Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley took a short break from a busy recruiting schedule on Monday afternoon to discuss the upcoming Foster Farms Bowl matchup with UCLA.

In a phone conference call that included more than 20 reporters from both Nebraska and Los Angeles, Riley gave some initial thoughts on the bowl game and the 8-4 Bruins.

Riley called the opportunity to play in the Foster Farms Bowl a “great experience, great stadium, great area of the country and a great opponent” and added that “I have a lot of respect for UCLA and Jim Mora.”

Nebraska is coming off a loss to Big Ten West division winner Iowa in the regular-season finale. Riley said the bowl game gives the Huskers a “great opportunity to go out on a good note” and also to begin to build for the 2016 season.

Other noteworthy items from Riley included:

• He expects Nebraska to practice 12 times in preparation for the Foster Farms Bowl, beginning with practices this Friday and Saturday in Lincoln.
• Riley mentioned that Oregon State did not play UCLA in Riley’s final two seasons in Corvallis, but called UCLA hiring Jim Mora in 2012 “a really good match”
• Riley confirmed that redshirt freshman offensive guard Tanner Farmer will be working out with the Husker wrestling team in addition to continuing to practice with the football team.
• In regard to Michigan State being selected for the College Football Playoff, Riley said he was “proud of our league and wish the best for (the Spartans) from here on out.