Michigan State Football: Report card from overtime win over Nebraska

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Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III, left, cuts past Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 158a /

Running Backs: C+

I have a hard time believing that the run game would have struggled if not for better blocking and the line improving its ability to pick up the blitz.

Nebraska stacked the box for most of the game and shot out of a cannon at Kenneth Walker III and it was a fantastic gameplan because he’s the top offensive threat Michigan State has.

I can’t blame Walker III for the poor rushing night where he accounted for just 61 yards on 19 carries because Nebraska’s front was a problem for Michigan State’s offensive line for four quarters. He finally broke off a big run in overtime which led to the game-winning field goal — it was the perfect way to end the forgettable performance.

Walker III is now over 500 rushing yards on the season and he’ll probably take a hit in the Heisman race because of this game, but I’d be shocked if he didn’t bounce back for a big game against Western Kentucky next week.

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