Two plays.
That’s all the time Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead missed after having to be helped off the field because of cramps in both of his legs.
He didn’t waste any time getting back into the action. On his first play back, Burkhead scored on a 27-yard reception from Taylor Martinez.
“Unless he’s on crutches, he’s going to be out there,” NU coach Bo Pelini said. “He’s gonna be out there fighting.”
Burkhead’s score put Nebraska up 24-3 and the Huskers went on to defeat Michigan State by that score Saturday in Lincoln.
NU now is in a three-way tie atop the Legends Division with Michigan and Michigan State at 3-1. The Huskers now hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Spartans and a Nov. 19 matchup against the Wolverines is still to come.
“We weren’t perfect by any means,” Pelini said, “but that was a tremendous effort by our football team and I’m proud of them. We’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got a lot out ahead of us.”
Coming into the game, Michigan State’s defense was regarded as one of the best in the nation. The Huskers were expecting the game to be dominated by physical play on both sides of the ball.
“We figured it was going to be a 15-round bout,” NU offensive coordinator Tim Beck said. “It wasn’t going to be a one-swing hit and knock them out.”
Nebraska held a 10-3 lead at halftime despite having zero yards in the passing game. Burkhead carried the ball 17 times in the first 30 minutes and had the lone score – a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Huskers came out of the locker room and completely dominated the third quarter. NU held the ball for 11:23 and turned its seven-point lead into a 21-point lead. The first drive of the half traveled 80 yards on 14 plays and took 5:33 off the clock. Nebraska was 3-for-3 on third down and the drive finished with another Burkhead 1-yard score.
“It was big to come out and show them that we’re about business,” receiver Brandon Kinnie said.
Michigan State wasn’t ever able to get into a rhythm offensively. The Husker defense held the Spartans to a season-low 187 yards.
“There were plays where there was nothing there, no matter how long the protection lasted,” MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “There were plays where protection broke down where I had something. There were plays where it was a combination. It was a total mix.”
Michigan State’s only drive of the third quarter ended in an Eric Martin sack of Cousins. NU then drove 89 yards on 12 plays, ending with Burkhead’s third score, to give the Spartans one final blow.
“At the time I was hoping I didn’t cramp up again because it was only a few plays after,” Burkhead said. “Once I was in the open field all I was thinking about was, please don’t cramp up right now. Right when I caught it and turned I started feeling the tightness a little.”
The Huskers rushed for 190 total yards on a MSU defense that had been giving up a Big Ten-leading 90 yards per game. NU averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, but ran the ball 58 times.
“You could tell they were getting a little winded,” Burkhead said of MSU’s defense. “Guys were getting to them up front. Things were opening up quicker and easier.”
Burkhead finished with a career-high 35 carries, which is the third most in school history, for 130 yards. It was his fifth 100-yard game in NU’s last six contests.
When Burkhead’s teammates were asked about his performance after the game, most of them just stood there and smiled.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Kinnie said. “I’m glad he’s on my team.”