10A GAME DAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF BABY KANSAS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2006
KU KICKOFF
ATAGLANCE
Kansas begins Big 12 Conference play against Nebraska, the team picked by the media to win the North Division. This season's matchup takes on a renewed sense of meaning after the Jayhawks ended the Cornhuskers' 36-game winning streak in the series last season. Kansas, though, has not won a game in Lincoln, Neb. since 1968. Both teams enter the game at 3-1 after losing in the third week of the season.
5 OUICK FACTS
22 — the number of victories Kansas has against Nebraska in the 101 years of the series.
7 — the number of different receivers who caught a pass against South Florida, a season high.
2 — the ranking of senior running back Jon Cornish in the Big 12's rushing statistics, averaging 109 yards a game.
17 — the number of games since Kansas' defense last allowed a 100 yard rusher.
40 — the number of points Kansas scored against Nebraska last season.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Defensive end Paul Como. In last week's victory against USF, the senior defensive end recorded three tackles for losses and two sacks. He forced and recovered a fumble late in the game, as well. For Kansas to win on Saturday, Como must pres-
Como
sure Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor. Como and the defensive front must get in Taylor's face to slow the Cornhuskers' passing attack.
QUESTION MARK
QUARTERBACKS — For the second straight week, it appears the starting quarterback decision will be made near game day. Kansas coach Mark Mangino has said this week that injured freshman quarterback Kerry Meier has improved since suffering an injury to his right arm in the loss at Toledo. However, Mangino is still unsure whether Meier will be physically able to start against the Cornhuskers. Whether Meier or backup senior Adam Barmann starts on Saturday, Kansas' offense will have to find a way to match Nebraska's high-powered passing attack.
NEBRASKA ON A ROLL Corhuskers' offense tops the Big 12
KANSAS AT NEBRASKA 6 p.m., Saturday, Memorial Stadium, FSN
Kansas
Offense
Kansas' offense looked efficient last week with backup Adam Barmann in the lineup. The difference without Meier was the lack of a quarterback rushing game. Against a Nebraska team that can score quickly, the key for Kansas will be controlling the clock with the running game. Nebraska and Kansas are 1-2 in the Blg 12 in time of possession. A big game from running back Jon Cornish will go a long way towards keeping the 'Huskers' offense off the field.
Defense
The defense has steadily improved since an ugly showing against Louisiana-Monroe three weeks ago. The return of sophomore cornerback Aqib Talib has helped, along with the emergence of freshman cornerback Anthony Webb. Kansas' rushing defense has fared well all season and should have a big night against a Nebraska team that constantly rotates rushers in the backfield. The secondary, though, could be in for some trouble against an improved Taylor.
Nebraska
Momentum
Take away the USC game and Nebraska is averaging 53.7 points per game and 559.7 total yards of offense per game. However, for the first time, the Cornhuskers are putting up such gaudy numbers with its passing game, in addition to its running game. Senior quarterback Zac Taylor has a 178.3 pass efficiency rating, which is second best in the Big 12. He's clearly comfortable in coach Bill Callahan's West Coast offense and has the most talented receiving corps in school history. Junior wide receiver Terrence Nunn is Nebraska's deep threat with 14 catches for 209 yards, while senior tight end Matt Herlan is Taylor's go-to guy in the red zone with two touchdowns. The Cornhuskers are still moving the ball on the ground, too. Sophomore running backs Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn and junior running backs Kenny Wilson and Brandon Jackson have combined for 924 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in four games.
Offense
Kansas recovered from an emotional los two weeks at Toledo with an equally tense victory against USF. A victory against the Cornhuskers on the road would provide a big start to conference play, but that seems unlikely. More than 81,000 'Husker fans will be looking for revenge after last season's Jayhawk victory. In Lincoln, Kansas hasn't won a game at Memorial Stadium since the end of the Lyndon Johnson presidency in 1968. Barring a major collapse by Nebraska, that streak should be extended Saturday night.
Defense
The Blackshirts are back in Lincoln. Nebraska is allowing just 11.25 points per game and all nine turnovers the Cornhuskers have forced came at home. Out of 16 quarters played, Nebraska has held opponents scoreless in 10 quarters. Leading the defense are linebackers, Junior Corey McKeon and senior Stewart Bradley.The two have
combined for 42 tackles,18 solo
and three for losses. Junior Tierre Green has also impressed on defense. Two years ago, he was trying to get on the field as a running back. Now he's starting at strong safety and has 21 tackles of his own.
Momentum
Nebraska hasn't lost at home to Kansas since Lyndon Johnson was in office. Although Kansas will come in with the confidence in knowing that Nebraska is human, this isn't the same Nebraska squad Kansas played last season. Nebraska was coming off consecutive losses to average Missouri and Oklahoma teams last season before falling to Kansas in 2005. Even though USC had no trouble defeating Nebraska two weeks ago, the Cornhuskers showed they learned from the experience by beating a stingy Troy team last week 56-0. Because of last season's loss in Lawrence, Nebraska will have even more motivation to extend its home winning streak against Kansas to 19.
Shawn Shroyer
NU KICKOFF
AT A GLANCE
Nebraska bounced back from its 28-10 loss to USC nicely last week in a 56-0 drubbing of Troy. Nebraska posted a season high 597 yards of offense against a Troy team that was competitive against Florida State and Georgia Tech in previous weeks. Sophomore running back Marlon Lucky led the way with 156 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. The Blackshirts didn't let Troy reach the red zone once, and allowed the Trojans to convert on only one of 11 third downs.
5 QUICK FACTS
1 — Nebraska is first in the Big 12 in scoring (42.8 points per game) and total offense (472.5 yards per game)
3 — Number of sacks allowed by Nebraska this season
4 — Number of running backs Nebraska has who have rushed for at least 100 yards this season.
15 — Before playing in the 2006 opener, senior tight end Matt Herian missed 15 consecutive games over the past two seasons recovering from a broken left leg
113 — Saturday will mark the 13th meeting between Nebraska and Kansas, which is the longest continuous series in Division I-A history
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior defensive end Adam Carriker. Carriker entered the season on - among others
Carriker
- Playboy, Athlon and Lindy's preseason All American teams. Thus far, he leads all Nebraska defensive linemen with 14 tackles
and is second on the team with four tackles for losses. However, Carriker has just one sack this season, which came in Nebraska's first game against Louisiana Tech. He had a team-best 9.5 sacks in 2005.
QUESTION MARKS
OFFENSE - Last season, Nebraska accumulated Just 138 yards of total offense against Kansas. This season, the Cornhuskers have exhibited an explosive passing and rushing attack. Which offense will show up on Saturday?
HOW MUCH - With retribution on the line after being embarrassed in Lawrence last season, the question might not be if Nebraska will win, but by how much?
NATIONAL GAMES OF INTEREST
No. 1 Ohio State (4-0) at No. 13 Iowa (4-0), Saturday
7:00 p.m. on ABC
Ohio State's tough schedule continues as the Buckeyes play their third ranked opponent in four weeks. Ohio State leads the all-time series 43-14-3, but were thumped 33-7 in their last trip to Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes boast one of the top defenses in the nation to combat the Buckeyes' offense, Iowa is 12th in the nation in pass efficiency defense, yielding a 90.8 pass efficiency rating to opposing quarterbacks, and 13th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing Just 11 points per game.
The Ohio State offense continues to run on all cylinders after scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter against Penn State last week. Heisman candidate Troy Smith is completing 66 percent of his passes this season and has 884 yards and eight touchdowns. Wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez have caught seven of Smith's eight touchdowns, and running back Antonio Pittman is averaging 6.3 yards per carry this season and has 450 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
No.24 Georgia Tech (3-1) at No.11 Virginia Tech (4-0), Saturday 2:30 p.m. on ABC
If Virginia Tech is to remain undefeated, it will have to do so without defensive end Chris Ellis and wide receiver Josh Morgan, who were suspended for the game for violating team policy.
Georgia Tech enters Blacksburg, Va., on a roll. Since losing to Notre Dame the first week of the season, the Yellow Jackets have outscored opponents 97-33. Reggie Ball and Calvin Johnson have proven to be one of the top quarterback/receiver combinations in the nation. Ball has 592 passing yards and seven touchdowns, and Johnson has racked up 311 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Virginia Tech will miss Ellis and Morgan. Ellis has 12 tackles and a sack, and Morgan has 161 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and two blocked punts this season. The Hokies will look to quarterback Sean Glenon and running back Brandon Ore to lead them on Saturday. The two have combined for 1,306 total yards of offense and 13 touchdowns.
No.14 Oregon (3-0) at Arizona State (3-1), Saturday 2:30 p.m.on ABC
Out of the top 25 for the first time all season, Arizona State is trying to find its place in the Pac-10. Arizona State lost 49-21 last week to a ranked California squad, but has won three of its past four meetings with Oregon.
Oregon comes into the weekend 12th in the nation in scoring, ninth in the nation in yards per game and first in the nation in controversial victories. Quarterback Dennis Dixon has helped lead his offense down the field with 817 passing yards in three games, but the Ducks have relied on their running backs to get in the end zone. Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson have combined for seven rushing touchdowns.
Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter was limited to 177 passing yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions against Cal, but is still 14th in the nation with 1,019 passing yards. Tight end Zach Miller has become Carpenter's most reliable target with a team-leading 16 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
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