The Michigan State football team (3-1 overall, 0-1 in Big Ten play) is searching for its first win in conference play and fourth victory in five games on the 2025 season, but faces another tough road test, this time against Nebraska (3-1, 0-1 in Big Ten play) on Saturday in Lincoln.
Both teams are coming off of a bye week, and both squads suffered their first loss of the 2025 season on Sept. 20 prior to the bye week (MSU to USC and Nebraska to Michigan).
For details on how to watch, how to listen, series history and more information on the matchup, check out the guide below.
Game Info:
Date: Saturday, Oct. 4
Kickoff Time: 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time/3:05 p.m. Central Time
Location: Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Memorial Stadium Capacity: 82,841
How to Watch:
TV: FS1
Streaming/watch on mobile: FOX Sports App
Announcers: Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), Josh Sims (sidelines)
How to Listen:
Radio: Spartan Media Network
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jehuu Caulcrick
Sidelines: Tre Mosley
Broadcast Host: Will Tieman, Dalton Shetler
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM), 21 other affiliate stations
Note: The pregame show begins at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time/1:30 p.m. Central Time
All-time Series Notes:
- Nebraska leads the all-time series 9-4
- Previous Matchup: Michigan State won 20-17 (Nov. 4, 2023)
- Michigan State has a current winning streak of two games in the series (2021 and 2023)
- The series is tied 4-4 in Big Ten games
- Nebraska is 6-1 versus Michigan State in Lincoln
- If Michigan State wins the 2025 matchup, it will be the first time the Spartans have won three meetings in a row over the Cornhuskers
- Nebraska won the first seven matchups in the series from 1914 through 2012, but Michigan State has won four of the last six meetings from 2013 through 2023
A Closer Look at the Head Coaches:
Michigan State Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
Record at MSU: 8-8 (second year: 5-7 in 2024, 3-1 in 2025 thus far)
Overall NCAA Coaching Record: 42-43 (eighth year, went 34-35 at Oregon State from 2018 through 2023)
Record vs. Nebraska: 0-0 (this will be Smith's first matchup against the Cornhuskers)
Nebraska Head Coach: Matt Rhule
Record at Nebraska: 15-14 (third year: 5-7 in 2023, 7-6 in 2024, 3-1 in 2025 thus far )
Overall NCAA Coaching Record: 62-57 (10th year: went 28-23 at Temple from 2013 through 2016 and went 19-20 at Baylor from 2017 through 2019)
Record vs. Michigan State: 0-1 (2023)
Betting Odds:
Spread: Michigan State +12.5
Over/Under: 49.5 points
Moneyline: Michigan State +360, Nebraska -470
*Odds based on DraftKings as of Oct. 3, 2025
Weather Expectations:
Hot with high temperatures around 87 degrees at kickoff time. Sunny and windy with winds blowing south at 20 to 30 miles per hour.