Michigan St. vs. Nebraska: Cornhuskers Finally Put Together a Complete Game

Nebraska Cornhusker fans have been waiting all season for what they saw on Saturday.

When would the Blackshirt defense finally show up? When would the Cornhusker offense find its identity? The answer to both of these questions is: October 29 against the Michigan State Spartans.

Nebraska executed a perfect game plan on Saturday, but it would have been inexcusable if the Cornhuskers did not show up for this game prepared. Nebraska was coming off a bye week and an easy game against Minnesota. From the way Nebraska played on Saturday, it is obvious the Cornhuskers spent the last three weeks preparing for Michigan State.

The Spartans were riding a month-long high going into the game. They beat Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin in their previous three games. Their luck had to run out sooner rather than later, and it did against Nebraska.

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini and his defensive coordinator (and also brother, Carl) had the team well prepared for this game. Many times when Michigan State changed an offensive formation, the Blackshirt linebackers would call an audible as if they knew which play was coming. The Nebraska defense played its best game of the season and it finally looks like the young players are starting to understand the Pelini brothers' defensive system.

Nebraska had trouble passing in the first half as quarterback Taylor Martinez completed one of six passes for no yards. It was embarrassing to watch, but like so many other games this year Nebraska was able to make adjustments at halftime.

The offense that had trouble passing in the first half started to pick apart the Michigan State defense in the second half.

Nebraska was able to complete passes in the second half because it had success running the football. Nebraska ran running back Rex Burkhead like he was a thoroughbred horse. Burkhead continued to gain chunks of yards as the Cornhuskers took time off the clock and wore out the Spartan defense. Burkhead finished the game with 35 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cornhuskers' ability to run the ball will help them win the Big Ten's Legends Division. The offensive line is starting to wear out defenses like the Cornhusker offensive lines did in the past. A punishing offense and a tough defense is the identity the Cornhuskers must maintain the rest of the season.

It took Nebraska eight games to put it all together and play like the Cornhusker team that fans expected. If they can continue to play at this level or even improve, the Cornhuskers will have a good chance at winning the rest of their games and achieving their goal of making it to the inaugural Big Ten Championship game.

Next week Nebraska will host Northwestern at Memorial Stadium. Northwestern is coming off its first win in Big Ten conference play as the Wildcats defeated Indiana 59-38.

Should be a great matchup.

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