Michigan State traveled to Lincoln to take on Nebraska on Saturday afternoon, and left with a 38-27 loss. 

With the loss, MSU falls to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play on the 2025 campaign. Meanwhile, Nebraska improves to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Michigan State received the ball to begin the game, but quickly went three-and-out and punted to Nebraska. The Cornhuskers proceeded to drive 48 yards on nine plays and score a touchdown on a reverse play to running back Emmett Johnson. 

Following the extra point from kicker Kyle Cunanan, Nebraska led 7-0 with 9:09 to play in the first quarter.

MSU got the ball back and once again went three-and-out. Then, disaster struck for the Spartans when Nebraska defensive back Jamir Conn blocked a punt and tight end Carter Nelson returned it for a touchdown. 

Just like that, after Cunanan's extra point, the Cornhuskers led 14-0 with 7:37 to play in the opening quarter.

The Michigan State offense finally got going on the next possession with a 17-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. It was an eventful drive for the Spartans, as Central Michigan transfer wide receiver Evan Boyd recorded his first reception as a Spartan early in the drive, and later in the drive, quarterback Aidan Chiles had to exit the game due to injury. 

Redshirt freshman backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic entered the game and recorded his first career completion to wide receiver Nick Marsh. Then, a pass interference call on Nebraska gave MSU an automatic first down. Two plays later, Milivojevic threw the first touchdown pass of his career, as he found tight end Jack Velling from two yards out. 

At the point in the game, Nebraska's lead was down to 14-7 with 12:52 remaining in the second half. 

Chiles returned to the game on MSU's next possession. 

The scoring took a break for a while, as the teams then traded a few punts in a row. On one drive in particular, following a 57-yard punt return from wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr., the Spartans got to Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola on three-straight plays to force a punt. This included sacks by safety Malik Spencer and rush end David Santiago, and defensive end Jalen Thompson tackling Raiola down well behind the line of scrimmage following a bad snap on third down. 

With 5:18 left in the second quarter, Nebraska defensive back DeShon Singleton intercepted Chiles. Nebraska could not capitalize, though, as the Cornhuskers turned it over on downs after Thompson sacked Raiola on fourth down. However, Singleton recorded his second-straight interception, picking Chiles off on third-and-7. 

The game eventually went to halftime with Nebraska leading 14-7. 

Nebraska got the ball first in the second half, but turned the ball over after failing to convert a fake punt. Michigan State took advantage, driving 48 yards on 11 plays and finding the end zone on a 16-yard scramble from Chiles on fourth-down-and-4.

After the extra point from kicker Martin Connington, MSU tied the game at 14-14 with 6:08 left to play in the third quarter. 

The Spartans immediately got the ball back, as linebacker and team captain Jordan Hall intercepted Raiola on the first play of the next possession.

Michigan State capitalized on the turnover, as Chiles found the end zone on the ground once again, this time from four yards out. 

Connington's extra point gave Michigan State a 21-14 lead with 2:37 left to play in the third quarter.

Nebraska immediately responded, however, as Johnson scored a touchdown on a 23-yard run. After the point-after-touchdown, the game was tied up at 21-21 with 1:11 left in the third quarter. 

It was all Nebraska after that. 

Another special teams disaster for the Spartans happened after Johnson's touchdown, as Sam Edwards and Jay Coyne collided with each other and could not catch the ball on the kickoff return. Nebraska recovered. 

Cunanan made a 27-yard field goal to give the Cornhuskers a 24-21 lead with 13:32 left in the fourth quarter.

Later in the game, with 6:45 remaining on the clock,  Raiola threw a screen pass to wide receiver Nyziah Hunter, who proceeded to take it 59 yards to the end zone. Nebraska took a 31-21 lead, following the extra point.  

Michigan State turned it over on downs on the next possession when Chiles was sacked by defensive lineman Cameron Lenhardt. Nebraska took over at MSU's 17-yard line. Two plays, later, Johnson found the end zone again. Nebraska took a commanding 38-21 lead. 

Milivojevic entered the game again as the MSU staff decided to take Chiles out with the game out of reach. Milivojevic led another touchdown drive, as he scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown to finish it. 

The two-point conversion attempt was no good and the score eventually went final with Nebraska winning 38-27. 

Next up, Michigan State returns home to host UCLA (now 1-4 after upsetting Penn State on Saturday) for its homecoming game on Oct. 11.

Nebraska hits the road next weekend to play at Maryland (4-1, 1-1) on Oct. 11.