• Nebraska enters a key October stretch tonight in Ames looking to get a leg up* in the Big 12 North. Here are your game-day scene-setters from the papers in Omaha (1, 2, 3, 4),* Lincoln (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), Grand Island (1, 2, 3),* Cedar Rapids (1, 2), Des Moines and Waterloo.

• Kurt Mann's illness* was "really serious," OL coach Dennis Wagner says.

• Bill Callahan expects Dan McCarney to have tricks up his sleeve for this game.

• Pregame perspectives from Nebraska StatePaper, the Daily Nebraskan (1, 2) and KETV (text | video)

• The Cyclones try to turn around their poor defensive numbers.

• A gold-clad crowd* will try to make things difficult for NU in Ames.

• NU's starting safeties discuss some of the ins and outs of their positions.

• Center Brett Byford is grateful for his time on the big stage.* Kurt Mann,* meanwhile, makes the travel squad.

• ISU loses linebacker Adam Carper to a season-ending knee injury in practice.

• Which team has the advantage at quarterback?

• NU's quick-strike capability* gives defenses something to worry about.

• The benefits* of the I-back rotation* outweigh the problems, Jay Norvell says.

• His sacks are fewer in 2006, but Adam Carriker* remains a force.

• Steve Octavien* is held out of Wednesday's practice.*

• The Lincoln paper provides a breakdown of the Cyclones.

• Added strength and confidence have given Frantz Hardy a boost this season.

• Check ABC's coverage map to see whether the game will air in your area.

• The Sports Network predicts a 34-21 NU victory, but three of five pickers at CBS Sportsline say ISU will win.

• ISU's Jon Davis, a WR from Papillion, makes a remarkable rebound from injury.

• Cornerbacks learn to endure the heat of pressure and criticism.

• The Blackshirts say that their confidence is intact and that the crowd noise* contributed to some of their problems* on Saturday. More* from Tuesday's news conference. Notes: 1, 2, 3.* Video: Players | Callahan

• It's Q&A time with Maurice Purify and Stewart Bradley.*

• Kurt Mann and Steve Octavien return to practice.

• Dan McCarney makes a personnel change in the defensive secondary.

• The eight Nebraskans* on ISU's roster gear up for Saturday's game.

• The Blackshirts* look for answers* as they prepare for dangerous* ISU quarterback Bret Meyer. Iowa State, meanwhile, faces questions of its own.

• Steve Octavien is set to return to action* this week.

• Peruse both teams' pregame notes: NU (HTML | PDF), ISU (HTML | PDF)

• The nonconference schedule duped us all, Steven Sipple writes.

• Next week's foe, Iowa State, survives a scare from Div. I-AA Northern Iowa. See how the Huskers and Cyclones match up statistically.

• Use of a banned supplement gets Iowa State's top tackler kicked off the team.

• The Cyclones enter 2006 with a solid nucleus in place, particularly on offense.