LINCOLN, Neb. -- When your dreams are dashed and most of your goals gone, there’s just one way to react, according to Nebraska I-back Ameer Abdullah.
"Move on,” he said. “That’s part of college football.”
Nebraska finds itself out of position to win a conference title with two regular-season games to play for the first time since 2007.
The Cornhuskers said the situation makes no difference in their preparation for a visit Saturday to Penn State. Nebraska faces Iowa next week with incentive still to win nine games for a sixth consecutive season.
Actually, a 10-win season -- bowl game included -- remains possible.
The plan for Nebraska success in State College involves tapping a strong reserve of pride.
“We have too high character of guys to have a letdown,” senior offensive tackle Brent Qvale said. “I think we’ll be doing just fine. But if there is any lull, it’s going to be up to myself and the rest of the seniors to really push everyone along and make sure we are executing in finishing out the season the right way.”
Nine wins is a big deal.
“It’s the No. 1 thing we’re working for right now,” linebacker David Santos said.
It helps that the Huskers match in these final two weeks against the Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes.
Nebraska and Penn State share a notable history as nonconference foes. In Big Ten play, the Huskers won the first two meetings, including an emotional-wrapped 17-14 victory at Beaver Stadium two years ago in the wake of Joe Paterno's firing.
Iowa and Nebraska share a border and a Big Ten-assigned, post-Thanksgiving rivalry.
The Huskers continue to deal with injuries. Another starter on the offensive line is doubtful for Saturday as center-turned-guard Cole Pensick fights a knee injury suffered last week in Nebraska’s 41-28 loss to Michigan State.
Pensick’s injury brings to four the number of top-unit offensive linemen who are not healthy. All-Big Ten guard Spencer Long went down against Purdue with a season-ending knee injury. He was followed to the sideline by guard Jake Cotton, tackle Jeremiah Sirles and Long’s replacement, Mike Moudy.
Still, Nebraska found a way rush for 182 yards against the Spartans, nearly twice as many as any foe had gained against MSU this season.
“There’s a lot of character on this football team,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said.
Individually, many goals remain. Abdullah is a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation’s top running back. He’s also in contention to be named the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year.
But the junior, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in nine of the Huskers’ 10 games, is more concerned about his team.
“I feel like, as a team, we’re a pretty prideful bunch,” Abdullah said. “We want to win, and we want to get the bad taste of a loss out of our mouths. We are going to do everything we can this week to ensure that we can do that.”
