GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Nebraska’s spread offense needs to be an antidote for Michigan’s stellar defense, because the Huskers might not be ready for the trench battles against linemen such as Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich, and linebacker Khaleke Hudson. It’s hard to see Nebraska moving the ball if QB Adrian Martinez doesn’t play, and if he does, it’s still a huge assignment for a true freshman. “Teams have a hard time running the ball against them,” Nebraska coach Scott Frost said. “And they do a great job taking away easy throws and playing tight coverages. You have to earn what you get against them.”
DRAFT SLANT
–WR Stanley Morgan Jr. looks like a potential Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft. His TD catch last week against Troy gave him 16 for his career, tied for fifth in school history. He has 129 career receptions, needing nine more to tie for fifth place on the Nebraska career charts. Morgan is rated the 96th best NFL prospect in the country in NFLDraftScout.com’s preseason rankings.
ROSTER REPORT:
–QB Adrian Martinez is day-to-day because of a leg injury suffered against Colorado on Sept. 8.
–RB Tre Bryant has retired from football due to a knee injury. Bryant last season ran for a combined 299 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas State and Oregon before being sidelined by a knee injury.
–LB Avery Roberts, a sophomore, announced before the opener that he would transfer. The university granted his release from his scholarship. He played sparingly last season and appeared buried on the depth chart this spring before his request to be released from his scholarship.
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