Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued practicing through its second bye week of the 2013 football seasonon Wednesday. The Huskers practiced in full pads for just over two hours inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields. 

Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini met with media after practice, noting that the last few days of practice have been very productive.

“We did all good on good yesterday and a lot of fast tempo stuff, which I always think is good at this time of year,” Pelini said, “We did about half of that today, half good on good, and then we gave the players an introduction to Minnesota. It was very productive, there was some things that we wanted to look at offensively and defensively.”

The Husker football team lost one of its senior leaders last Saturday at Purdue, with offensive guard Spencer Long going down with a knee injury. Pelini noted at practice today that even though Long will miss the remainder of the season, the injury is not as severe as originally thought.

“It wasn’t PCL, which is good. It was MCL. We thought it was MCL and PCL, which is wasn’t, so that is good.” Pelini said.

When asked if there was an outside shot of Long returning to the Huskers for the end of the 2013 season, Pelini quickly responded saying Long will be out for the remainder of the season. Saying that though, Pelini did mention they will do their best to make sure Long is ready for a possible NFL future.

As for who will replace Long in the starting offensive lineman lineup, that has yet to be determined, with multiple options in play for the NU coaching staff. One of the more talked about options is moving Lincoln native Cole Pensick over to guard.

“We will look at these last couple days of practice of film and then Friday as well, then we will see how next weeks practice goes.” Pelini said, “That is always a possibility, he (Pensick) could do that if need be, that is always a good option for us.”

*Pelini mentioned that senior quarterback Taylor Martinez is still out with turf toe, but he is really close to returning.

Nebraska will be back on the practice field Friday, as the Huskers work through their second bye week of the 2013 season. NU will be back in action Saturday Oct. 26 against the Minnesota Gophers in Minneapolis. The game will be nationally televised by either ESPN or ESPN 2 at 11 a.m. (CT).

Huskers-Gophers to Kick at 11 a.m.

The Big Ten Conference announced on Monday that Nebraska’s Oct. 26 game at Minnesota will kick off at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2 with the network determination to be made following this week’s games.

The 11 a.m. CT kick will be Nebraska’s fourth in its first seven games and third straight to open Big Ten play. Game times for Nebraska’s November contests with Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State will be made six to 12 days in advance. NU’s Nov. 29 regular-season finale against Iowa will kick off at 11 a.m. CT and be televised nationally by ABC.

Nebraska is 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play with a bye scheduled this Saturday.

Huskers Change Dates of Future Tennessee Series; Agree to Home-and-Home Series with Oregon

Nebraska and Tennessee officials announced on Monday that the dates of the future games between the schools have been changed to accommodate a requested schedule change from Tennessee.

The games originally scheduled between the Huskers and Tennessee in 2016 and 2017 have been pushed back a decade. Nebraska and the Vols will now meet in the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

The Huskers will play host to Tennessee on Sept. 12, 2026, and travel to Knoxville and Neyland Stadium on Sept. 11, 2027. The games will be the first-ever regular-season matchups between the schools. Nebraska won the only two previous matchups in the series, defeating Tennessee in the 1998 Orange Bowl and the 2000 Fiesta Bowl.

With the change in dates of the future matchups with Tennessee, Nebraska announced on Monday it has agreed to a home-and-home series in 2016 and 2017 with the University of Oregon. The date of a 2016 matchup with Wyoming has also been moved to accommodate the changes.

“This is a win-win scenario,” Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst said. “The University of Tennessee asked for scheduling relief, and we were able to add the University of Oregon, a perennial top-25 program, to our non-conference schedule as we roll into the College Football Playoff era. This should be a great series, not only for our football programs, but for the tremendous fans of both schools.”

The Huskers and Ducks will square off in Lincoln on Sept. 17, 2016. Nebraska will travel to Oregon’s Autzen Stadium for the second game in the series on Sept. 9, 2017.

The matchups will be the first between the schools since Oregon traveled to Lincoln in 1985 and 1986, with Nebraska winning both of those contests. The two schools have met six times overall, with Nebraska holding a 5-1 advantage in the series.

Oregon has been one of the nation’s top programs over the past decade. The Ducks have won at least 10 games each of the past five seasons, including 12 wins each season from 2010 to 2012. Oregon currently sits at 6-0 this season and is ranked No. 2 in both polls. The Ducks will be looking for a fifth straight BCS bowl appearance in 2013.

The final adjustment to the Huskers’ future schedule is moving the date of a 2016 matchup with Wyoming. Nebraska and Wyoming will meet on Sept. 10, 2016, at Memorial Stadium, after originally being scheduled to play on Sept. 17, 2016. The matchup with Wyoming completes a three-game series with the Cowboys. NU defeated Wyoming in the season opener in Lincoln this fall, and traveled to Laramie, Wyo., in 2011.

The matchups with Wyoming and Oregon in 2016 complete a non-conference schedule that opens with Fresno State visiting Memorial Stadium. The 2016 season is also the first year that Nebraska will play a nine-game Big Ten Conference schedule. NU’s trip to Oregon in 2017 is the second game on the Huskers’ 2017 non-league schedule, with Northern Illinois visiting Lincoln onSept. 2.

Nebraska’s two-game series with Oregon will continue the Huskers’ recent trend of frequent matchups with Pac-12 foes. Nebraska has recently played home-and-home series with USC (2006, 2007), Washington (2010, 2011) and UCLA (2012, 2013), while matching up in bowl games with Arizona (2009) and Washington (2010). In addition to games in 2016 and 2017 with Oregon, Nebraska is also slated to face off against Pac-12 foe Colorado in four games between 2018 and 2024.

The Huskers are scheduled to match up with a power conference opponent in non-conference play each season from 2014 to 2027, beginning with a home-and-home series with Miami in 2014 and 2015. In addition to Oregon and Tennessee, Nebraska will also face Colorado (2018, 2019, 2023, 2024), Cincinnati (2020, 2025) and Oklahoma (2021, 2022).

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Ameer Abdullah ran for 126 yards and a touchdown to help Nebraska defeat Purdue 44-7 on Saturday.

Terrell Newby ran for 61 yards and Imani Cross added 56 yards and two touchdowns for the Cornhuskers (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten).

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez sat out with a turf toe injury. Tommy Armstrong Jr. started and completed just 6 of 18 passes for 43 yards with three interceptions. Ron Kellogg III stepped in and completed 10 of 13 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Nebraska held Purdue to 216 yards, and the Boilermakers didn’t score until the final minute of the game. Purdue ran for just 32 yards on 25 carries.

Danny Etling completed 14 of 35 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown in his first career start. DeAngelo Yancey caught five passes for 146 yards and a touchdown for the Boilermakers (1-5, 0-2).

Lincoln, Neb.-The Nebraska football team wrapped up its preparation for Saturday’s Big Ten conference road opener against Purdue on Thursday afternoon. The team practiced in helmets and shorts for 90 minutes inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields. 

Head Coach Bo Pelini met with the media after practice, noting that redshirt freshman Tommy Armstrong Jr. will be making his third start Saturday versus Purdue.

“As of right now it is (going to be) just like we have been at the quarterback position.” Pelini said.

Pelini also added that senior Quarterback Taylor Martinez will still make the trip up to West Lafayette, but will not play.

“Like I said, Taylor is still day-to-day, and he is getting better. He is a lot better than he has been.”

Another injury concern that Husker fans have been monitoring has been junior wide receiver Jamal Turner’s hamstring injury. Pelini noted that Turner practiced today and will be ready to go for Saturday’s matchup against the Boilermakers.

Something Husker fans haven’t been accustomed seeing was missed extra points and missed field goals after last Saturday’s victory over Illinois. Pelini said that senior transfer Pat Smith will be the man NU relies on in their kicking game this upcoming Saturday.

“I saw improvement, which after last week isn’t saying a whole heckuva lot, but I thought Patrick had a really good week, so the guy you will see in there is Patrick Smith.” Pelini said.

With Danny Etling making his first career start Saturday at quarterback for Purdue, Pelini believes that the Boilermaker offense will have a little bit different of a look, but should be very similar to what they have ran up to this point of the season.

“I think somewhat they have to run what they have been doing, but they might lean to some different plays or different personal groupings.” Pelini said, “When he came into the game last week they slung the ball around, and did not run the ball much when he was in the game.”

Nebraska will conduct a walk-thru in Lincoln on Friday morning before departing for West Lafayette. NU will face the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally on Big Ten Network.

Lincoln, Neb.-The Nebraska football team continued its preparation for Saturday’s Big Ten conference road opener against Purdue on Wednesday afternoon. The team practiced in shoulder pads and shorts for just over two hours inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields. 

Defensive Coordinator John Papuchis met with media after practice, noting that the coaching staff has already had a good look at Purdue’s true freshman quarterback Danny Etling over the past few days. Etling, a Terre Haute, Ind., native will be making his first career start against the Blackshirt defense.

“First things first we went through and watched the snaps he played this year and then got online and started watching some of his high school stuff—just trying to get a feel of who he is and what he is about.” Papuchis said, “He is a big, strong-armed kid. He is a talented player. Obviously it is his first start so we will see, but we respect his arm and what he is about.”

When asked if there was any ‘fear of the unknown’ going into Saturday’s matchup with a first-time quarterback, Papuchis seemed quite confident fear would not be the word.

“We will have to see how it plays out. I don’t think fear would be the word, but we are going to have to evaluate what they are going to do different with him under center.” Papuchis said.

Papuchis also mentioned that Etling may not be appear to be a run threat, but he does have the ability to get out of the pocket if needed.

It has been well noted throughout the past years that the strong Nebraska football fan base travels well to road games, sometimes even outnumbering the opponent’s fans. Even with that possibility this weekend, Papuchis noted that it is important for the young group of Huskers be ready to compete at a high level for an early kickoff.

“This is our first road test obviously, it was helpful for us, as young as we are to have five home games to start the year.” Papuchis said, “We have to have great focus and great concentration and with the fact that it is an early game (11 a.m.) we need get ready and go play.”

With a strong defensive performance last Saturday against Illinois, Papuchis believes that the Husker defense has built some confidence, and should continue to build and get better against Purdue Saturday.

“I thought confidence has to be earned, and I think our guys have practiced better this week, a little bit more confident like we wanted them to do.” Papuchis said, “To continue to build, we need to continue to play well Saturday.”

Nebraska will hit the practice field again on Thursday as the team moves closer to its sixth game of the season. NU will face the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally on Big Ten Network.