For the record: Ranked No. 8 going in, Nebraska comes off a frustrating 9-6 loss Saturday at then-No. 19 Texas A&M. The Huskers (9-2, 5-2 Big 12) may need a victory Friday over Colorado to win the Big 12 North because a Nebraska loss and an expected Missouri win over Kansas would send Mizzou to the conference title game.
Who’s hot: Nebraska’s defense. Nobody could blame Husker defenders for the loss at College Station. For conference games only, Nebraska leads the Big 12 in pass defense (152.7 yards allowed per game) and is second in total defense (311.3).
What’s not: The injured right ankle of sensational redshirt- freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez. It got banged up again against the Aggies with 5 minutes left in the first quarter, sending Martinez hobbling to the bench. He sat out the second quarter, then returned for the second half but was largely ineffective.
Key stat: The Huskers’ 16 penalties for 145 yards against Texas A&M set two Nebraska school records.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
