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Prior to Mike Riley’s weekly news conference, the Big Ten announced that Nebraska’s game against Ohio State will kick off at 6:30 pm and will be televised by FS1. Due to existing commitments to televise the American League Championship Series and a prime-time boxing card, Fox will not be carrying any college football that day. Does that mean Gus Johnson will be in Lincoln? The other FS1 games are TCU at Kansas State (11 am), Baylor at Oklahoma State (2:30 pm), and Oregon at Stanford for #Pac12AfterDark after the Huskers.
On the injury front, Chris Jones and Joshua Kalu have been cleared to start practicing. That doesn’t mean either will play this weekend, but it’s certainly hopeful. The news about I-Back Tre Bryant is still cloudy:
Riley: Tre Bryant (knee) will not be ready this week. "And we don't know what that means after that."
— Evan Bland (@EvanBlandOWH) October 2, 2017
Nebraska moved Bryant to the injured list this week, and Riley didn’t want to speculate about the situation. That will leave fans to speculate about if or when Bryant will be able to play. Depth at I-back took another hit with the news that Mikale Wilbon sprained an ankle on Friday night; Wilbon won’t practice today.
On the offensive line, David Knevel and Cole Conrad are now listed behind Michael Decker and Brenden Jaimes on the depth chart at center and right tackle, respectively.
Riley: Center situation between Cole Conrad and Michael Decker something coaches talking about. Decker's strong play a big factor.
— Evan Bland (@EvanBlandOWH) October 2, 2017
Riley: Nebraska has made a concerted effort to do more pulling of linemen for runs this year b/c NU has less emphasis on zone reads.
— Evan Bland (@EvanBlandOWH) October 2, 2017
Riley also had praise for Ben Stille, who earned Big Ten freshman of the week honors for four tackles behind the line of scrimmage last Friday.
"I've just seen really good, hard consistent work," Riley said of Ben Stille, Big Ten freshman of the week. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) October 2, 2017
Riley says OLB Ben Stille took advantage of an opportunity at a new position. Loves the redshirt freshman's physicality.
— Evan Bland (@EvanBlandOWH) October 2, 2017
Talk turned to the potential of playing back-to-back games against Top Ten opponents.
Mike Riley not interested in talking about Ohio State: "We don't play any doubleheaders."
— Evan Bland (@EvanBlandOWH) October 2, 2017
Mike Riley won't look beyond Wisconsin, says football has no double-headers. "Why do I have to think about a stretch? This isn't baseball."
— Erin Sorensen (@erinsorensen) October 2, 2017
But this:
Riley on close losses to Wisconsin: "You have to be the team that finishes." #Huskers
— Derek Peterson (@DrPetey15) October 2, 2017
Nose tackle Mick Stoltenberg talked after Riley.
Mick Stoltenberg notes D-linemen get to see more action against a team like Wisconsin than a spread team. "Old school football," he said.
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) October 2, 2017
Mick Stoltenberg calls Nebraska/Wisconsin an "old school football game."
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) October 2, 2017