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Nebraska Braces for Badgers’ Ground Assault

Another ‘trench game’ for defense; no decision yet on Husker QB Thompson’s availability

Joe Hudson

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Another week, another "trench game" for the Nebraska defense.

For the fourth week in a row, the Huskers are facing an offense geared toward opening holes for a 1,000-yard rusher. This time, it's Wisconsin and Braelon Allen.   

"The workload has been real, and it doesn't change this week even with the gauntlet we've kind of had with Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan," defensive coordinator Bill Busch said after Wednesday's Nebraska football practice. "They've had a lot of trench games, and this game will be the exact same way."

The Badgers "preach toughness, physicality and the ability to run the ball," Busch said. "We've got our hands full, but we've been preparing extremely well, so we are excited to go on Saturday."

Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple said he will call the last two games from the coaches' booth after suffering a sprained MCL on an accidental sideline hit during the Michigan game. 

Whipple said he was encouraged by the progress of injured quarterback Casey Thompson but wasn't ready to declare him available against Wisconsin. He confirmed that Logan Smothers and walk-on Jarrett Synek were now the No. 2 and No. 3 quarterbacks after Chubba Purdy's season-ending injury in Ann Arbor.

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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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