LINCOLN, Neb. — Three down, one to go.
Ninth-ranked Michigan State has made it through a brutal October schedule unscathed so far, and a win over No. 13 Nebraska today would remove another major obstacle on its path to the first Big Ten championship game.
The Spartans (6-1, 3-0) have defeated Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin this month. If they knock off the Cornhuskers (6-1, 2-1), it would mark the first time Michigan State has taken down a ranked opponent in three straight games.
The question is how the Spartans will play after last week’s 37-31 thriller over the Badgers, which ended with college football’s play of the year — Keith Nichol’s crazy catch off the helmet and his push into the end zone.
Michigan State comes to Lincoln with wins in 17 of its last 20 games, its best run since 1965-66. Coach Mark Dantonio said there’s no problem preparing for yet another big game.
“I think if you’re going to have a special year, you’re going to have to do that over and over,” he said. “I also think players see opportunities, and they try to rise to those occasions and get themselves ready to play.”
The Spartans have a one-game lead over Nebraska, Michigan and Iowa in the Legends Division. A win would put them up by two games over the Huskers and give them the tiebreaker.
“Big game, big environment,” Dantonio said. “It’s why you come to Michigan State and play in this conference. It’s a national-type game that has national ramifications as well as conference ramifications.”
Michigan State’s November schedule is much gentler, with three games against teams currently winless in Big Ten play (Minnesota, Indiana and Northwestern). The Spartans still must go to Iowa, where they haven’t won since 1989, in two weeks.
Nebraska receiver Kenny Bell said if the Huskers don’t win today, they won’t win the division. Next week’s home game against Northwestern is followed by back-to-back trips to Penn State and Michigan and a Thanksgiving week home game against new border rival Iowa.
Quarterback Taylor Martinez isn’t putting too much weight on one game, though.
“It doesn’t matter if we lose this game,” Martinez said. “Michigan State might lose to someone else. This doesn’t have to be a key game for us.”
