What is the Penn State-Nebraska point spread? The opening spread and total are in

Penn State closes out the home portion of its 2025 schedule and plays the penultimate game of the regular season on Saturday when Nebraska comes to Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is in primetime at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The Cornhuskers come to Beaver Stadium fresh off a bye week. They are 7-3 and No. 31 in ESPN’s new Football Power Index rankings after one game with backup quarterback TJ Lateef, who replaces hurt starter Dylan Raiola. Running back Emmett Johnson powers the offense.

“I personally believe Emmett Johnson should be in New York as a Heisman candidate,” Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule said this week. “Think he should be a Doak Walker finalist, if not winner. I think what he’s doing is fantastic. I hope people appreciate seeing him. He’s a first-team All-American.

“Emmett’s having a breakout season. Emmett will have a lot of decisions to make. Does he want to go play in the NFL? If Emmett decided to come back, obviously, he’d be a preseason All-American, Heisman Trophy – he’d be on all the watch lists. But, I’m not so sure he shouldn’t go play in the NFL, you know? I think he’s going to be a great pro player.”

Penn State, meanwhile, earned its fourth win of the year by beating Michigan State 28-10.

“We’re going to reset [Sunday],” interim head coach Terry Smith said. “We’re going to learn from our mistakes, and we’re going to continue to improve and get better. We have Nebraska coming in. These games are pivotal. We’re playing for our life to make a bowl game, and we took a huge step today.”

What is the Penn State-Nebraska point spread?

BetMGM calls Penn State an 10-point favorite. The initial total is 44.5 points.

The Lions will honor 20-plus members of the roster before the game on Senior Day. A full list of participants will come out this week. Penn State must win both of its final two contests to make a bowl game. Smith has suggested previously that his team would want to play in the postseason if it finishes 6-6.

“We haven’t [discussed it] as a team, but my mindset is, we’re trying to win this week, and as we continue to win, why wouldn’t we want to play football? This is what we signed up to do,” Smith said. “We want to take advantage of every opportunity that’s in front of us.

“We clearly would talk with the players as well. And my feeling, based on how they’re performing right now, if we win enough games to get to bowl eligibility, I think they would play because they haven’t laid down yet.”