Thursday:
No. 7 Nebraska (4-0, 0-0 Big 12) at Kansas State (4-0, 1-0), 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Line: Nebraska by 12.
Series Record: Nebraska leads 77-15-2.
Last Meeting: 2009, Nebraska 17-3.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
For Kansas State, almost everything. A victory makes them 5-0 and boosts them into the national rankings. A good showing by senior RB Daniel Thomas plants him squarely in the Heisman race. Nebraska is gunning for a 5-0 record itself and a Big 12 championship in its last year in the league before heading to the Big Ten.
KEY MATCHUP
RB Daniel Thomas vs. Nebraska’s quick, talented defense. Central Florida held the big, rugged senior to just 76 yards rushing by keying on him. But the Wildcats’ linemen felt they had let their popular teammate down and are determined to help him have a good showing on national television this time. Thomas will be facing a defense that’s No. 11 in the nation.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nebraska: QB Taylor Martinez has rushed for 496 yards in four games and is just the kind of quick, dual-threat signal caller the Wildcats seem to have trouble with. Central Florida’s Jeff Godfrey, with less blocking help, rushed for 99 yards against them. CB Alfonzo Dennard, with an interception in three straight games, could prove a problem for K-State QB Carson Coffman.
Kansas State: Thomas is the reason Kansas State could be in for a special year. Big and elusive, the senior led the Big 12 in rushing a year ago and is fourth nationally this season with 157 yards per game. Very popular with teammates, Thomas could work himself into Heisman consideration with a big game and the Wildcats know it.
FACTS & FIGURES
Kansas State fans were warned to arrive early because one of the biggest throngs ever to squeeze into Bill Snyder Family Stadium is expected. In the old days, before Bill Snyder turned Kansas State around, the place would be full of mostly Nebraska fans. … Snyder is a good friend of Tom Osborne, the Nebraska athletic director and former coach. … Although the game will be played on his 71st birthday, Snyder insists it’s no big deal, that there have been years when he did not even realize it was his birthday. … Martinez, a redshirt freshman, has more yards rushing (496) already than any other Nebraska freshman quarterback. … Nebraska K Alex Henry has made 84 straight PATs and 10 straight field goals.
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