Nebraska-Northwestern Preview Capsule

Posted September 22, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

No. 20 Nebraska (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Northwestern (1-2, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. (BTN)

Line: Nebraska by 7ˆ½.

Series Record: Nebraska leads 6-3.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Nebraska jumped into The Associated Press poll for the first time since December 2014 following an emotional 35-32 victory over then-No. 22 Oregon. The Cornhuskers probably need to win this game to stay in it. Northwestern, coming off a win over Duke, has a chance to build some momentum after starting the season with losses to Western Michigan and Illinois State.

KEY MATCHUP

Northwestern RB Justin Jackson vs. Nebraska's defense. The Cornhuskers gave up 336 yards rushing against Oregon, and that could bode well for Jackson, averaging about 87 yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nebraska: QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. is Nebraska's all-time leader in yards passing (7,376) and touchdown throws (60). ... WR Jordan Westerkamp, a Chicago-area product, ranks fourth on the Cornhuskers' career receiving list with 2,098 yards.

Northwestern: QB Clayton Thorson threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns in last week's win over Duke but was just 18 of 39 with two interceptions. He has been sacked 11 times and completed only 49 percent of his passes playing behind a struggling line. ... WR Austin Carr had six catches for a career-high 135 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown, against Duke. ... LB Jaylen Prater leads the Big Ten with 30 tackles.

FACTS & FIGURES

Nebraska hits the road for the first time. ... The Cornhuskers are 3-0 for just the second time in five years. ... Nebraska ranks fifth in the nation with a plus-6 turnover margin after finishing minus-12 in 2015. ... Four of the five games between Nebraska and Northwestern the past five seasons have been decided by three or fewer points, including a 30-28 victory for the Wildcats in Lincoln last season. ... With a 71-58 record, Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald is one of eight active FBS coaches topping their school's all-time wins list.

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AP college football website: %href_on(file:

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