LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska fans’ sense of anticipation for Saturday’s spring game is heightened because it will be their first look at the Cornhuskers under new coach Mike Riley.

Riley says he’s excited, too, because he’s never been at a school where a spring game is so celebrated.

As of late in the week, 65,000 tickets had been sold. The crowd at Memorial Stadium probably will swell to over 70,000 on what’s supposed to be a sunny afternoon with temperatures in the 70s.

That’s a stark contrast to Riley’s final spring game at Oregon State, where 5,000 to 7,000 fans typically show up.

Riley said the passionate fan base is one of the things that drew him to Nebraska.