Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team practiced for a little more than an hour without pads in the Hawks Championship Center on Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s game against Michigan State.

Coach Mike Riley started off by talking about current injuries going into Saturday. He mentioned that Tommy Armstrong Jr. has been practicing all week and is expected to return to the field. Other players that are expected back include Nick Gates and Chris Weber, and Riley said a final determination on receivers Brandon Reilly and Alonzo Moore and running back Terrell Newby will be made on Friday. Daniel Davie, Kevin Williams and Michael Rose-Ivey could all contribute on a limited basis.

Coach Riley talked about how every game is an opportunity for the team to improve.

“I really try to go through the season kind of in a vacuum week to week. I think that it’s very important that a team learns that every game is really, really important. I think its really important the coaching staff sets thats tone.” Riley said.

Riley also spoke of how he prepares his team to defeat a highly-ranked team with sixth-ranked Michigan State coming to Lincoln. Riley’s Oregon State teams defeated five top-10 teams during his tenure in Corvallis.

“Well I think to win those games…if you learn to practice week to week, then you have a chance to focus on that week… that’s why I think that you live in vacuum.” Riley said. “If you want to win a game like this and maybe you’re not the favorite in the game then you have had to have set a precedent for how to practice and how to get ready.”

Coach Riley stated the three steps to victory in a game like Saturday’s.