The Nebraska football team's offense has looked different from what it did last year after its first three games, and not just because different players are leading the charge. I'm not the only one who thinks it's not just about Anthony Colandrea and Jamal Rule changing up and improving the Huskers' offense. Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald believes things are very different this year compared to its 2025, Dylan Raiola-led attack.
"They're completely different, in my opinion, after watching the tape last year to watching the first three games," Fitzgerald said during his Monday press conference.
"They're all in sync. Everybody's in sync offensively. They're operating at a very high level. The O-line's playing very good. The young back reminds me of Lawrence Phillips. Big, explosive, athletic. He's had incredible runs. They've got multiple guys. (Jacory) Barney and (Kwazi) Gilmer on the outside, to me, are as challenging of guys that we've seen. So I think they're a complete offense, for sure."
Yes, Fitzgerald credited Rule as one of the main reasons he's impressed with Nebraska's offense this year compared to last year. But it's not like the Huskers didn't have a great running back in Emmett Johnson last year. Rule has been a nice addition and a way for the Huskers to fill a giant void, but it's clear that the offense is simply better overall than it was a year ago.
Pat Fitzgerald says Nebraska football is operating at a completely different level
Fitzgerald, who had plenty of time to sit around and watch film last year while unemployed, also thinks that Nebraska is looking better because offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen is running the offense the way he wants, whereas he wasn't able to cut loose with the less mobile QB, Raiola last year.
Then, when Holgorsen did get a more mobile quarterback under center, it was true freshman TJ Lateef learning on the fly.
"They've got weapons everywhere. They can score every time you kick or punt it to them, and every time they're on offense with anyone they give the ball to. So this is as good of a Nebraska team as I've seen in a long time. I think they're very confident. I think they're very well-coached. And they deserve to be confident because they're playing at a very high level."
While Fitzgerald is in his first season at Michigan State, he was the head coach at Northwestern for almost two decades and battled Nebraska plenty of times. In fact, his 2022 Wildcats squad played a big part in chasing former head coach Scott Frost out of town when they pulled off a comeback and upset in the season opener.
Fitzgerald is far from the only one who thinks Michigan State has plenty to fear from Nebraska, given that oddsmakers consider the Huskers almost a touchdown favorite as of Monday morning.
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