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Casey Thompson Ruled Out vs. Michigan; Starter at Quarterback TBA

Mickey Joseph says Huskers are dialed in ahead of game against No. 3 Wolverines

Joe Hudson

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Casey Thompson will miss Nebraska's game at Michigan, but who starts at quarterback in his place won't be known until shortly before Saturday's 3:30 p.m. EST kickoff.

Thompson, injured two weeks ago against Illinois, didn't practice this week, but "he threw a little bit yesterday and he threw a little bit today," interim head coach Mickey Joseph said after Thursday's Nebraska football practice. Thompson is "a competitor and he wants to play, but he understands that he can't play at a high level so we won't put him out there."

With Thompson on the shelf, Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers have been vying for the starting spot. Which of them will get the start? "I think we're all going to find out Saturday at about 3:30," Joseph said with a smile.

Joseph again stressed a desire to get a running game going against the Wolverines, who are No. 1 nationally in rushing defense at 72.4 yards per game.

"The number one thing we have to be able to do is hand that ball off," Joseph said. "Hand the ball off and slow it down, that's what we have to do."

Joseph said the team appears ready for the challenge of taking on the nation's No. 3 team despite being written off as 30-point underdogs. 

"The guys came out this morning with a great attitude," Joseph said. "I thought they detailed the entire practice. I loved their focus in all three phases of the game. I think they understand that we gotta go in there and play at a high level. We are playing a very good football team. It is one the greatest venues in college football that you can play in, so we gotta be ready for the challenge. I think they are going to be ready for it."

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Joe Hudson
JOE HUDSON

Joe Hudson has operated a Husker-related website since 1995 and joined forces with David Max to form HuskerPedia (later renamed HuskerMax) in 1999. It began as a hobby during his 35 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, a career that included stints at the Lincoln Star, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer and Denver Post. In Denver, Joe was chief of the copy desk during his final 16 years at the Post. He is proud to have been involved in Pulitzer Prize-winning projects in both Philadelphia and Denver. Joe has been a Nebraska football fan since the mid-1960s during his childhood in Omaha. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism and economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. He resides a few freeway exits north of Colorado Springs and enjoys bicycling and walking his dogs in his spare time. You can reach him at joeroyhud@outlook.com.

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