Purdue-Nebraska Preview Capsule

Posted October 20, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Purdue (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) at No. 8 Nebraska (6-0, 3-0), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Line: Nebraska by 24.

Series Record: Tied 2-2.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Purdue is trying to get through the season as best it can after firing Darrell Hazell last Sunday and naming receivers coach Gerad Parker the interim head coach. The Cornhuskers have won nine of 10 since losing 55-45 at Purdue last year. They can use this game as a final tuneup for back-to-back road games against No. 10 Wisconsin and No. 2 Ohio State.

KEY MATCHUP

Nebraska RB Terrell Newby against Purdue defense. Newby has gone over 100 yards in back-to-back games, and he'll be called on a lot so the Huskers can protect gimpy QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. and backup RB Devine Ozigbo. The Boilermakers are 124th out of 128 FBS teams against the run and have allowed their last three opponents 365, 315 and 400 yards on the ground.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

PURDUE: QB David Blough had a career passing day with 458 yards and five touchdowns against Iowa, but 228 of those yards and three TDs came in fourth-quarter garbage time. Blough will need to be at his best to keep the Boilermakers close.

NEBRASKA: S Nate Gerry is playing at an All-Big Ten level and the anchor of a much improved secondary. He's the team co-leader with seven tackles for loss and has two interceptions, and he's coming off one of his best performances of the season, making eight tackles and blowing up a couple screens against Indiana.

FACTS & FIGURES

Purdue is looking for its first win against a top-10 team since 2009 when the Boilermakers beat No. 7 Ohio State. ... Nebraska is 6-0 for the first time since 2001, is among 13 FBS teams to have already clinched bowl eligibility, and has won seven straight since last season. ... Nebraska is averaging 87.3 rushing yards a game in the fourth quarter, nearly 40 percent of the team's total rushing production. ... The Boilermakers, who won at Illinois on Oct. 8, are looking for back-to-back conference road wins for the first time since 2012. ... Purdue has played 19 freshmen, including eight true freshmen, and four first-year junior-college transfers.

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Online:

AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org

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