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Nebraska-Oklahoma St. Preview

Oct 20, 2010 - 5:57 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

No. 16 Nebraska (5-1) at No. 14 Oklahoma State (6-0), 3:30 p.m. EDT

After stumbling against one Big 12 South opponent, Nebraska is hoping to add to its recent success away from home when it plays another on Saturday.

That seventh consecutive road win, however, might not come easily as the 14th-ranked Cornhuskers head to Stillwater to face unbeaten No. 17 Oklahoma State.

One of the preseason favorites to compete for the Big 12 and BCS titles, Nebraska seemed to back up those predictions by winning its first five games by an average of 28.8 points to rise to No. 5 in the AP poll.

Those championship hopes, though, took a hit with last week's 20-13 home loss to Texas in a rematch of last season's Big 12 championship game.

Nebraska was held to 202 yards after previously averaging 494.4, and Niles Paul, Rex Burkhead and Brandon Kinnie combined to drop four potential touchdown passes, leading to freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez's exit in the second half.

Martinez is expected to start against the Cowboys, and he'll try to help the Cornhuskers (5-1, 1-1) bounce back on the road, where they've thrived.

Starting with a victory over then-No. 24 Missouri on Oct. 8, 2009, Nebraska has won six straight away from home, outscoring opponents 210-93 while committing just six turnovers.

Nebraska is 5-3 at home over that same time frame, but 2-3 against conference foes. Coach Bo Pelini's team has been outscored 66-57 in those games against the Big 12 while turning the ball over 13 times.

"I honestly think there's less distraction on the road, whatever it may be," Pelini said. "We're looking into why that is and trying to think outside the box a little bit about maybe handling home games a little bit differently."

Martinez, fourth nationally with 147.4 rushing yards per game, has averaged 189 and scored seven touchdowns in two road games.

This time, he'll face a Cowboys team that's won six straight in Stillwater, and is 16-3 there over the past three seasons. Two of those losses have come during the past two visits from ranked conference foes.

Oklahoma State (6-0, 2-0), tied atop the Big 12 South with rival Oklahoma, has dropped 20 of 25 overall against Top 25 teams heading into its first such matchup this season, but could begin to change that trend with help from one of the best offenses in the FBS.

The Cowboys are averaging 49.5 points and 535.3 yards to trail only top-ranked Oregon in both categories.

Brandon Weeden is also second in FBS with 327.7 passing yards per contest, and most of his throws have gone to Justin Blackmon, who leads the nation with 159.2 receiving yards per contest. In last week's 34-17 win at Texas Tech, Blackmon had a career-high 207 yards on 10 receptions and topped 100 in a school-record sixth consecutive game.

Oklahoma State also boasts the fifth-leading rusher in FBS in Kendall Hunter (138.3 ypg).

As they try to match their second-best start in school history, the Cowboys could have their hands full with the nation's ninth-best defense in yards (274.3) and points (14) allowed. Oklahoma State won its first seven games in 2008 under coach Mike Gundy, and its first nine in 1945.

"They're impressive," Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said. "They're well coached. They're athletic. They're tough up front. It'll be a big challenge."

If the offense is slowed, the Cowboys might need a better effort from their defense, which is giving up 27.2 points and 404.5 yards per game.

Oklahoma State is 36th in allowing an average of 124.5 yards on the ground, but has benefited from facing three of the nation's top 11 passing teams this season.

"We're looking forward to the game this week," Gundy said. "It's a different challenge for us. ... Hopefully our players understand the importance of focus and staying on a straight line and doing what it takes to play well on Saturday."

Nebraska holds a 36-5-1 lead in the series, but has dropped three of the last four meetings, including its previous two in 2006 and 2007 under former coach Bill Callahan. The 'Huskers have also fallen in their last two trips to Stillwater and last won there in 1995.

After losing 10 straight to Top 25 foes, Nebraska has won three of four such matchups.