If you were looking for a high-scoring, back-and-forth thriller that felt more like a chess match than a football game, the October 4, 2025, clash between Michigan State and Nebraska was exactly that. Honestly, it was a weird one. You had a Spartan team that dominated the clock but somehow forgot how to hold onto the ball, and a Nebraska squad that got out-gained but made the big plays when they actually counted.
The final score was Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27. But that number doesn't even come close to telling the full story of what happened in Lincoln that afternoon.
Memorial Stadium was loud. It was homecoming for the Huskers, and Matt Rhule’s bunch came in sitting at 3-1, just like Jonathan Smith’s Spartans. Both teams were desperate to erase a 0-1 start in Big Ten play. What we got was a game defined by a blocked punt, a 17-play drive, and a fourth-quarter explosion that left East Lansing wondering what could have been.
Why the Michigan State Football vs Nebraska Scoreboard Was Lying
People usually look at a double-digit win and think it was a comfortable afternoon. It wasn't. Michigan State basically lived on the field, holding the ball for over 33 minutes compared to Nebraska’s 26. They ran more plays. They had more first downs.
But football is cruel.
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The Spartans' downfall started early with a special teams disaster. A blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Nebraska's Carter Nelson put MSU in a 14-0 hole before they could even catch their breath. You can't do that on the road in the Big Ten. You just can't.
Aidan Chiles and the "What If" Factor
Aidan Chiles is a talent, no doubt. But the stat line from this game is painful to look at: 9-of-23 passing for just 85 yards. He threw two picks. Yet, paradoxically, he was the only reason the Spartans were even in it during the third quarter.
He used his legs. He scrambled for two touchdowns, including a gutsy 16-yard run on 4th-and-4 that tied the game at 14. For a moment, it felt like the momentum had completely flipped. When Chiles punched in his second score to give MSU a 21-14 lead late in the third, the "Sea of Red" in Lincoln went dead quiet.
Then the wheels came off.
The Dylan Raiola and Emmett Johnson Show
Nebraska didn't panic. That’s the Matt Rhule influence. They answered the MSU lead with a lightning-fast 75-yard drive that took less than 90 seconds. Emmett Johnson was the workhorse here, ripping off a 23-yard touchdown run to tie it back up at 21.
Then came the mistake that broke the Spartans.
On the ensuing kickoff, MSU fumbled. Nebraska recovered at the 35-yard line. Even though the Spartan defense held them to a field goal, the psychological damage was done. Shortly after, Dylan Raiola—who wasn't exactly having a career day himself—found Nyziah Hunter on a 59-yard screen pass that went the distance.
Suddenly, it was 31-21. The air was officially out of the balloon.
The Real Stats That Mattered
- Total Offense: Nebraska 261, Michigan State 240. (Yes, Nebraska won by 11 while barely cracking 250 yards).
- Turnovers: MSU had 3, Nebraska had 1. That’s the game right there.
- Rushing: Emmett Johnson carried the load for the Huskers with three touchdowns, while MSU’s Makhi Frazier fought for 58 yards on 18 tough carries.
- Third Down: MSU was 2-of-12. You aren't winning many games with a 16% conversion rate.
A Growing Big Ten Rivalry?
It's funny. Before Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011, these two rarely played. Now? It feels like every time they meet, weird things happen. Remember 2015? An unranked Nebraska team upset a #6 Michigan State team in a 39-38 thriller. Or 2021, when the Spartans won an overtime heartbreaker in East Lansing.
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The 2025 game followed that trend of being close until it wasn't. Nebraska now leads the all-time series 10-4, but since they became conference foes, it's been a dead heat at 5-5. That's parity.
What Most Fans Get Wrong About This Series
Most people think Nebraska’s "Blue Blood" status means they should dominate this matchup. But honestly, Michigan State has been the more consistent program over the last decade. The 2025 game was a huge statement for Matt Rhule because it proved Nebraska could win a "clunky" game.
They didn't need Raiola to throw for 400 yards. They needed a blocked punt, a few timely runs, and a defense that tightened up in the red zone. On the flip side, Jonathan Smith learned that his "Oregon State style" of ball control works—right up until you turn the ball over three times.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Matchup
If you’re betting on or watching the next time Michigan State football vs Nebraska rolls around, keep these nuances in mind:
- Watch the Special Teams: This series is historically swung by a random punt return or a missed field goal. The 2025 game was decided by a blocked punt.
- Turnover Margin is Everything: Both these programs are currently in a "rebuilding to relevance" phase. They aren't explosive enough to overcome -2 or -3 turnover margins.
- The Home Field Advantage is Real: MSU has struggled in Lincoln historically, winning only once there in nearly a dozen tries.
- Quarterback Variance: Both Chiles and Raiola are high-ceiling, high-risk players. The game usually goes to whichever one avoids the "big mistake" in the fourth quarter.
Keep an eye on the recruiting trails for both these schools, as they are frequently battling for the same three-star and four-star talent in the Midwest. The gap between them is razor-thin, and that makes for excellent television, even if it's stressful for the fans in the stands.
Check the current Big Ten standings to see how this specific win propelled Nebraska toward bowl eligibility while forcing Michigan State to recalibrate their mid-season strategy.