Nebraska Cornhuskers at Michigan State Spartans

Injuries noted

Nebraska Cornhuskers: Kahmir Prescott (out) — Defensive back listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed.; Carter Nelson (out) — Tight end listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He has appeared in all three games this season.; Tanner Terch (out) — Defensive back listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed.; Gage Stenger (out) — Linebacker listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed.; Jase Reynolds (out) — Linebacker listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed.; Jacob Bower (out) — Linebacker listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed.; Gabe Moore (out) — Defensive lineman listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed.; Bryson Webber (out) — Defensive back was downgraded from doubtful to out in Friday's update; condition undisclosed.; Rex Guthrie (questionable) — Safety was upgraded from doubtful to questionable Friday. He has played all three games, made one start and recorded an interception.; Jordan Ochoa (probable) — Defensive lineman was upgraded from questionable to probable in Friday's update; condition undisclosed.

Michigan State Spartans: Eliyjah Caldwell (out) — Safety listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He is a true freshman who has not appeared in a game.; Jay Coyne (out) — Fullback and key special-teams contributor listed out through Friday after leaving the Notre Dame game; specific condition undisclosed.; Brady Pretzlaff (out) — Starting linebacker listed out through Friday after suffering an undisclosed injury and leaving the Notre Dame game. He started Michigan State's first three games.; Eli Bickel (out) — Offensive lineman listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He is a true freshman who has not appeared in a game.; Tristan Comer (out) — Offensive lineman listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He is a true freshman who has not appeared in a game.; Joe Caudill (out) — Tight end listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He is a true freshman who has not appeared in a game.; KK Smith (questionable) — Wide receiver remained questionable in Friday's update; condition undisclosed. He also contributes on special teams.; Tyran Chappell (questionable) — Starting cornerback remained questionable in Friday's update; condition undisclosed. He has played all three games and started the last two.; Cal Thrush (questionable) — Defensive lineman remained questionable in Friday's update after being hurt while playing special teams at Notre Dame; no specific diagnosis was reported.

QUARTERBACK

• Anthony Colandrea is NEB's confirmed starter

  8.99 Y/A

  Anthony Colandrea is NEB's confirmed starting quarterback. Nebraska's current-week game notes list Colandrea first on the quarterback depth chart and report that he has guided the offense through all three games; TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin are listed behind him. 2026 line: 692 passing yards, 68.8% completions, 8.99 yards per attempt, 8-1 TD-INT over 3 games.

• Alessio Milivojevic is MSU's confirmed starter

  7.61 Y/A

  Alessio Milivojevic is MSU's confirmed starting quarterback. Michigan State's September 22 game preview says Milivojevic has started seven consecutive games, including all three games in 2026, and identifies him as the returning quarterback for the Nebraska game. 2026 line: 540 passing yards, 66.2% completions, 7.61 yards per attempt, 3-2 TD-INT over 3 games.

TRENCHES

• NEB: 263 rushing yards per game to MSU's 150.7

  112.3 YPG

  Nebraska is running for 263 a game through three games, up from 145.9 last season, a jump that likely reflects early opponents. MSU is at 150.7 after 122.8 last season. Both teams are running more than a year ago. Nebraska's number should come down on the road, but it looks like the team more likely to impose the run in this game.

PACE & SCRIPT

• NEB: 46.3 points per game to MSU's 25

  21.3 PPG

  Nebraska is scoring 46.3 a game through three games after 28.7 last season. MSU is at 25, near its 24.6 from last season, which makes that the steadier number. Nebraska's scoring should fall back as the competition improves. It is probably the better offense, but expect less than the three-game average suggests.

• NEB @ MSU carries a 48.5 market total

  48.5

  At 48.5, 6 points under the 54.5 median across the slate, the market expects a grind with points hard to come by. The sheet offers no team numbers, so the reason for the low price isn't spelled out. It cracks if one side hits big plays early and forces the other to open up and throw. A low total like this is most exposed when an early score changes how both teams call the game.

MISMATCH

• NEB: 263 rush yards a game to MSU's 150.7

  263 VS 150.7

  Nebraska is running for 263 yards a game over 3 games, a big jump from 145.9 last season. Michigan State is at 150.7, also up from 122.8 a year ago. Three games of early schedule can inflate rushing totals, and Nebraska's number is the one furthest from its history, so it is the likelier to come down. Nebraska's plan on the road is to run and control the clock, and how long it keeps that up decides the pace of this one.

COVERAGE

• NEB: 118 passing yards allowed per game to MSU's 182.7

  64.7 YPG

  Nebraska has held teams to 118 passing yards a game over three games, while Michigan State allows 182.7. That is a very low number, and three games is small enough that one run-first opponent could explain much of it. No opponents are listed to check. Going into East Lansing, Michigan State's pass defense is the one that has given ground, so Nebraska's air game has the friendlier matchup.

REPLACEMENT

• Tanner Terch (DB) is out for NEB

  OUT

  Defensive back listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Carter Nelson (TE) is out for NEB

  OUT

  Tight end listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He has appeared in all three games this season. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Kahmir Prescott (DB) is out for NEB

  OUT

  Defensive back listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Joe Caudill (TE) is out for MSU

  OUT

  Tight end listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He is a true freshman who has not appeared in a game. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Tristan Comer (OL) is out for MSU

  OUT

  Offensive lineman listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He is a true freshman who has not appeared in a game. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Eli Bickel (OL) is out for MSU

  OUT

  Offensive lineman listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He is a true freshman who has not appeared in a game. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Brady Pretzlaff (LB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  Starting linebacker listed out through Friday after suffering an undisclosed injury and leaving the Notre Dame game. He started Michigan State's first three games. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Jay Coyne (FB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  Fullback and key special-teams contributor listed out through Friday after leaving the Notre Dame game; specific condition undisclosed. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Eliyjah Caldwell (S) is out for MSU

  OUT

  Safety listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. He is a true freshman who has not appeared in a game. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Bryson Webber (DB) is out for NEB

  OUT

  Defensive back was downgraded from doubtful to out in Friday's update; condition undisclosed. Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Gabe Moore (DL) is out for NEB

  OUT

  Defensive lineman listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Jacob Bower (LB) is out for NEB

  OUT

  Linebacker listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Jase Reynolds (LB) is out for NEB

  OUT

  Linebacker listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

• Gage Stenger (LB) is out for NEB

  OUT

  Linebacker listed out through Friday; condition undisclosed. Big Ten Football Availability Report (2026-09-24) Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State (2026-09-24)

SITUATIONAL

• NEB: 257.7 team passing yards per game to MSU's 194.7

  63 YPG

  Nebraska is throwing for about 63 more yards a game than Michigan State through three games. Last season the two were nearly even, 224.6 to 222.7, so both teams have moved: Nebraska up, Michigan State down. Three games of schedule can swing passing numbers fast, so expect some drift back toward last season, but Nebraska's air game is the side trending the right way.