San Antonio, TX -- Cory Ross ran for a career-high 138 yards and scored twice on 37 carries to lead 22nd-ranked Nebraska to a smothering 17-3 win over Michigan State in the 10th-annual Alamo Bowl.

Jammal Lord ended 8-of-17 for 160 passing yards for Nebraska (10-3), which played its first game since the school fired head coach Frank Solich after the regular season. Bo Pelini, who was the team's defensive coordinator, took over for the Cornhuskers and coached his first-career game at any level.

"I think we showed the world what Nebraska football is all about," said Pelini. "I couldn't be prouder of a group of men."

Pelini has petitioned to be named the school's new head coach, but athletic director Steve Pederson has not made a decision yet. It has been rumored though, that Pederson plans on hiring a "high-profile" coach to fill the vacancy at one of the most storied schools in college football history.

Lord, who was named the game's offensive MVP, also ran for 79 yards on 10 carries while Isaiah Fluellen caught four passes for 84 yards for the Cornhuskers, who won three of their final four games.

Jeff Smoker completed 21-of-39 passes for 159 yards with three interceptions for the Spartans (8-5), who lost four of their final five games of the season.

Michigan State was never able to get in a rhythm offensively against the highly tauted "Blackshirts" defense. Nebraska limited the Spartans to only 174 yards of total offense and sacked Smoker five times. The Cornhuskers also forced eight punts, with five of those coming on three-and-outs.

Nebraska forced a three-and-out on the game's first series and proceeded to march 46 yards before the drive stalled. The Cornhuskers then settled for David Dyches' 29-yard field goal to make it 3-0 with 8:19 left in the first.

The Spartans answered with a 10-play drive that resulted in three points. Dave Rayner's 47-yard kick tied the game with 3:53 remaining in the opening period.

Michigan State would not score again and the Cornhuskers dominated the rest of the game.

Early in the second quarter, Smoker was intercepted by Daniel Bullocks and Nebraska took over at its own 36-yard line. Just three plays later, Ross scored on a two-yard run to give the 'Huskers a 10-3 edge 1:43 into the second period. The big play on the series was a 58-yard pass play to Fluellen.

The Cornhuskers seized a 17-3 lead on Ross' six-yard run with 3:20 left in the opening half. The three play, 80-yard drive was keyed by Lord's 66-yard burst down the right sideline on the first play of the possession.

Nebraska had an opportunity to put the game out of reach as it mounted a 17- play, 77-yard drive that took up almost eight minutes and bridged the third and fourth quarters. However, Dyches missed a 26-yard field goal try and the score remained 17-3.

Michigan State was finally able to mount a drive midway through the fourth period as it started on its own 11-yard line. However, after moving downfield, Smoker was picked off by Pat Ricketts at the Nebraska 20-yard line and it ended any chances of a Spartan comeback.

The Cornhuskers then ran nearly three minutes of the clock before punting it away. Smoker had one final chance, but saw his final collegiate pass intercepted and Nebraska then kneeled on the ball to cap off the scoreless second half.

Game Notes:

Nebraska, which had lost its last two bowl games, improved its all-time bowl record to 21-21...The Cornhuskers played in their 35th consecutive bowl game, which is the longest streak in NCAA history...Nebraska is 2-0 in the Alamo Bowl. It defeated Northwestern 66-17 in 2000...Michigan State, which lost for the first time in its last three bowl appearances, fell to 7-10 all time in postseason play...The Cornhuskers are 5-0 all-time against Michigan State...Lord's 66-yard run was the longest of his career...Nebraska had at least one interception in all 13 of its games this year and had at least two in each of its final 10 contests...Nebraska's Trevor Johnson was named the game's defensive player of the game after registering two sacks.