Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten announced the conference schedules for the 2016 and 2017 football seasons today, featuring nine-game slates for every Big Ten program for the first time since 1984. The 2016 season gets underway on Oct. 1 in advance of the Big Ten Football Championship Game, slated for Dec. 3. The 2017 season will open on Sept. 2 and conclude with the Big Ten Football Championship Game on Dec. 2. The full Nebraska 2016 and 2017 conference schedules can be seen below.

The 2016 season marks the return of a nine-game conference schedule, as teams from the East Division will host five conference home games during even-numbered years, while teams from the West Division will host five conference home games during odd-numbered years. As a result of the nine-game conference schedule and the Big Ten’s schedule rotation, every student-athlete will have the opportunity to play against every other team in the conference at least once during a four-year period. The Big Ten is returning to a nine-game conference schedule for all teams for the first time since the 1983 and 1984 seasons.

Beginning in 2014, the Big Ten football division alignments will feature Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers in the East Division and Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin in the West Division. Each school will play the other six schools in its division plus two teams from the other division in 2014 and 2015, which will serve as transitional years in which the schools will still be playing eight-game schedules. Beginning in 2016, each school will play three teams from the other division as part of its nine-game schedule. The cross-division games will include one protected matchup on an annual basis between Indiana and Purdue.

The Big Ten will hold the 2013 Football Media Days and 42nd annual Kickoff Luncheon on Wednesday and Thursday, July 24 and 25, at the Hilton Chicago, featuring all 12 head coaches and some of the nation’s top returning players. The 118th season of Big Ten football kicks off Thursday, August 29, and culminates with the third annual Big Ten Football Championship Game onSaturday, Dec. 7, to be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and televised by FOX. The winner of the title game will earn the Big Ten Championship and a chance to play in either the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game.

Nebraska will open the 2016 conference schedule on Oct. 1 against Illinois at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska will also welcome West Division foes Purdue (Oct. 22) and Minnesota (Nov. 12) to Lincoln, while traveling to Northwestern (Oct. 8), Wisconsin (Oct. 29) and Iowa (Friday, Nov. 25). In cross-division games, Nebraska will travel to Indiana (Oct. 15) and Ohio State (Nov. 5), while playing host to Maryland (Nov. 19) at Memorial Stadium. The 2016 matchup at Indiana will mark the first time the schools will square off as Big Ten opponents, while the visit from Maryland will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Nebraska’s 2017 schedule will feature cross-division matchups in Lincoln with Rutgers (Sept. 23) and Ohio State (Oct. 14), while Nebraska will travel to Penn State on Nov. 18. In West Division matchups, Nebraska will host Wisconsin (Oct. 7), Northwestern (Nov. 4) and Iowa (Nov. 24), while traveling to Illinois (Sept. 30), Purdue (Oct. 28) and Minnesota (Nov. 11).

With Thursday’s announcement of the 2016 and 2017 schedules, Nebraska’s Big Ten schedules for 2013 to 2017 are finalized. The Big Ten announced the 2014 schedule in May and the 2015 slate in early June.

2016 Nebraska Big Ten Schedule

Oct. 1                    Illinois

Oct. 8                    at Northwestern

Oct. 15                  at Indiana

Oct. 22                  Purdue

Oct. 29                  at Wisconsin

Nov. 5                   at Ohio State

Nov. 12                 Minnesota

Nov. 19                 Maryland

Nov. 25                 at Iowa

2017 Nebraska Big Ten Schedule

Sept. 23                Rutgers

Sept. 30                at Illinois

Oct. 7                    Wisconsin

Oct. 14                  Ohio State

Oct. 21                  BYE

Oct. 28                  at Purdue

Nov. 4                   Northwestern

Nov. 11                 at Minnesota

Nov. 18                 at Penn State

Nov. 24                 Iowa

Lincoln – Nebraska offensive linemen Jake Long and Jeremiah Sirles were honored Thursday, as they were named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. Both players were on the 75-player watch list that goes to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman by the Football Writers of America.

Long has been the anchor of the Huskers’ offensive line for the past two seasons. The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder has started the past 27 games for the Huskers at offensive guard. He has played a major role in the Huskers being ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing in each of the past two years. As a junior, he started all 14 games, helping NU to a 10-4 mark and an appearance in the Big Ten Championship game. He was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection and garnered second-team All-America honors from the AP and Walter Camp Foundation, becoming the first Husker All-American lineman since 2001.

Sirles has been a two-year starter at offensive tackle for the Huskers and enters his senior season with 40 career games played. As a junior, the 6-foot-6, 310-pound tackle enjoyed his best season, starting all 14 games at right tackles and earning second-team honors from both the Big Ten coaches and media. He helped a pair of Huskers rush for over 1,000 yards, while Nebraska led the Big Ten in total offensive and rushing offense.

Long and Sirles were two of the 10 players from the Big Ten on the list. The winner of the 2013 Outland Trophy will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 12, and will be honored in Omaha on Jan. 9, 2014. The Husker football program has produced a nation-leading nine Outland Trophy winners, including Ndamukong Suh in 2009.

A total of 68 Nebraska student-athletes across all sports earned recognition as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars when the conference announced its high honor roll on Wednesday, July 10.

Nebraska’s 68 student-athletes were among 637 student-athletes across 38 sports from all 12 of the Big Ten institutions to earn 3.7 or higher grade-point averages during the 2012-13 academic year. Among the distinguished scholars, 101 completed the year with perfect 4.0 GPAs, including 11 Huskers.

In February of 2008, Big Ten Faculty Representatives established a conference academic recognition to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Similar to the Academic All-Big Ten honor, Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must be letterwinners in at least their second academic year at their institution. However, the Distinguished Scholar Award encompasses only student-athletes with a minimum GPA of 3.7 or higher for the previous academic year, excluding summer school. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for a student-athlete’s academic career.

A complete list of the 2012-13 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award winners is attached as a PDF.

Nebraska’s 2012-13 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars

Name (Sport) Year (Major) Hometown

Ty Kildow (Baseball) Sr. (Biological Sciences/Pre-Medicine) Omaha, Neb.

Kyle Kubat (Baseball) So. (Nutrition Science) Waterloo, Neb.

Josh Scheffert (Baseball) Sr. (History) Lincoln, Neb.

Kristi Mickelson (Bowling) Sr. (Criminology & Criminal Justice/Psychology) Bellevue, Neb.

Brandon Chapek (Football) Sr. (Biological Sciences/Pre-Dentistry) Wahoo, Neb.

Tyler Evans (Football) Jr. (Biological Sciences/Psychology/Pre-Medicine) Waverly, Neb.

Jake Long (Football) Sr. (Biological Sciences/Pre-Medicine) Elkhorn, Neb.

Spencer Long (Football) Sr. (Biological Sciences/Pre-Medicine) Elkhorn, Neb.

Brent Qvale (Football) Sr. (Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science) Williston, N.D.

Ryan Grassel (Men’s Golf) Jr. (Economics/Global Studies/Political Science) Chesterton, Ind.

Jordan Reinertson (Men’s Golf) Sr. (Business, Marketing & IT Education/Finance) Gibbon, Neb.

Josh Reinertson (Men’s Golf) Jr. (Business Administration) Gibbon, Neb.

Steffi Neisen (Women’s Golf) Jr. (Social Science Education) New Prague, Minn.

Cassidy Stelzmiller (Women’s Golf) So. (Accounting) Placerville, Calif.

Ryan Irick (Men’s Gymnastics) So. (Nutrition Science) Wichita, Kan.

Mark Ringle (Men’s Gymnastics) Sr. (Nutrition Science) San Ramon, Calif.

CJ Schaaf (Men’s Gymnastics) Jr. (Art) Houston, Texas

Eric Schryver (Men’s Gymnastic)s Sr. (Nutrition Science) Richardson, Texas

Josh Ungar (Men’s Gymnastics) So. (Nutrition Science) Longmeadow, Mass.

Kailyn Hawkins (Women’s Gymnastics) Jr. (Advertising & Public Relations) Charlotte, N.C.

Amanda Lauer (Women’s Gymnastics) Jr. (Nutrition Science) Sioux City, Iowa

Jennifer Lauer (Women’s Gymnastics) Jr. (Nutrition Science) Sioux City, Iowa

Emily Wong (Women’s Gymnastics) Sr. (Nutrition Science) Grand Forks, N.C.

Joyce Kim (Rifle) Sr. (Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design) Gilbert, Ariz.

Sunny Russell (Rifle) Jr. (Child, Youth & Family Studies) Stratford, Texas

Allison McNeal (Volleyball) Sr. (Elementary Education) Schulenburg, Texas

Morgan Broekhuis (Sand Volleyball/Volleyball) Sr. (Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science) Colorado Springs, Colo.

Hayley Thramer (Sand Volleyball/Volleyball) Sr. (Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science) Ewing, Neb.

Bri Badje (Soccer) Sr. (International Business) Lincoln, Neb.

Stacy Bartels (Soccer) Sr. (Elementary Education) Omaha, Neb.

Kylie Greischar (Soccer) Jr. (Communication Studies) Overland Park, Kan.

Maritza Hayes (Soccer) Jr. (Psychology) O’Fallon, Mo.

Amy Swearer (Soccer) Jr. (Criminology & Criminal Justice) Lincoln, Neb.

Mattie Fowler (Softball) Jr. (Finance) Tucson, Ariz.

Megan Southworth (Softball) Sr. (Speech-Language Pathologist) Papillion, Neb.

Katie Davis (Swimming & Diving) Sr. (Elementary Education & Mild/Moderate K-6) Lincoln, Neb.

Shannon Guy (Swimming & Diving) Jr. (Psychology) Omaha, Neb.

Kailey Harmon (Swimming & Diving) Sr. (Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science) Bothell, Wash.

Amy Herman (Swimming & Diving) Sr. (Dietetics/Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science) Lincoln, Neb.

Bailey Pons (Swimming & Diving) Jr. (Geology/English) Cedar Falls, Iowa

Patricia Veresova (Women’s Tennis) Sr. (Business Administration/Accounting) Piestany, Slovakia

Janine Weinreich (Women’s Tennis) Sr. (International Business/Marketing) Tespe, Germany

Stefanie Weinstein (Women’s Tennis) Sr. (Business Administration) Much, Germany

Maike Zeppernick (Women’s Tennis) Jr. (Economics) Hamburg, Germany

Bjorn Barrefors (Men’s Track & Field) Sr. (Computer Science) Stockholm, Sweden

Nolan Border (Men’s Track & Field) So. (Nutrition Science) Lincoln, Neb.

Craig Driver (Men’s Track & Field) So. (Nutrition Science) Minden, Neb.

Travis Englund (Men’s Track & Field) Sr. (Psychology) Grand Island, Neb.

Mark Hilderbrand (Men’s Track & Field) Jr. (Agricultural Engineering) Gothenburg, Neb.

Cole Ingram (Men’s Track & Field) Sr. (Criminology & Criminal Justice) Lincoln, Neb.

Christian Sanderfer (Men’s Track & Field) Jr. (Nutrition Science) Lincoln, Neb.

Taylor Shapland (Men’s Track & Field) Sr. (Construction Management) Waterloo, Neb.

John Welk (Men’s Track & Field) Jr. (Nutrition Science) Bismarck, N.D.

Seth Wiedel (Men’s Track & Field) Jr. (Accounting) Hebron, Neb.

Paula Andrie (Women’s Track & Field) So. (Biological Systems Engineering) Gillette, Wyo.

Mara Griva (Women’s Track & Field) Sr. (Management/Marketing) Ventspils, Latvia

Ellie Grooters (Women’s Track & Field) Jr. (Speech-Language Pathologist) Fargo, N.D.

Anne Martin (Women’s Track & Field) Sr. (Elementary Education) Waverly, Neb.

Anna Minnick (Women’s Track & Field) Sr. (Art Education K-12) Omaha, Neb.

Kara Mostoller (Women’s Track & Field) Jr. (Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science) Fredonia, Pa.

Carlie Pinkelman (Women’s Track & Field) Jr. (Elementary Education) Cozad, Neb.

Sarah Plambeck (Women’s Track & Field) Jr. (Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science) Lincoln, Neb.

Lauren Welch (Women’s Track & Field) Jr. (Animal Science) Papillion, Neb.

Katie White (Women’s Track & Field) Sr. (Nutrition Science) Broken Bow, Neb.

Morgan Wilken (Women’s Track & Field) Sr. (Mathematics/Mathematics Education) Crofton, Neb.

Ross Grande (Wrestling) Sr. (Dietetics/Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science) Palatine, Ill.

Josh Ihnen (Wrestling) Gr. (Finance/MBA Program) Sheldon, Iowa

Michael Klinginsmith (Wrestling) Sr. (Biological Sciences) Kearney, Neb.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa took a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning and Colorado held on to give the left-hander his straight win against the San Diego Padres, 5-4 on Wednesday night.

De La Rosa lifted his record at Petco Park to 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA. His winning streak against San Diego spans eight starts.

The Rockies were leading 4-0 in the sixth when Carlos Quentin hit his 11th home run, a two-run shot to straight away center field, scoring Chase Headley, who had walked. That was all for De La Rosa (9-5), who allowed two hits over five innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

Andrew Cashner (5-5) went five innings for the Padres, giving up three runs, two earned, on eight hits. He struck out five, walked two and threw a wild pitch that led to a Rockies run in the fifth.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The NBA has confirmed the three-team trade that will send swingman Andre Iguodala to the Golden State Warriors, guard Randy Foye to the Denver Nuggets and a trio of expiring contracts along with a package of draft picks to the Utah Jazz.

The trade announced Wednesday started when the Warriors reached a free agent agreement with Iguodala on a four-year, $48 million deal last week. Golden State cleared more than $24 million by sending Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and Brandon Rush to the Jazz along with four draft picks and cash.

In the end, the teams wrapped all the transactions into one trade that provides additional salary cap flexibility and compensation for each of them.

The registration deadline for the inaugural Nebraska Football Uplifting Athletes Road Race presented by the Lincoln Track Club is closing in fast. The deadline to register for either the one-mile fun run or the 5K race is Tuesday, July 16. Runners can register now at www.lincolnrun.org.

The event, which will take place on Sunday, July 21, is being organized by the Nebraska Football Uplifting Athletes, and all proceeds will benefit pediatric brain cancer research. Many current members of the Nebraska football program will participate in the one-mile fun run and provide support and encouragement to all participants during the race. Student-athletes from the Nebraska cross country program also are expected to assist with the events.

The one-mile fun run will begin at 8 a.m., and the registration fee is $20. The 5K race will start at 8:30 a.m., and the registration fee is $30. No race-day registrations will be accepted. All entrants will receive a commemorative T-shirt and an Uplifting Athletes wristband.

The course will start in the Stadium Drive loop, outside the 501 Building just across the street from Memorial Stadium on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln city campus.

Maddie Hellwig, a pediatric brain cancer patient from Kansas City, will serve as the celebrity starter for the one-mile fun run, while Jack Hoffman will serve as the celebrity starter for the 5K.

For complete race information and registration, visit www.lincolnrun.org.

Kazan, Russia – Nebraska’s Jordan Hooper scored 11 points and pulled down four rebounds to help power the USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Team to a 105-75 victory over Brazil on Wednesday.

Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., hit 5-of-11 shots from the field, including a three-pointer in just 13 minutes of action. It was Hooper’s first career double-figure scoring performance in three international games. A two-time All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection at Nebraska, Hooper has averaged 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game while helping the U.S. team complete Pool B play with a perfect 3-0 record.

The United States will enjoy an off day after playing three games in three days, before entering Friday’s 1:30 a.m. (CT) quarterfinals as the tournament’s top seed. Team USA will play the loser of today’s game between the hosts from Russia (2-0) or Sweden (2-0).

Aaryn Ellenberg (Oklahoma) led the the U.S. squad by scoring all 19 of her game-high points in the first half, while tying the USA Basketball World University Games record with five three-pointers. Odyssey Sims (Baylor) tied another USA World University Games record with a game-high 10 assists.

The USA opened the game on a 10-0 run and carried a 36-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. Ellenberg poured in 14 points in the game’s first 5:30 to get the U.S. team off to a strong start.

Hooper took over in the second quarter, knocking down her second three-pointer of the World University Games with 7:21 left in the half to put the USA up 45-18. She added four more points, before Ellenberg gave the United States a 31-point lead at 56-25 with 2:39 left in the half.

Hooper added a basket with 1:47 left in the third quarter before capping her scoring for the game with the USA’s first bucket of the fourth quarter to give the U.S. squad an 84-51 edge with 9:48 left. The U.S. lead grew as large as 37 points on several occasions before settling for a 30-point victory.

Crystal Bradford (Central Michigan) added 12 points, while Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (UConn) contributed 11 points. Reshanda Gray (Cal) gave the United States five players in double figures with 10 points.

The USA shot 48.8 percent from the field (41-84 FGs) with 24 of the field goals being assisted. The U.S. squad hit 8-of-29 three-pointers. Brazil shot 46.9 percent from the field (30-64 FGs), but turned the ball over 23 times which led to 36 U.S. points coming off turnovers. Mosqueda-Lewis and Sims each had three steals to lead the USA. The U.S. team outrebounded Brazil, 48-33, led by seven boards from Theresa Plaisance (LSU) and six from Mosqueda-Lewis. Hooper, Bradford, Bria Hartley (UConn) and Cassie Harberts (USC) each added four boards.

In other action, Czech Republic (2-1) defeated Mali (0-3) 59-44 to finish No. 2 in Group B and advance to the quarterfinals. Brazil and Mali finished third and fourth, respectively, in the group.

The remaining quarterfinal teams will be decided following the rest of today’s contests, including China (0-2) – Hungary (1-1) and Japan (0-2) – Ukraine (1-1). Poland (0-2) – Mongolia (0-2), Taiwan (2-0) – Canada (1-1) and Australia (2-0) – Finland (1-1). The semifinals will be played on July 13, and the finals will be contested on July 15.

The USA is looking for its third straight gold medal at the World University Games women’s basketball competition, and ninth overall.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eric Stults pitched a four-hitter, Alexi Amarista drove in two runs and the San Diego Padres snapped their 10-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Stults (7-7) struck out five and walked three in the complete game, supporting his cause with two hits. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, when Josh Rutledge legged out an infield hit on a grounder to shortstop. He lost his shutout in the ninth when he gave up a one-out double to Wilin Rosario and a two-out RBI single to pinch-hitter Nolan Arenado.

Jhoulys Chacin (8-4) allowing one run on five hits over six innings, striking out four and walking two. The loss snapped Chacin’s five-game winning streak. He had not lost since May 16.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A second Denver Broncos executive is facing drunken driving charges, The Associated Press has learned.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Tom Heckert, the Broncos’ recently hired director of pro personnel, was arrested in Parker on the night of June 11 and charged with driving under the influence and careless driving.

The news comes one day after Broncos director of player personnel Matt Russell apologized for his arrest over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Broncos spokesman Patrick Smyth said the Broncos are aware of this other matter involving Heckert and would provide comment shortly.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 30 for Heckert. His lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, wasn’t available for comment.