Follow along as The Daily Nebraskan’s sports senior staff makes their predictions for every Nebraska football game this fall.
A rolling tally will be kept throughout 2026, with the best record crowned at the end of the season.
Alex Berry, senior sports editor: Nebraska 21, Michigan State 17
Preseason football is officially done, and now it’s time for big boy football.
The Huskers blew out their competition in the first three weeks of the season, but now they play a conference foe that is under command of a new but experienced head coach in Pat Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is 6-6 all-time against Nebraska and beat the Huskers back in 2022 for both teams’ season opener in Ireland.
The Spartans have a top-tier running back in 5-foot-11, 206-pound senior Cam Edwards. While Edwards struggled last week against No. 3 Notre Dame with only 38 rushing yards on 12 carries, he has shown just how explosive he can be with a 152-yard performance in Michigan State’s Week 2 contest against Eastern Michigan. He also ran wild during his junior season at UCONN with 1,240 total rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per rush.
The Blackshirts will have a lot on their plate with Edwards, but the offense is going against just an average defense on paper. I expect to see Nebraska senior signal caller Anthony Colandrea and the weapons around him to still have a productive day, but not as much as non-conference play.
My takes: Luke Lindenmeyer finds the end zone for the first time this season on a dump-off in the flat near the goal line. I also expect to see Aurich’s defense come away with two+ sacks and two+ turnovers.
Eli Rodriguez, assistant sports editor: Nebraska 28, Michigan State 17
The Huskers capped off the non-conference slate undefeated for the third consecutive season. Now, with the focus on the Big Ten, Nebraska faces its biggest challenge yet.
Beginning conference play against Michigan State on the road at Spartan Stadium isn’t quite ideal for NU, as the past two trips ended in three-point losses.
This time feels different. Matt Rhule’s squad looks promising three games into the season. Sure, they faced Ohio, Bowling Green and North Dakota, but signs of growth have been clear.
Although the Spartans’ defense is strong, I think the Huskers’ offensive talent outweighs it. Michigan State will have a lot to deal with when handling freshman star Jamal Rule, with Colandrea scanning downfield for Jacory Barney Jr. and Kwazi Gilmer.
My takes: Colandrea 200+ passing yards, Jamal Rule two touchdowns, Nyziah Hunter first touchdown of the season. HOT TAKE: Andrew Marshall earns his first interception of the year.
Matthew Malloy, assistant sports editor: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 14
Finally, conference play is here.
I’m sure Husker fans enjoyed watching Nebraska dominate its non-conference opponents, but it’s time to turn the page to a grueling Big Ten slate. The first chapter will be written on the road against Michigan State.
Five of the past six meetings between the Huskers and the Spartans have been decided by five points or less. The lone exception came last year when Nebraska secured a 38-27 win at home.
Alessio Milivojevic steps in as Michigan State’s new starting quarterback, but I expect him to rely on his backfield as this game will likely be won on the ground. No. 3 Notre Dame held Spartan running back Cam Edwards to just 38 rushing yards last week, and while I expect the Blackshirts to play well, I think Edwards will rebound from his dip in production against the Irish.
Michigan State’s defense is led by Jordan Hall, a senior linebacker who has stayed with the program through two head coaching changes. It would be quite the story if Hall and first-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald open conference play by halting Dana Holgerson’s offense in its tracks, but I expect Anthony Colandrea to lead his group to a conference-opener win.
My takes: Jamal Rule rushes for two touchdowns and 100+ yards for the third time this season, the Blackshirts notch three sacks and Michigan State’s Jordan Hall forces a turnover.
Kyler Cox, senior sports reporter: Nebraska 27, Michigan State 17
The test for Nebraska football gets real this weekend, and it happens to come on the road in East Lansing.
Last week, I said that I was close to dubbing this Husker team as “legit.” And while I don’t yet know what that means for the rest of the season, I think NU will continue to play well against Michigan State.
Nebraska’s offense is what has me sold on its potential in 2026, and I don’t expect that to stop against a Spartan defense that ranks just inside the top-50 in total defense this season. But there are two big questions for NU’s attack: Will Jamal Rule take over the lead back role, and will the Huskers get Nyziah Hunter more involved?
I think the answer to the latter part of that question is yes. Hunter led the team in targets last week, and it’s time for Colandrea to work other receivers into the offense. As for the backfield, the combination of Rule and Mekhi Nelson has offered a lethal 1-2 punch. Expect the third-quarter rushing attack to break through for the second straight week.
My takes: Jamal Rule and Mekhi Nelson combine for over 200 yards on the ground, and Owen Chambliss grabs his first interception of the season.
Standings
1. Alex Berry 3-0 (+/- 48)
2. Matthew Malloy 3-0 (+/- 51)
3. Kyler Cox 3-0 (+/- 55)
4. Eli Rodriguez 3-0 (+/- 60)