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(Photo: Getty) Jahsear Whittington heard he was too small to play in the Big Ten. Saturday, he was playing in it. Having fun, too. "It's my first game in this conference," the Nebraska defensive lineman said after a 31-13 win at Michigan State. "All I'm thinking about is how everybody said I was too small to be here, and I'm out there. I'm having a ball with my teammates, we're winning football games. We're violent. We're just causing havoc. I don't think it gets any better than that." Whittington caused more problems for Michigan State's offensive line than his stat line showed. Pro Football Focus grades are worth taking with a grain of salt, but it gave Whittington an 82.7, the highest mark among Husker defenders. His finish on a third-and-12 sack with Nebraska leading 24-13 was one of the plays that helped the Huskers take control down the stretch. Whittington was full of gratitude afterward, along with a sense that the defensive line could do even more after a six-sack game. "We were still letting the quarterback get out a little bit," Whittington said. "So that was something we emphasized: staying top shoulder, getting a hand up, and just finishing on the quarterback." Seated next to him was Williams Nwaneri, who had a career-high two sacks. He's been a problem for Sparty. His previous career high in sacks was 1 1/2 last year against Michigan State. Nwaneri was also credited with a blocked field goal in the third quarter Saturday. Nwaneri said the Huskers wanted to make a statement in their first conference game. "Show everybody who we are. Going on the road and just winning the Big Ten itself in itself is not easy," Nwaneri said. "I'd say it's a big momentum booster for us." The pressure was a big part of it. So were the takeaways: Nebraska finished plus-three in turnover margin, giving its offense chances to build on the defense's work. That work by the Blackshirts was especially critical in the third quarter when the Huskers hit a wall on offense for three series. "When we have guys out there on the defense making plays and just having fun, doing the thing that they love, I feel like it gives us extra motivation," running back Mekhi Nelson said. "All right, let's capitalize on that. Let's go score." There are more pass-rush opportunities for defenders like Whittington and Nwaneri to capitalize on, too. Matt Rhule still saw chances for two or three more sacks. He cited a third-and-18 when rushers ran past Michigan State's quarterback, allowing him out of the pocket. Rhule liked how the line affected the quarterback but wanted Nebraska to contain him better. Still, Nebraska has recorded at least five sacks in back-to-back games for the first time since 2013. The Huskers have also had at least two sacks in all four games this season, their first such four-game stretch within a season since 2019. Whittington's first Big Ten outing gave him more to remember than an answer for those who questioned his size. He wants to keep making the most of these Saturdays. "I'm just blessed to be able to do it this week, be able to do it again next week, and keep doing it with the same guys."