Michigan State opened Big Ten play against Nebraska on Saturday evening in East Lansing and left Spartan Stadium with its second consecutive loss and first defeat in conference play for the 2026 season. The Final score was 31-13.

The Spartans fall to 2-2 (0-1 in Big Ten play) on the campaign, while Nebraska remains perfect on the year and moves to 4-0 (1-0 in the Big Ten).

The injuries mounted up quickly for the Spartans on Saturday.

Michigan State entered the contest already shorthanded with starting linebacker Brady Pretzlaff, starting cornerback Tyran Chappell and others ruled out prior to the game. Starting cornerback Tre Bell got hurt during pregame warmups and did not play. Fellow cornerbacks Keshawn Williams and Nijhay Burt were also injured during the game, leaving the depth in the secondary extremely thin.

MSU starting linebacker and team captain Jordan Hall was hurt in the third quarter as well and did not return to the game. Fellow linebackers Dion Crawford and Caleb Wheatland were also dinged up at different points in the game.

The injuries were also prevalent on the offensive side of the ball. Michigan State's starting running back Cam Edwards took a low hit to his right knee in the first quarter and did not return to the game after being carted off to the locker room. He was later seen on the sideline with crutches. Meanwhile, offensive guard Conner Moore was hurt early on the same play and did not return.

Nebraska true freshman running back Jamal Rule, a crucial player for the Cornhuskers, also suffered an injury in the first quarter and did not return to the game.

Both teams racked up 60 yards in penalties, but some preventable penalties cost the Spartans on multiple occasions.

Michigan State turned the ball over three times, while Nebraska did not give the ball away once.

As for the matchup itself, Nebraska proved why it was considered the more talented team entering the weekend and controlled the game. UNL out-gained MSU in total yardage by a tally of 369 to 257.

First half recap:

Michigan State received the opening kickoff and was able to pick up one first down on the drive, but the possession ended when MSU quarterback Alessio Milivojevic was sacked by Nebraska linebacker Dawson Merritt on third down.

After MSU punted the ball away, the Cornhuskers took over at their own 34-yard line, but the Spartan defense quickly forced a three-and-out.

Michigan State ended the next possession with the first points of the day. A pass interference call on Nebraska linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. on third-down-and-10 kept the drive alive for the Spartans. It was also during this drive when Edwards suffered the injury to his knee on a 23-yard reception.

Later on the possession, quarterback Cam Fancher came in and found tight end Brennan Parachek for a 10-yard gain. The Spartans eventually drove down to Nebraska's 17-yard line, but Milivojevic took back-to-back sacks and Michigan State settled for a field goal. Kicker Liam Boyd made a 48-yard field goal attempt to put MSU up 3-0 with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter.

The Huskers responded immediately, however. The Spartans initially forced a three-and-out and MSU wide receiver Jack Yanachik blocked a punt that was recovered by safety Michael Richard, but a holding call on fellow safety Evan Young gave Nebraska an automatic first down to extend the drive. Three plays later, Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea found wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer for a 44-yard touchdown pass.

Following the extra point, Nebraska took a 7-3 lead with 1:45 remaining in the opening quarter.

MSU went three-and-out on its next possession, and Nebraska took advantage of its opportunity. On third-and-10, a personal foul call on a late hit by Michigan State cornerback Charles Brantley on Colandrea gave the Cornhuskers 15 extra yards and an automatic first down.The Huskers eventually capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run by running back Mekhi Nelson.

Kicker Kyle Cunanan added an extra point, and Nebraska took a 14-3 lead with 11:54 left in the second quarter.

Michigan State's next possession was a disaster. With Fancher in at quarterback, he was sacked by Nebraska defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri for a 15-yard loss on the first play of the drive. On the very next play, Fancher threw an interception to UNL linebacker Owen Chambliss.

The Cornhuskers took over at MSU's 29-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Colandrea found wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. for a 12-yard gain, and Brantley forced Barney to fumble, but Nebraska offensive lineman Justin Evans was able to recover. The MSU defense stood its ground, however, and eventually forced a field goal attempt by Nebraska.

Cunanan connected on a 32-yard field goal attempt to extend the Huskers' lead to 17-3 with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter.

The MSU offense was able to find its footing and responded with a 10-play, 79-yard drive that ended with running back Jaziun Patterson finding the end zone from two yards out. The possession included a heavy dose of Patterson, a 24-yard completion from Milivojevic to Parachek, a 12-yard completion from Milivojevic to wide receiver Fredrick Moore and a 16-yard pass from Milivojevic to tight end Kai Rios.

After Patterson's score, Boyd tacked on an extra point and the Huskers' lead was cut to 17-10 with 6:07 to go in the second quarter.

Following the kickoff, Nebraska got the ball back with 6:00 before halftime and used almost all of the clock on the possession. An unsportsmanlike conduct call on Michigan State rush end Kenny Soares Jr. on second-and-14 was costly for the Spartans, as it gave Nebraska 15 yards and an automatic first down on what would have been an incomplete pass.

A 13-yard touchdown pass from Colandrea to running back Vincent Genatone with just two seconds left before halftime extended Nebraska's even further.

Cunanan added an extra point and the Cornhuskers took a 24-10 lead over the Spartans into the locker rooms at halftime.

Second half recap:

Nebraska received the ball to begin the second half, but the MSU defense quickly forced a three-and-and-out and a punt.

Michigan State then put together a nine-play, 34-yard drive that ended in a 46-yard field goal by Boyd. The Spartans cut the Huskers' lead to 11 points at 24-13 with 10:02 to play in the third quarter.

The MSU defense once again forced a three-and-out on Nebraska's next possession and quickly got the ball back to its offense. The Spartans put together a promising drive that included an impressive 21-yard, one-handed catch by wide receiver Chrishon McCray, but it did not end well for the Spartans.

The possession ended prematurely when Milivojevic was stripped-sacked by Nebraska defensive back Donovan Jones and Jones recovered the fumble.

Michigan State's defense once again stepped up and did not allow any points after the turnover. The Spartans stopped Genatone on fourth-and-1 to get the ball back.

The Spartans drove down to Nebraska's 33-yard line, but Milivojevic was sacked on third-and-12 for a one-yard loss. Boyd was called upon to attempt a 52-yard field goal, but it was partially blocked by Nwaneri.

During the drive, MSU tight end Jayden Savoury made what looked to be an incredible catch over Nebraska defensive back Dwayne McDougle III, but the call was eventually overturned after initially being ruled a completion.

Nebraska got the ball back yet again and put together a 12-play 66-yard drive that ended in another touchdown by Genatone — this time a one-yard rush. Genatone's two scores were the first of his career. Cunanan was successful on the extra point.

With 10:05 remaining in the game, Nebraska took a commanding 31-13 lead.

Michigan State was then able to drive 72 yards down the field on nine plays and get to Nebraska's 18-yard line, but the possession ended when Milivojevic threw an interception to Nebraska defensive back Andrew Marshall with 6:43 left to play.

Nebraska was able to drain the majority of the time off of the game clock on an 11-play, 71-yard drive that took 5:37 off of the fourth quarter. The Cornhuskers eventually turned it over on downs and MSU got the ball back with 1:06 left to play, but it was far too little, too late.

Michigan State looks to bounce back on the road at Wisconsin (3-1, 1-0 in Big Ten play) next week (Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the Big Ten Network).

Nebraska will put its undefeated record to the test at home for its homecoming game against Maryland (2-2, 0-1 in conference play) next week (3 p.m. Central Time on FS1).