Spartans Back on the Road to Face Nebraska

Game 5: Michigan State (3-1, 0-1 B1G) at Nebraska (3-1, 0-1 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 4
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET/3:05 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (82,841)
Surface: FieldTurf
Game Notes: MSU | Nebraska

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: FS1
Streaming/Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), Josh Sims (sidelines)
Live Stats: huskers.com

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jehuu Caulcrick
Sidelines: Tre Mosley
Broadcast Hosts: Will Tieman, Dalton Shetler
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/watch, MSU Spartans app, Tune In radio
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Affiliates: 21 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: SiriusXM Ch. 390 | SiriusXM App
Pregame Show: Begins at 2:30 p.m. ET

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads, 9-4
Series in Lincoln: Nebraska leads, 6-1
Series in Big Ten Games: Tied, 4-4
Last Meeting: MSU 20, Nebraska 17 (2023 in East Lansing)
Current Series Streak: 2 by MSU

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
MSU Record: 8-8 (second year)
Overall Record: 42-43 (eighth year)
Record vs. Nebraska: 0-0

Nebraska Head Coach: Matt Rhule
Nebraska Record: 15-14 (third year)
Overall Record: 62-57 (10th year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-1

►SPARTANS HEAD BACK ON THE ROAD TO FACE NEBRASKA
• Michigan State will be looking for its third straight win over Nebraska for the first time in series history when the two schools meet on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT in Lincoln. The game will be televised on FS1 with Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst) and Josh Sims on the call (sidelines).

• MSU went 3-0 to open the season with home nonconference victories against Western Michigan, Boston College and Youngstown State before falling to No. 25 USC in Los Angeles in the Big Ten opener, 45-31, on Sept. 20. The Spartans went 1-1 last season following a bye week in Jonathan Smith's first year in East Lansing (home win over Iowa on Oct. 19; road loss at Illinois on Nov. 16).

• Nebraska enters the game at 3-1 and 0-1 in the Big Ten following a 30-27 home loss to Michigan on Sept. 20. The Huskers are also coming off a bye week.

• The Spartans have won the last two matchups in the series, both in East Lansing. In the last meeting, MSU beat Nebraska, 20-17, on Nov. 4, 2023. During the 2021 season in Spartan Stadium, the Green and White rallied to defeat the Huskers in overtime, 23-20, as Matt Coghlin's 21-yard field goal sealed the comeback win.

• Saturday's game marks the 14th all-time meeting between Michigan State and Nebraska and the first in Lincoln since 2018, a 9-6 victory for the Huskers. Nebraska leads the all-time series, 9-4, including a 6-1 advantage in Lincoln, but MSU has won four of the last six meetings. The Spartans are 4-4 against the Huskers in Big Ten games. MSU's lone win in Lincoln came during the 2013 Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season.

►AIDAN CHILES SHOWING IMPROVEMENT IN SECOND YEAR AS STARTING QB
• Junior Aidan Chiles continues to show improvement in his second season as Michigan State's starting quarterback. Through his first four games of the season, Chiles is completing 69 percent of his passes (70-of-102) for 868 yards and nine touchdowns against just one interception. Chiles ranks among the Big Ten leaders in points responsible for per game (fifth with 17.0), passing touchdowns (seventh with nine), passing efficiency (eighth at 167.3 rating), total offense (ninth with 255.5 ypg) and completion percentage (ninth at .686).

►OMARI KELLY PROVING TO BE AN ALL-PURPOSE THREAT FOR MSU
• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly, who is in his first season at MSU after transferring from Middle Tennessee State, leads the team in receptions (21), receiving yards (317; 79.3 ypg) and all-purpose yards (442; 110.5 ypg). Kelly ranks sixth in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (79.3) and eighth in receptions per game (5.3). He also ranks ninth in the FBS in punt returns with a 19.7-yard average, boosted by his 83-yard return in Week 3 against Youngstown State.

►30-PLUS POINTS IN THREE STRAIGHT GAMES
• Michigan State has scored 30-plus points in three consecutive games (42 vs. Boston College, 41 vs. Youngstown State, 31 vs. USC), marking the first time MSU has accomplished that feat in the regular season since the first three games of the 2021 season. The Spartans are averaging 34.8 points per game overall.

►RED ZONE EFFICIENCY
• Michigan State has scored on 16 of its 17 trips to the red zone this season, good for a .941 percentage, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 31st in the FBS. The Spartans have scored 12 touchdowns in the red zone, including five rushing TDs, along with four field goals.

►NICK MARSH LOOKING FOR MORE AFTER RECORD-BREAKING FRESHMAN SEASON
• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh ranks tied for eighth in the Big Ten with three receiving touchdowns. He had a career-high two TD catches vs. BC (11 yards in first quarter; 41 yards in third quarter).

• For the season, Marsh ranks second on the team with 18 catches for 222 yards (55.5 ypg).

• Marsh set an MSU freshman record in 2024 for most receptions (41) and receiving yards (649). He has 16 catches for 194 yards (64.7 ypg) in the first three games of 2025.

►MAKHI FRAZIER LEADS GROUND GAME IN FIRST YEAR AS STARTER
• Sophomore running back Makhi Frazier leads the team and ranks 11th in the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 66.8 yards per game (4.7 per carry) with two touchdowns. In his first collegiate start, Frazier ran for 103 yards and a touchdown against Western Michigan, then followed up with 81 yards on 17 carries in Week 2 against Boston College. In the Big Ten opener at USC, Frazier had 61 yards on 14 carries.

►CO-CAPTAIN JORDAN HALL LEADS TEAM IN TACKLES, TFLs AND SACKS
• Junior co-captain linebacker Jordan Hall leads the team and ranks 11th in the Big Ten with 30 tackles (7.5 pg). He recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including nine solo stops, in the win over Boston College to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. Early in the first quarter, Hall forced a fumble near the goal line to prevent an Eagle touchdown as Armorion Smith recovered the ball for the Spartans.

• A native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Hall also leads the team with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

• Hall was Michigan State's nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy for his work in the community. He was one of five captains that visited patients at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing during MSU's bye week.

►PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN RYAN ECKLEY A WEAPON ON SPECIAL TEAMS
• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley, a Ray Guy Award candidate and preseason All-American, led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 with his 47.9-yard average and was a second-team all-conference selection.

• Eckley has showed why he is one of the best punters in the nation in the first four games of the season. Although he doesn't meet the NCAA stat minimums, Eckley would rank No. 1 in the FBS with his 53.0-yard punting average. He also ranks first in the Big Ten in punts inside the 20 (9) and in 50-yard plus punts (9). Eckley has dropped six punts inside the opponents' 10-yard line, including three at the 1 and one at the 2.

• Eckley was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week following his performance against Boston College in Week 2. He had two punts downed at the 1, and all three of his punts were downed inside the 20, for 0 return yards. He finished with a 54.7 yards per punt average, starting his night with a 60-yarder in the first quarter that was downed at the BC 12, then adding a 55-yarder downed at the 1 early in the fourth quarter and topping his punting night with a 49-yarder downed at the 1 on the second-to-last play of regulation.

• Eckley has a career punting average of 47.9 yards per punt (112 punts for 5,336 yards), which would rank No. 1 in school history (current record: Bryce Baringer, 46.0 avg.). That average also ranks No. 1 among current active players in the FBS.

• Michigan State also ranks No. 1 in the FBS in net punting (48.9 avg.), No. 8 in punt returns (19.7 avg.) and No. 21 kick returns (27.8 avg.).

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – So. Makhi Frazier (57 carries for 267 yards, 4.7 avg., 2 TDs, 66.8 ypg)
Passing – Jr. Aidan Chiles (70-of-102, .686, 868 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT, 217.0 ypg)
Receiving – Sr. Omari Kelly (21 receptions for 317 yards, 15.1 avg., 1 TD, 79.3 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Jordan Hall (30 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 2.0 sacks for 8 yards, 1 FF)

Nebraska:
Rushing – Jr. Emmett Johnson (71 carries for 391 yards, 5.5 avg., 4 TDs, 97.8 ypg)
Passing – So. Dylan Raiola (102-of-135, .756, 1,137 yards, 11 TDs, 1 INT, 284.3 ypg)
Receiving – So. Jacory Barney Jr. (21 receptions for 301 yards, 14.3 avg., 3 TDs, 75.3 ypg)
Tackles – Three with 17 tackles (Sr. LB Javin Wright, R-Fr. DB Rex Guthrie, Sr. DB DeShon Singleton)

►MICHIGAN STATE-NEBRASKA SERIES NOTES
• Michigan State is looking for its third straight win over Nebraska for the first time in series history.

• The Spartans have won the last two matchups in the series, both in East Lansing. In the last meeting, MSU beat Nebraska, 20-17, on Nov. 4, 2023. During the 2021 season in Spartan Stadium, the Green and White rallied to defeat the Huskers in overtime, 23-20, as Matt Coghlin's 21-yard field goal sealed the comeback win.

• Saturday's game marks the 14th all-time meeting between Michigan State and Nebraska and the first in Lincoln since 2018, a 9-6 victory for the Huskers.

• Nebraska leads the all-time series, 9-4, including a 6-1 advantage in Lincoln, but MSU has won four of the last six meetings.

• The past five matchups have all been decided by five points or less, with the average margin of victory being only three points during those games.

• The Spartans are 4-4 against the Huskers in Big Ten games.

• MSU's lone win in Lincoln came during the 2013 Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season.

►A GLANCE AT NEBRASKA (3-1, 0-1 BIG TEN)
• The Cornhuskers not only have an identical record as the Spartans at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in B1G action, but Nebraska is also coming off its first bye week of the season. Last time out, the Huskers lost to No. 21 Michigan, 30-27, on Sept. 20.

• Saturday is Nebraska's Homecoming game, as well as the fourth and final contest of a four-game homestand. Before the home loss to Michigan, the Huskers hosted Houston Christian in a 59-7 rout on Sept. 13 and crushed Akron, 68-0, on Sept. 6, in Nebraska's most lopsided win since 1986. The Huskers opened the season with a 20-17 win over Cincinnati on Aug. 28 in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium.

• In the loss to Michigan, the Huskers and Wolverines went back-and-forth, with Michigan taking a 30-20 lead with 3:54 to play on a 21-yard field goal that capped a ground-grinding, clock-eating, 16-play, 77-yard drive that took 8:46. Nebraska scored with 1:34 left on a 3-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola to senior tight end Heinrich Haarberg and sophomore placekicker Kyle Cunanan's PAT to pull within 30-27, but UM recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

• Nebraska lost despite running 16 more offensive plays and having a 33:17-26:43 time of possession advantage, and the Huskers also had 23 first downs compared to 16 for the Wolverines. UM had a slight edge in total offense, 391-351, with the Wolverines grinding out 286 yards on the ground and 105 through the air. Nebraska had 308 yards passing and 43 yards rushing.

• Sophomore wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. had six catches for 120 yards and two TDs, a 26-yard catch and a 52-yard scoring strike, both in the second quarter, against Michigan. Barney has 21 receptions for 301 yards (14.3 ypc), with three TDs, ranking eighth in the B1G and 49th in the FBS in receptions per game (5.25), as well as 10th in the league and 49th in the nation in receiving yards per game (75.3), in addition to tied for eighth in the conference and 34th in the country in receiving TDs (3).

• On the season, the Huskers are fourth in the B1G and 12th in the FBS in scoring offense (43.5 ppg), while ranking sixth in the conference and 16th in the country in scoring defense (13.5 ppg).

• Offensively, Nebraska is fourth in the league and 16th in the nation in total offense (496.5 ypg), topping the B1G and ranking second in FBS in passing offense (351.8 ypg), and 11th in the conference and 86th in the country in rushing offense (144.8 ypg).

• The Husker defense is fifth in the conference and 14th in the country in total defense, while leading both the B1G and the FBS in passing defense (75.8 ypg) and team passing efficiency defense (76.91), along with ranking 17th in the league and 108th in the nation in rushing defense (173.5 ypg).

• Raiola is second in the B1G and 15th in the FBS in passing yards (284.3 ypg), along with third in the conference and ninth in the country in passing TDs (11). He is 102-of-135 overall for 1,137 yards with 11 TDs and one INT.

• Junior running back Emmett Johnson has 71 carries for 391 yards, ranking fifth in the league and 17th in the nation in rushing yards (97.8 ypg) in addition to seventh in the B1G and 59th in the FBS in rushing yards/carry (5.5), while ranking tied for eighth in the conference and tied for 46th in the country in rushing TDs (4).

• Senior linebacker Javin Wright, redshirt freshman defensive back Rex Guthrie and senior defensive back DeShon Singleton share the lead for defense, all with 17 tackles apiece.

• Sophomore placekicker Kyle Cunanan is 22-of-22 on PATs and 6-of-7 on field goals, with a long of 52 yards. He is ninth in the B1G and 34th in the FBS in field goals per game (1.5), while ranking ninth in the league and 40th in the nation in field goal percentage (.857). Cunanan is also sixth in the conference and 22nd in the country in scoring (10.0 ppg).

• Huskers head coach Matt Rhule is in his third year at Nebraska, posting a 15-14 record. Rhule is in his 10th year as a collegiate head coach, logging a 62-57 ledger.

Aidan Chiles action at USC

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 25 USC 45, MSU 31

►GAME RECAP
• Michigan State suffered its first loss of the season at No. 25 USC, 45-31, on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The game kicked off at 11:10 p.m. ET/8:10 p.m. PT.

• Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles completed 12-of-21 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns for the Spartans, while also gaining 31 yards on the ground with a 4-yard touchdown run.

• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly had six catches for 133 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown from Chiles late in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Makhi Frazier carried the ball 14 times for 61 yards.

►SCORING SUMMARY
USC received the opening kickoff and began the game's scoring with a 25-yard field goal by Ryon Sayeri, but Michigan State answered right back on its first series as Chiles found Chrishon McCray for a 42-yard touchdown pass at the 5:27 mark to make it 7-3 in favor of MSU.

The Trojans went on a quick six-play, 72-yard touchdown drive on their second series, capped by a Jayden Maiava 15-yard run to go back on top, 10-7, with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter.

Although Ryan Eckley pinned USC to its own 7-yard line with a 55-yard punt, the Trojans made quick work of their bad field position with a 93-yard touchdown drive, sparked by a 40-yard TD pass from Maiava to Makai Lemon as USC went up 17-7 at the 11:36 mark in the second quarter.

The Spartans made a fourth-down stop at midfield with 8:05 left in the second, and took advantage with an eight-play, 44-yard drive that Martin Connington finished with a 29-yard field goal, cutting MSU's deficit to 17-10.

USC upped its lead to 24-10 on Maiava's second TD pass of the game, this time on a 7-yard connection with Tanook Hines right before the half with 37 seconds left. Connington attempted his second field goal as time expired in the first half, but missed from 56 yards out.

The Trojans went up 31-10 after scoring on their first drive in the third quarter, but MSU trimmed the margin to one score after collecting back-to-back touchdowns on its next two series. The Green and White marched 87 yards on 11 plays, led by Frazier's six carries for 41 yards on the first scoring drive of the half. Chiles closed out the drive with a 4-yard rushing TD. On the ensuing series, Armorion Smith knocked the ball loose and Grady Kelly pounced on the Trojan fumble, giving MSU good field position at the USC 32. The Spartans scored eight plays later on a 1-yard Jack Velling TD on third-and-goal to make it 31-24 with 40 seconds on the clock in the third quarter.

USC answered with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took 7:20 off the clock to go back up two scores, 38-24, midway through the fourth quarter. The Trojans scored their final touchdown on a 1-yard Maiava rush with 2:57 left to play that made it 45-24.

Chiles hit Kelly in stride down the field for a 75-yard touchdown at the 2:39 mark to put the final at 45-31.

►OFFENSIVE NOTES
• MSU scored on its opening possession for the fourth time in as many games this season, as the Spartans have scored a TD on its opening possession all four times.

• The Spartans' 11-play, 87-yard scoring drive in the third quarter matched their longest scoring drive by yardage and was their second-longest by plays, tying and trailing an 87-yard drive in 12 plays vs. Youngstown State . . . the 11-play scoring drive was MSU's sixth TD drive of 10+ plays and eighth overall with two FG drives . . . the 87-yard scoring drive was the fourth of 80+ yards.

• Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles was 12-for-21 passing for 212 yards with three TDs and zero INTs . . . it was Chiles' third straight game with 200-plus yards passing and seventh career game over 200 yards passing.

• Chiles rushed for a TD on a 4-yard scamper in the third quarter for his second rushing TD this season and fifth rushing score of his Spartan career as part of his eighth collegiate career TD with three TDs in his freshman season at Oregon State in 2023 . . . Chiles rushed for 31 yards on nine carries.

• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly had his first 100-yard outing of his Spartan career with six catches for 133 yards and one TD on a 75-yard catch-and-run to the end zone in the fourth quarter . . . it was Kelly's fifth 100-yard outing of his collegiate career after four last season at Middle Tennessee State.

• The TD catch was also Kelly's first as a Spartan and his second scoring catch, joining the game-winning walk-off two-point conversion in the 42-40 2OT Victory for MSU over Boston College (9/6/25) . . . it was Kelly's fifth career receiving TD and seventh overall TD after four receiving and one punt return for a score while at MTSU.

• The 75-yard TD catch was the longest of his collegiate career, topping a 71-yarder while at Middle Tennessee State vs. Western Kentucky (9/14/24).

• Kelly's 75-yard TD reception was the second-longest yardage play of his career behind an 83-yard punt return last week vs. Youngstown State, setting up a 4-yard TD on the first offensive snap.

• Chiles' first-quarter TD pass to Chrishon McCray was the Spartan QB's 10th straight game with at least one TD pass . . . it marked the 13th time in 16 games as a Spartan that Chiles has thrown a scoring pass.

• Chiles connected with his fellow Oregon State transfer, senior Jack Velling, for a 1-yard scoring pass in the third quarter . . . it was Velling's second TD catch as a Spartan after one last year and the 13th of his career after 11 during his two seasons at Oregon State (2022-23).

• Sophomore running back Makhi Frazier rushed for 67 yards on 14 carries . . . Frazier had six carries for 41 yards during the Spartans' third-quarter scoring drive that Chiles capped with a 4-yard run, putting the finishing touch on an 11-play, 87-yard scoring drive.

• Redshirt junior wide receiver Chrishon McCray caught the first TD reception of his Spartan career with the first-quarter TD catch . . . it was the 14th receiving TD of McCray's collegiate career after 13 TD catches at Kent State.

• McCray is the fourth different Spartan receiver with a TD catch this season and the ninth different Spartan overall with a TD.

►DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Senior defensive back Malik Spencer recorded a career-high two pass break-ups for his first two PBUs of the season; he now has 10 career pass break-ups . . . Spencer shared top team honors with a season-high seven tackles, posting his second game this season with five or more stops.

• Fellow senior defensive back Nikai Martinez matched Spencer with seven tackles, a new season-high for him in only two games, after seeing limited action vs. Youngstown State in his return to action from an injury.

• Redshirt senior defensive back Armorion Smith posted his first career forced fumble on the fumble recovery in the third quarter . . . it was Smith's second created turnover this season, adding an interception in the Youngstown State game.

►SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley's 55-yard and 57-yard punts in the second quarter plus another 57-yarder in the third quarter give him nine punts of 50-plus yards this season out of his 13 total punts, marking his third game this season in the four contests with at least one punt of 50 or more yards . . . his first punt was not only inside the 20, but was inside the 10, as Eckley now has six of those going inside the 10, while his second punt was fair caught at the 11, giving Eckley nine punts inside the 20.

• The three punts of 50-plus yards in a game was his third time in four games with multiple 50-plus yard punts.

• Redshirt freshman Martin Connington matched his jersey number with a 29-yard field goal in the second quarter to improve to 5-of-5 on field goals this season through three games played, before missing from 56-yards out to end the first half, and is now 5-of-6 . . . Connington was also 4-of-4 on PATs, and is now 10-of-10 this season.

Game 5: Michigan State (3-1, 0-1 B1G) at Nebraska (3-1, 0-1 B1G)

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Players Mentioned

Aidan Chiles

Martin Connington

Ryan Eckley

Makhi Frazier

Jordan Hall

Grady Kelly

Omari Kelly

Nick Marsh

Nikai Martinez

Chrishon McCray

Armorion Smith

Malik Spencer

Jack Velling