Lincoln, Neb.-  The Nebraska football team continued its week of preparation on for Saturday’s nonconference showdown with UCLA on Tuesday afternoon. The team practiced in full pads for just over two hours inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields.

Defensive Coordinator John Papuchis addressed the media after practice, explaining the difficulties of facing UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.

“I think what’s good about Brett Hundley is that he is efficient,” Papuchis said. “He doesn’t make a lot of bad decisions with the ball. When things aren’t there, he pulls it down and can hurt you with his feet. He’s effective in the running game, and he has the ability to throw the ball well, so you have to make sure you’re very balanced in the way you defend him.”

Hundley passed for 305 yards and four touchdowns in UCLA’s 36-30 win against Nebraska at the Rose Bowl last season. However, Papuchis and the Nebraska coaching staff have had 12 months to go over every second of the game film.

“Over the course of spring and summer preparations and this week, I’ve probably seen that game film 20 times,” Papuchis said. “We’ve studied it inside and out. We’ve studied how they tried to attack us, where we were vulnerable, where they exposed us in some areas and the things we did well. We’re just trying to fix a lot of the things that hurt us in that game and trying to make sure those things don’t creep back in this week.”

In the Bruins’ lone game this season, Hundley racked up 274 passing yards and two touchdowns, while adding two more scores on the ground to beat Nevada, 58-20. One key to their victory over the Wolf Pack was converting on nine third downs, the same amount that they converted against Nebraska a year ago. This season, the Huskers have given up only five third-down conversions in 24 tries, something that Coach Papuchis is proud of.

“I think we’ve done pretty well on third down,” Papuchis said. “I hate the idea of having to pressure every third down and be in man coverage all the time, because we can’t get a four-man rush. Our four-man rush the other night was good. It allowed us to play more coverage and force the ball out quickly, because we got some good pressure.”

A player who has shown his ability early on to put pressure on the quarterback is Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory. The sophomore transfer from Arizona Western Community College has five quarterback hurries in his first two games as a Husker. He joins another newcomer, freshman defensive tackle Maliek Collins, on a young defensive line that has promise to be a force for years to come. Papuchis explained what he thinks Collins will have to do to take the next step and see more snaps in the future.

“Maliek Collins has played well when he’s had his opportunities,” Papuchis said. “He knows that one of the things that’s going to get him on the field more often on Saturdays is his consistency during the week. He’s explosive and talented, but there are some things as a young guy that he has to clean up. As time goes on, I could see his role increasing.”

Nebraska will hit the practice field again on Wednesday, as the team moves closer to its third game of the season. NU will face the UCLA Bruins on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

Nebraska has added a matchup with Troy University to its lineup of future non-conference football games, the schools announced on Tuesday.

The Trojans will come to Lincoln on Sept. 15, 2018, marking the fifth time Troy has visited Memorial Stadium. Nebraska and Troy previously met in Lincoln four times between 2001 and 2006, with the Huskers winning each of the four matchups.

Troy has opened the 2013 season with a 2-0 record, and has been one of the top programs in the Sun Belt Conference since making the transition to the FBS ranks in 2002. Troy won conference championships in five straight seasons from 2006 to 2010, including outright titles in 2008 and 2009.

The Trojans have also won at least eight games six times since making the transition to the FBS level. Coach Larry Blakeney’s teams also appeared in bowl games five times between 2004 and 2010, with bowl victories in 2006 and 2010.

The first meeting between Nebraska and Troy took place in 2001, when the Huskers won 42-14, before a 31-16 win in 2002 at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska has pitched shutouts in the two most recent meetings between the schools, defeating the Trojans 30-0 in 2003, and 56-0 in 2006.

The matchup between Nebraska and Troy is the second scheduled game on Nebraska’s 2018 non-conference schedule. The Huskers are also scheduled to host Colorado on Sept. 8, 2018, in the first of a four-game series with the Buffaloes.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini doesn’t mind if his Huskers have some extra incentive going into Saturday’s game against No. 16 UCLA.

Last year, the Huskers lost 36-30 in Los Angeles and gave up 653 yards — the second-most ever against aNebraska defense.

Pelini said Monday he’s sure his team is always motivated.

The No. 23 Huskers said they were caught off-guard by the 2012 Bruins, who had a new coach in Jim Mora and new quarterback in Brett Hundley.

Senior defensive back Ciante Evans said besides Ohio State’s Braxton Miller, Hundley is the best quarterback he’s faced.

Lincoln, Neb.-  The Nebraska football team started its game three preparations for its showdown against UCLA Saturdayafternoon during a 90-minute practice held inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields. The Huskers practiced in shorts and helmets Monday afternoon.

Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck addressed the media after practice, noting that Monday marked a good start to the week for the NU football team.

“We had a really good practice today. I was pleased with how the guys came out today and we got some of the base stuff we wanted to look at today done,” Beck said.

Much has been said about the Saturday showdown versus the Bruins, in a rematch of last year’s 36-30 loss in Pasadena. Beck mentioned that he wants the Huskers to do the little things right, and he believes if they do that they should be victorious.

“The biggest thing that I want to try and avoid is making it bigger than it is,” Beck said. “We just have to do what we do and fall back on our training. Just do the little things right, like hang onto the football, finish our blocks, finish our runs, see our throws and make good decisions. As long as we do those things, I think we will be OK.”

As for what has stuck with Beck since the loss, he mentioned that there were some crucial errors that could have been avoided, especially in the second half, which could have helped seal the victory against the Bruins last year.

“We just didn’t finish the game last year. We made some crucial errors that put our defense in some tough situations in the second half.”

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez has impressed Beck so far in this young season. Beck noted that he has really liked how Martinez has taken care of the ball.

“I think he has been pretty consistent, I like his decision making.” Beck said, “I don’t think he has really forced any bad throws, he has been able to tuck the ball and scramble and make some big plays at times, and I like that.”

Beck also noted that as a whole, the Nebraska football family’s thoughts and prayers were with the family of Nick Pasquale and the UCLA football program, following the tragic death of the Bruins’ redshirt freshman receiver.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the whole football program at UCLA. It is hard to put yourself in their shoes with what they are going through.” Beck said, “Obviously little sentimental for them, you hate to see that happen.”

Nebraska will continue preparations Tuesday as the team moves closer to its third game of the year. NU will face the UCLA Bruins on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcasted nationally on ABC.