Nebraska beat Michigan State 31-13, improving to 4-0 entering week five for its best start since 2016. The win sets up what could be a consequential run through one of college football’s most competitive conferences. The performance was imperfect, but expectations have risen considerably under fourth-year head coach Matt Rhule, who’s worked to rebuild the program after its 7-6 finish last season.
USA TODAY Sports released its week five bowl projections Tuesday, keeping Nebraska paired with North Carolina State in the Pinstripe Bowl in the Bronx, where the teams have remained matched since the preseason. Nebraska’s trajectory, though, has shifted dramatically. Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, and Iowa loom ahead, while Illinois and Washington also pose serious challenges. How the Cornhuskers handle that gauntlet will determine whether they can keep their momentum or whether their early success proves misleading.
The Road Ahead
Nebraska’s position reflects how precarious early-season success can be in college football. Four wins, despite what the article describes as an imperfect performance, raise questions about whether the program can maintain this pace against elite competition. The schedule offers little margin for error. Ohio State and Oregon, in particular, bring the kind of matchups that typically separate contenders from pretenders.
North Carolina State, meanwhile, has steadied itself after a rocky start. The Wolfpack got back to .500 by beating Appalachian State 41-31, but the win exposed defensive vulnerabilities that could complicate its ACC campaign. NC State took a commanding 28-7 halftime lead, then gave up 24 points in just 22 minutes of the second half. The Mountaineers scored on their opening drive of the third quarter, then used an interception and an onside-kick recovery to tie the game at 31-31. NC State pulled away with 10 unanswered fourth-quarter points.
What Remains at Stake
NC State opens ACC play against Louisville, Wake Forest, Duke, and North Carolina. Those opponents will test whether the Wolfpack’s second-half defensive collapse against Appalachian State points to a systematic problem or a one-game aberration. The team’s 8-5 record last season suggests a program that can win games but remains inconsistent in execution.
Nebraska’s story is different. The program has climbed out of sustained mediocrity and into genuine contention. But Big Ten contention requires consistency, and the conference is deep enough that there’s nowhere to hide. Every remaining game matters.
USA TODAY Sports also highlighted first-year coaching performances across college football, examining which of the 31 head coaches competing at the highest level have thrived in their inaugural seasons. The coaching carousel has created a unique moment in the sport: established programs and newer hires are vying for early success and positioning for long-term stability.
Why This Matters:
Nebraska’s 4-0 start marks genuine progress for a program that’s struggled to maintain consistency over the past decade. The Cornhuskers’ early success now faces its toughest test against a conference with multiple national-title contenders. A team’s performance under pressure, against elite opponents rather than while building confidence, reveals its genuine competitive strength. NC State’s narrow escape against Appalachian State also shows how quickly defensive vulnerabilities can derail postseason ambitions. Both programs’ paths to New York look clearer in theory but more challenging in practice. For college football fans and institutional stakeholders alike, the coming weeks will determine whether early promise becomes sustained success or another false spring.