Nebraska breaks away from the Spartans late to win 38-27

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Emmett Johnson ran for three touchdowns and Nyziah Hunter caught a screen pass and ran most of the 59 yards to the end zone without a shoe as Nebraska broke away from Michigan State for a 38-27 victory Saturday.

Johnson scored from 2, 23 and 11 yards and Carter Nelson ran in a blocked punt for a touchdown to lead the Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) on a day offense was at a premium.

“We were able to win the game in the fourth and scored 38 points,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said. “Not the cleanest game we’ve ever had, so we’ll try to get better. I think they're all going to be like that in the Big Ten.”

Kyle Cunanan’s 27-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter broke a 21-all tie. After a three-and-out by the Spartans (3-2, 0-2), the Huskers scored on the next play when Hunter lost his shoe in traffic and streaked down the sideline with only a red sock on his left foot and a white shoe on his right.

“That was a backbreaker,” MSU coach Jonathan Smith said.

The previous five meetings had been decided by a total of 15 points, and this game looked as if it would be close until Nebraska broke it open in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska finished with just 261 total yards and Michigan State had 240 on an 86-degree afternoon with gusty winds out of the south at 20 mph.

Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles had two touchdown runs, but he completed just 9 of 23 passes for 85 yards and was sacked four times.

“At one point they were 2 of 10 on third downs, but he was making plays on the scramble,” Rhule said. “Probably would have sacked him more if he wasn't so elusive. We didn't tackle the quarterback well enough."

Chiles snaked his way into the end zone from 16 yards out on a fourth-and-4 to tie it 14-all in the third quarter. After Jordan Hall picked off Raiola's pass on the first play of the next series to set the Spartans up at the Nebraska 38, Chiles ran 4 yards to finish a seven-play drive that put MSU up 21-14.

Johnson's 23-yard TD tied it and jump-started a Nebraska offense that had been held to just 77 total yards over its first seven possessions.

The first half was a slog with the teams combining for just 138 total yards, five sacks and eight penalties.

“They played better than us, especially in the fourth quarter,” Smith said. “They earned the win. We've got to find a way to play better for four quarters.”