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Inside Track Shows Nebraska Will Need Outside Help

Associated Press

Notebook

For the first time in nearly four years, Nebraska is on the outside looking in at the national title chase.

While it’s unlikely the No. 8 Cornhuskers will get a chance to win their third straight title after their 19-0 loss to Arizona State, history says they still have a shot.

The Cornhuskers have to win the rest of their games and hope for help along the way.

“I really don’t know what’s going to happen, but historically, teams that lose early in the season have won it,” said Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, citing Miami’s 1983 national title season.

In the not-so-big Big 12, the Huskers must win the North Division to get into the league’s championship game. Games against No. 16 Kansas State, Baylor and No. 20 Kansas - all unbeaten - and No. 12 Colorado won’t be cakewalks, either.

And even if they win the Big 12, there are no assurances the one-loss Huskers would be ranked No. 1 or No. 2.

Help outside the conference needs to come in the form of losses by Florida, Florida State, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan. And Arizona State probably needs to lose twice.

It can happen with games such as Ohio State-Notre Dame (Saturday), Penn State-Ohio State (Oct. 5), Florida State-Miami (Oct. 12), USC-Arizona State (Oct. 19), Michigan-Ohio State (Nov. 23), ArizonaArizona State (Nov. 23) and Florida-Florida State (Nov. 30). Notre Dame also has games against Washington and Southern California.

Seventysomething

Ohio State joins Houston and Florida in the 70-70 club. Since 1968, the Buckeyes are one of only three Top 25 teams to produce back-to-back 70-point games.

No. 4 Ohio State opened by routing Rice 70-7 and Pittsburgh 72-0. In 1968, Houston beat Idaho 77-3 and Tulsa 100-6 in consecutive games. In 1994, Florida beat New Mexico 70-21 and followed with a 73-7 win over Kentucky.

It’s doubtful the Buckeyes will make the 70-70-70 club. They play Notre Dame on Saturday.

ISU player improves

Idaho State cornerback Marcus Jackson, paralyzed after a spinal cord injury in a weekend football game, is showing some improvement.

Jackson lost all feeling below his shoulders when two vertebrae were broken when he tackled a Western Montana runner.

After a 6-hour operation Monday, Jackson had some feeling down to his elbow.