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Nebraska tries to regroup vs. Ball State

Sep 22, 2007 - 12:37 PM Ball St (2-1) at No. 24 Nebraska (2-1) 12:30 pm EDT

LINCOLN, Nebraska (Ticker) -- Bill Callahan's team certainly should have an easier time defending the run this week.

Callahan's No. 24 Nebraska squad hosts Ball State on Saturday, seven days after getting blown out in a marquee matchup.

Last week, the Cornhuskers fell to top-ranked Southern California here, 49-31, in a game that was not as close as the final score indicated.

Nebraska held a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter before surrendering 35 straight points. The Cornhuskers scored a pair of touchdowns against the USC reserves in the fourth quarter to make the score more respectable.

Normally stout against the run, the Cornhuskers yielded 313 yards and five touchdowns to the USC rushing attack.

Sam Keller passed for 389 yards and two TDs but threw a pair of interceptions in the losing effort.

Nebraska, which is playing its final game this season before entering Big 12 Conference action, is facing another 2-1 team in Ball State. The Mid-American Conference squad is coming off a 34-31 overtime triumph at Navy in which Jake Hogue won the game for the Cardinals with a 24-yard field goal after defensive end Brandon Crawford blocked a potential game-winning kick at the end of regulation.

Nate Davis threw for 277 yards and three TDs with an interception for the Cardinals. His 12-yard TD toss to MiQuale Lewis tied the game with 3:53 to go in the fourth quarter.

This is the first meeting between the teams.