Lincoln Journal Star
Steven M. Sipple, Parker Gabriel and Chris Basnett recap a busy early week of news ahead of the Black Friday game with Iowa.
Nebraska may be 3-8 heading into Friday's game against No. 16 Iowa, but who's to say there is no intrigue here?
The Huskers, who opened as favorites in Las Vegas, have a chance to end a six-game skid to the Hawkeyes, and the last three games have been close. Friday's game will be the final in scarlet and cream for players like Austin Allen and likely Cam Taylor-Britt.
And, oh, yeah, Logan Smothers is starting at quarterback.
Get your Black Friday shopping done early. To the predictions:
Husker defensive player that steps up … Chris Basnett (Husker writer): Isaac Gifford makes up for last week's missed tackle on the opening kickoff by helping hold down Iowa's run game.
Parker Gabriel (Husker beat writer): Ben Stille.
Clark Grell (Sports editor): Let's go with the local kid, freshman Isaac Gifford. Maybe a big stuff late in the fourth quarter by the Southeast graduate?
Nate Head (Assistant/online sports editor): Myles Farmer comes up with an interception.
Steven M. Sipple (columnist): Gifford will make a big play on defense and/or special teams.
Who scores the first touchdown for NU? Basnett: Logan Smothers on a keeper late in the first quarter.
Gabriel: Marvin Scott, 7:35 second quarter.
Grell: Smothers sneaks one into the end zone late in the first quarter.
Head: Austin Allen. Feed the man in his final game.
Sipple: Markese Stepp plows in from 2 with 2:35 left in the first half.
Nebraska football head coach Scott Frost speaks during a news conference on Wednesday.
Will we see Heinrich Haarberg in the game at QB? Basnett: Yes, as a change of pace in the second quarter.
Gabriel: Yes. Third drive.
Grell: Frost hinted at it, but here's guessing Smothers finds a rhythm good enough to take all the snaps.
Head: Yes, a random first-half series before turning back to Smothers.
Sipple: We will absolutely see Haarberg in the game, probably in the first quarter.
Who leads the Huskers in rushing attempts? Grell: Brody Belt. He showed against Wisconsin he belongs in the game plan for a team with very few RB options at this point.
Head: Stepp. He ran hard against Wisconsin when given the chance.
Sipple: Belt leads the way with 12 carries.
Prediction? Basnett: Why not? Nebraska goes out with a bang and wins 23-17.
Grell: Iowa, 23-21. Once again, a late field goal does it.
Parker Gabriel discusses the four most interesting Husker notes from Wednesday.
Over/unders Smothers total offense: 275 yards.
Pass attempts by Smothers: 20.
Sipple: Over, but barely over.
Iowa turnovers created: 1½.
Combined tackles by Luke Reimers/Nick Henrich: 19½.
Combined points at halftime: 21.
Sipple: Definitely under.
Photos and video: The sights, sounds from Camp Randall Stadium, where the Huskers take on Wisconsin
Nebraska's Brendan Franke (92) kicks off to Wisconsin after a third quarter touchdown on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Marvin Scott is taken down by several Wisconsin players in the third quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Wisconsin's Kendric Pryor (3) celebrates his third-quarter touchdown catch against Nebraska on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Connor Culp takes a practice kick during warmups before the Huskers' game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Scott Frost walks off the field after the Huskers lost 35-28 to Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Wisconsin's Braelon Allen (0) gets tackled by Nebraska's Isaac Gifford (23) in the third quarter Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Omar Manning greets a fan as he walks into the locker room after the Huskers' 35-28 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Adrian Martinez high fives Levi Voss (8), from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as he runs off the field before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Scott Frost stands with JoJo Domann (right), who is out due to injury, during warmups before the Wisconsin game on Nov. 20 at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Wisconsin's Noah Burks (41) comes in for the tackle on Nebraska's Travis Vokolek (83) in the first quarter on Nov. 20 in Madison, Wis.
Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Samori Toure (3) can't quite catch a pass while being defended by Wisconsin's Faion Hicks in the third quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Frank Verducci stands on the field during warmups before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Brody Belt (32) was one of multiple running backs to see action against Wisconsin on Saturday.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Wisconsin's Braelon Allen scores a touchdown against Nebraska in the first quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Chase Contreraz (36) watches his extra-point kick in the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
An official stands on the field during a media timeout in the third quarter of the Nebraska-Wisconsin game on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Scott Frost (left) shakes hands with Stew Ballweg, the University of Wisconsin officer assigned as the liaison for the visiting team's head coach before they take the field for warmups against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Austin Allen (11) gets tackled out of bounds by Wisconsin's Scott Nelson (9) just short of the end zone in the third quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska senior analyst Ron Brown walks on the field before the game against Wisconsin on Nov. 20 at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska players take the field for warmups before their game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Markese Stepp (30) comes up just short of the goal line in the first quarter against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt (5) hits the ground after helping with a tackle against Wisconsin as a penalty is called in the second quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Adrian Martinez runs drills on the field before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska assistant Steve DeMeo walks onto the field before the Huskers play Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Markese Stepp (30) scores a first quarter touchdown against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Marvin Scott (21) breaks free from Wisconsin's Dean Engram (6) while running the ball in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Austin Allen (11) can't catch a pass in the end zone in the second quarter while under pressure by Wisconsin's Scott Nelson (9) on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Wisconsin's Jake Ferguson (84) stiff arms Nebraska's Luke Reimer (28) while running the ball in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Wisconsin wide receiver Stephan Bracey returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the first quarter against Nebraska on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Adrian Martinez (2) lies in the end zone after a third-quarter touchdown against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.Â
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Nick Henrich celebrates after Wisconsin missed a field goal in the second quarter last November at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Adrian Martinez (2) throws a pass around Wisconsin's Nick Herbig (19) in the second quarter Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Austin Allen (11) attempts to evade tackle by Wisconsin's John Torchio (15) and Nick Herbig (19) in the third quarter Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.Â
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
A Nebraska fan smiles after a touchdown in the third quarter against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Wisconsin's Caesar Williams (21) celebrates after Nebraska's fourth-down attempt failed in the last few seconds of the game Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Austin Allen (11) gets tackled out of bounds by Wisconsin's Leo Chenal (5) and Amaun Williams (16) in the third quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt walks off the field after the Huskers lost to Wisconsin 35-28 on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Wisconsin's Collin Wilder (18) celebrates catching an interception thrown by Adrian Martinez (not pictured) in the fourth quarter Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Austin Allen gets upended by Wisconsin's Dean Engram (6) in the fourth quarter Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Adrian Martinez (center) throws an interception against Wisconsin in the fourth quarter Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Zavier Betts (15) can't reach a pass in the end zone in the second quarter while under pressure from Wisconsin's Faion Hicks (1) on Saturday in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt (5) and Marquel Dismuke (9) celebrate stopping a Wisconsin fourth-and-6 in the first quarter on Nov. 20 in Madison, Wis.
Journal Star file photo
Wisconsin's Braelon Allen (0) gets tackled by Nebraska's Ben Stille (95) in the second quarter on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Adrian Martinez (2) throws a complete pass in the first quarter against Wisconsin on Nov. 20 in Madison, Wis. This turned out to be Martinez's final game in a Husker uniform.
EAKIN HOWARD, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Nebraska's Levi Falck (88) can't quite pull in a pass while under pressure by Wisconsin's Caesar Williams (21) in the first quarter Saturday in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Frank Verducci stands on the field during warmups before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Mike Cassano stands on the field during warmups before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska's Christian Lilienkamp (41) and Isaac Gifford (23) celebrate a sack in the second quarter against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD Journal Star
A pass intended for Nebraska's Zavier Betts (15) falls incomplete on a fourth-down play in the closing seconds of regulation against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Scott Frost (center) looks up at the clock in the fourth quarter against Wisconsin on Nov. 20 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Journal Star file photo
Nebraska coach Steve Cooper stands on the field during warmups before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
Reach Clark Grell at 402-473-2639 or cgrell@journalstar.com . On Twitter at @LJSSportsGrell.
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