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.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — It’s the second week of October, and Nebraska is finally preparing for its first road game.

The Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-0) visit Purdue (1-4, 0-1) on Saturday after playing their first five in Lincoln. Coach Bo Pelini said Monday the schedule has been a blessing for a young defense that has had lots of kinks to work out.

Fellow Big Ten member Indiana is the only other FBS team that played five in a row at home to start the season. Baylor of the Big 12 will go on the road for the first time this week after opening with four home games.

Receiver Kenny Bell says he’s taking the same attitude to Purdue that he would if the Huskers were going on the road to Michigan’s Big House.