turnovers against Michigan State. Spartan quarterbacks Alessio Milivojevic and Cam Fancher each threw an interception Saturday, while Donovan Jones added a strip-sack and recovered the fumble.
The Huskers gave up 13 plays of 10+ yards, but held the Spartans to just 13 points. Even though much of Saturday’s performance was a bend-don’t-break affair, NU continued to show just how good this defensive unit can be. If the Blackshirts continue to play at this level, they will have a chance to compete with anyone on their schedule.
2. Penalties are going to be a problem all year
Nebraska committed seven accepted penalties for a total of 60 yards, plus another that was ultimately declined. For a veteran team and staff, moreover, the Huskers continue to commit procedural penalties that leave us perplexed.
Even if it didn’t cost NU the win on Saturday, it certainly will at some point. Against the likes of Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State, the Big Red will need to clean up their operations considerably if they hope to win these games.
Through four games, Nebraska has had 27 penalties for a total of 235 yards, averaging 6.75 infractions for a loss of 58.75 yards per game. This simply cannot happen in conference. No one expects a flawless performance, but for a team full of veteran players, they need to start acting accordingly before those mistakes cost them victory.
3. The Huskers’ offense is explosive
NU totaled 12 plays of 10-plus yards against Michigan State, including nine in the first half. Sure, from a production standpoint, the Huskers slowed down after halftime, but 24 points in a half will win Nebraska a lot of conference games.
Perhaps just as impressive, NU also showed its ability to control the clock. In the fourth quarter, the Big Red’s two offensive attacks lasted more than 10 plays. The first, which resulted in a touchdown, was a 12-play, 66-yard drive that fell 6:22 behind. The second was an 11-play, 71-yard drive that fell behind another 5:37. As a result, the Spartans only possessed the ball for 4:22 in the final quarter.
Dana Holgorsen’s unit, even without Jamal Rule, showed the ability to move the ball in pieces while asserting its will when necessary. After entering the contest as the 10th most productive unit in the country in terms of yardage, Nebraska may have slipped a bit after Week 4, but the Big Red are no less impressive than they were throughout the non-conference slate.
4. Special teams have a long way to go
The Huskers’ special teams unit continues to be disappointing after taking a major step in the right direction in 2025. Part of the reason for this, selfishly, is that I consider what an asset Nebraska’s third-rounder was a season ago, and it may be a little unfair to expect them to maintain that level in 2026.
Either way, they look more like a unit that has regressed to a net level this fall. The Huskers arguably should have blocked a punt if not for a ridiculously lucky defensive holding penalty imposed on Michigan State. They also had their share of penalties and mental blunders throughout the year.
Kicking former Husker Kenneth Williams four times seemed like coaching malpractice to me. If any staff member in this conference knew what it could bring in the return game, it was Nebraska, but the Huskers still kicked it four times. He returned them for a total of 63 yards.
It appears that better decisions, both from players and staff, can be made in the future. It hasn’t cost NU a game yet, but it certainly hasn’t helped them win one either.
5. NU’s defensive line is noticeably improved from last year
Three of the Big Red’s six sacks came from the defensive line, with former five-star prospect Williams Nwaneri recording a career-high 2.0 against Michigan State. After replacing Cam Lenhardt as the starter on the edge, Nwaneri arguably played his best game while wearing the scarlet and cream.
Pitt transfer Jahsear Whittington added another sack from the defensive line while also recording a forced fumble and an additional tackle. Kade Pietrzak and Riley Van Poppel also each added a tackle, with Van Poppel coming in for the loss, while Anthony Jones and Owen Stoudmire combined for nine tackles Saturday night.
The unit helped NU limit the Spartans to 39 rushing yards on 32 attempts. They have now held three of their four opponents, with the exception of Ohio, to fewer than 100 rushing yards. The Huskers have only done it once in 2025, and much of that improvement comes from a defensive line that seemed determined to prove it could stop things this fall.
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