Nebraska 9 Michigan State 6: Recap and Afternoon Games Thread

Pregame

Several media members are reporting that JD Spielman is not on the field for warmups. Also reporting that Noah Vedral is not out for warmups.

The betting lines overnight have moved to Nebraska as 1.5 pt favorites.

Meanwhile, over at College Game Day (at Frost’s former team, the UCF Knights)...

Now, reports are that Spielman is in street clothes. He won’t play today.

Rocky Lombardi is getting first team snaps in warmups over Brian Lewerke, who has been battling through pain in his throwing shoulder.

Husker fans have a lot of faith in this offense, despite the brutal conditions. How bad is it?

First Quarter

The Husker offense got the ball first. Bryan Reimers got the start in place of an injured JD Spielman. The Huskers managed one first down courtesy of Kade Warner, but could go no further. Isaac Armstrong punted (terribly; it was possibly tipped?) and the Spartans took over at their 35 yard line.

Sparty’s terrible offense looked pretty good and was in the red zone in short order. Once there, Tre Neal came up with a big tackle for loss on a blitz. Then Ben Stille chased Lombardi into Luke Gifford’s waiting arms. Lombardi got the ball away (incomplete).

Fourth down. The field goal was good.

Michigan State 3 Nebraska 0

The Spartan kickoff went out of bounds. Husker ball at the 35. The Huskers fumbled the ball twice on that drive; once by Martinez (out of bounds) and once by Washington (was ruled Husker ball after review). At fourth and five at the 25, the Spartans held and took over on downs at the Husker 27.

The Blackshirts forced a three and out. Despite having success running right up the middle, MSU is trying to pass the ball. Okay.

Stanley Morgan Jr. returned the punt to the 34 yard line and it looked like Sparty should have been flagged for a late hit out of bounds, but the refs kept the flags in their pocket.

Kade Warner fumbled the ball; recovered by Michigan State. The flag on Michigan State moved them back fifteen yards to the Spartan 32 yard line. First and ten MSU.

As usual, Mohamed Barry is everywhere on defense. Sparty is getting some receivers open in the pass game, but are having a hard time connecting. Nebraska gets the ball back after a punt (touchback.)

Adrian Martinez took a hard hit (incomplete pass) to end the first quarter. No flag for roughing the passer.

Second Quarter

Let’s hope the Huskers warm up.

Or maybe they could fumble the damn ball again. Spartan ball. The Blackshirts were wreaking havoc until Mo Barry was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct - also looked like a shitty call. This is starting to feel personal with how the officiating is working today. #B1Grefs

The third down pass to the end zone was incomplete. Sparty was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Make up call? It didn’t look like he was doing much to draw the laundry unless he was using some “special” words.

The MSU field goal doinks off the upright. Husker ball at the 23 yard line.

Michigan State 3 Nebraska 0

Martinez and Jack Stoll are having a tough time getting on the same page but did finally connect on a RPO. Martinez overthrew his receiver and was nearly picked off, but MSU was flagged for roughing the passer which moved the Huskers to midfield.

Stadium DJ playing “Let it Be” during a review of a first down catch by Jack Stoll. LOL! Play stands, first down Nebraska. Mike Williams sighting.

On fourth and nine from the 33 yard line, Martinez overthrew a wide-open Morgan. Spartan ball. I’m guessing Husker fans are getting anxious to release the balloons.

Sparty fumbles (forced by Antonio Reed) but recovers the ball. Hey look, Sparty can complete a pass - two in a row as a matter of fact. Both against Lamar Jackson (although it wasn’t really bad coverage on his part, just good throws/catches). First down MSU at the 46. That is where their run ended as the Blackshirts held and Sparty punts with 3:13 left in the half. Husker ball at the 24 yard line (a 26 yard punt).

Devine Ozigbo picked up one first down, but the Huskers had to punt with 1:46 left in the half. It was downed at the nine yard line - a bouncing 53 yard punt by Leg-strong.

A designed run for Lombardi got the Spartans out of the shadow of their end zone. He did it again a few plays later on third and 10. Ughh. Same damn play. Lamar Jackson was flagged for pass interference - also looked like a pretty crappy call from the angles I saw, but his left arm could have been in there. The penalty moved MSU across midfield.

Antonio Reed intercepted the Hail Mary at the one yard line with three seconds left. Martinez threw the ball out of bounds to end the half.

Halftime

Third Quarter

The Spartans get the second half kickoff. Touchback. Three-and-out.

Morgan fielded the punt and took a hit - interference by MSU. Husker ball at the 46 yard line. Snow is starting to fall in Lincoln.

The Huskers went three and out themselves (the horizontal passing game is just fugly today) and it was downed at the seven.

Sparty came out and tried the runthedamnball-up-the-middle offense and was rewarded with five yards per play until the Blackshirts were able to throw them off schedule. Cam Taylor knocked the ball loose from the MSU receiver on third and 12 to force the punt.

Stanley touched the punt off the bounce and had to chase it down. He was brought down at the two yard line. Eeek.

Stanley Morgan made his first grab of the day, and then another with an Ozigbo carry sandwiched in between.

ZIGGY IS OVER 1000 YARDS RUSHING FOR THE SEASON!

But Nebraska couldn’t pick up the first down and had to punt. Fair catch at the 25 yard line.

There it is. 46 yard pass play by Sparty. First and 10 at the Husker 38. Refs call holding on Sparty. They want to get out of the parking lot alive.

Same damn quarterback run. Only gained 12 this time. A couple more plays. End of third quarter.

Michigan State 3 Nebraska 0

Fourth Quarter

Tyrin Ferguson registers a tackle for a loss, but it was for naught as a pass play got Sparty to the 10 yard line. First and goal. A sure touchdown pass was dropped on second and goal. Whew. Third down stop - Luke Gifford. The 26 yard field goal is good.

Michigan State 6 Nebraska 0

Maurice Washington brought the kickoff out to the 29 yard line. The late flag was another unsportmanlike conduct penalty on Michigan State. Husker ball at the 45.

Stanley!!! with the catch to get Nebraska into the red zone.

Fourth and nine. Stanley Morgan went down with a knee injury. Husker Nation holds their breath in hopes he is okay.

Barret Pickering comes out for the 36 yard field goal. He has a new career long.

Michigan State 6 Nebraska 3

People are trying to let their balloons go, but they are frozen to gloves.

Michigan State returned the kick to the 27 yard line. The Huskers took the ball away from Hayward, but it sounded like the whistles were blown before Young pulled it out.

Nevermind. Antonio Reed PLANTED Lombardi and knocked the ball out. Recovered by Damion Daniels. HUSKER FOOTBALL!!! in the red zone.

On third and nine - ZIGGY ZIGGY ZIGGY ZIGGY!!! First and goal Nebraska.

Illegal substitution on MSU. Half the distance. First and goal at the two.

First down. Ziggy to line of scrimmage.

Second down. Throw it out of the back of the end zone.

Third down. Empty backfield. Stanley back on the field. Incomplete. There was a lot of contact but no flag.

Fourth down. Pickering from 20. Good kickering. Eight minutes left in the game.

Nebraska 6 Michigan State 6

Kickoff touchback. Sparty ball at the 25. Did someone order a three-and-out? Your order is here. Antonio Reed came to play today.

Stanley returned the punt to near midfield and then he breaks the career receptions record at Nebraska. Mo Washington busts one up the middle. Who says little guys can’t run between the tackles? Then a hurdle by Mo to make something out of something. Third and five at the 30 yard line. No go. Fourth and five.

Pickering’s 47 yard FIELD GOAL WAS GOOD!!!!!! How about another career long Barret?!?

Nebraska 9 Michigan State 6

The Huskers forgot how to cover and gave up a 34 yard pass play. Sigh. The Spartans are at the Husker 40.

Antonio Reed nearly picked one off. What a day by the senior safety.

Fourth and 10 at the 40 yard line. The punt went into the end zone. 4:21 left in the game.

Devine was tackled for loss on first down. Incomplete pass on second down. More lost yardage on third down. Punt. 4:03 on the clock. That possession only took 18 seconds off the clock.

The punt was downed at the 40 yard line. Tre Neal nearly picked a ball off and then somersaulted Hayward with a tackle to bring up a big third down. MSU picked up a first down with - what else? - a run by Lombardi.

The snow is making the field slippery.

On third and 10, Lamar Jackson knocked down the pass but was flagged for PI. It looked like a hell of a defensive play and another shitty call. If they were going to call anything, it could have been a hold on Lamar (which still would have been a new set of downs.)

Fourth and four at the Husker 31 with 1:59 left....INCOMPLETE!! If this is the last defensive series Tre Neal plays in Memorial Stadium, he made his presence known.

First down. Ozigbo for five. MSU timeout (their last one). 1:50 left.

Second down. Ozigbo first down.

Victory formation. Repeat.

WE WIN! WE WIN! WE WIN!