Nebraska secured a hard fought victory over Michigan State on Saturday afternoon winning 38-28. The Cornhuskers moved to 4-1 on the season as they survived a late scare and an aggressive finish from the Spartans.
The game was sealed with just over two minutes remaining when Michigan State attempted a desperation onside kick down 10 points. The attempt failed with the ball recovered cleanly by the Nebraska special teams unit. Quarterback Dylan Raiola then took a knee three times to wind down the clock ending the contest and securing the win.
While the win is a crucial one for the Huskers pushing them over the four win mark before the midpoint of the season the performance revealed a serious area of concern moving forward the offensive line.
For the second straight Big Ten contest Nebraska struggled mightily in the trenches. The offensive line failed to create consistent running lanes for running back Emmett Johnson and repeatedly allowed pressure on Raiola. The unit appeared overmatched at times particularly after Michigan State made key defensive adjustments.
The left side of the offensive line still showed itself to be the weakest link on the team to this point. Raiola displayed resilience and playmaking ability despite being flushed from the pocket often. He made enough throws and the defense made enough crucial stops to offset the pressure.
The special teams was outstanding as they played nearly perfect, including Barney’s explosive punt returns and a blocked punt that gave the Huskers a much needed boost.
Head coach Matt Rhule will certainly use this win as a teaching moment. The team showed its ability to win a close Big Ten contest but will need to improve the offensive line play quickly to compete in the tougher stretch of the schedule. For now the focus remains on the record which improves to 4-1 a solid start as the season continues.