Test Time Finally Here for Nebraska

At last, the road to the top seems awfully clear for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

How far they still have to go will be determined, at least in part, Saturday when the Cornhuskers travel to Blacksburg, Va., to take on the 13th-ranked Hokies, Nebraska's first real test of the season.

Just don't expect Nebraska coach Bo Pelini to admit that his team's first BCS opponent of the season will be a gauge for how close the Cornhuskers are to returning to their dominant former selves.

"Every week is a measuring stick," Pelini said this week. "We have to measure ourselves according to where we want to be and how we're executing. It's the way it is. You have to measure yourself every day. Are you improving every day? Are you getting better every day? Are you competing to be the best every day? You have to make improvement and this week is just the next step."

Thus far, it's been difficult to tell exactly how far along the rebuilding process is for the Big 12 North preseason favorites. Nebraska has won a pair of games but did so by flooring a pair of lightweights -- a 49-3 drubbing of Florida Atlantic and a 38-9 victory over Arkansas State.

A win Saturday afternoon over a high-caliber ACC foe like Virginia Tech (1-1) would certainly provide the telltale sign that Nebraska is indeed on the road to recovery, as most predicted for Pelini's second year.

"It's a great opportunity, especially a team like Virginia Tech that has had such long-term success," said Nebraska junior quarterback Zac Lee. "I think it's an opportunity that we are really looking forward to."

Through the first two games, the Cornhuskers (2-0) have resembled the old Nebraska "Blackshirt" defensive teams that used to stifle opposing offenses.

But they will face a much more powerful and potent rushing attack this weekend led by Hokies backs Ryan Williams and David Wilson. It's because of those two that Virginia Tech ranks 13th in the country in rushing offense after amassing 508 yards on the ground in its first two games -- a 10-point loss to No. 4 Alabama, and then a 52-10 win last week against Marshall.

Williams is the workhorse with an 8.1 yards per carry average this season, to go along with 235 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Wilson, meanwhile, is averaging an eye-popping 13.8 yards per carry on 12 attempts.

Last weekend, Nebraska faced an Arkansas State team that insisted on running the football, rushing 38 times compared to 20 passes. The Hokies promise to be even more committed to the ground game.

"Very potent," Nebraska senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said of Virginia Tech's rushing attack. "There's times where they definitely got some good yardage against [Marshall] and were very physical and a running-downhill team."

Nebraska's offense has had success of its own rushing the football behind running back Roy Helu Jr., who hasn't had a negative carry yet this season and has 212 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.

But the real story of the offense to this point has been the passing of Lee. In his first season as a starter, Lee has been impressive with a 186.41 quarterback rating that ranks him seventh in the nation. He has completed 42 of 57 passes for 553 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception, a performance that has eased Nebraska's concerns at its most vital position.

Lee is performing better than just about everyone expected, with the exception of coach and player.

"I think Zac is doing what we thought he was capable of doing," Pelini said. "I said all along, I have a tremendous amount of confidence in him. I think if you asked anybody associated with our team, they feel the same way. It doesn't surprise me at all."

Lee, too, is pleased but not surprised at his fast start.

"I'd like to say I have pretty high expectations for myself, so I feel like I'm pretty much right on track," Lee said.

But the junior also realizes the ante goes up quite a bit this week against Virginia Tech.

"I'd imagine things might move a little faster," Lee said. "I think you'll probably be a little more precise with things overall. Our offense as a whole, just [has to] be more precise, more detailed, because I think the speed of the game might speed up a little bit because of the caliber of athletes they have and the coaching that they have."

That's about as close as you are going to get to anyone in the Cornhuskers camp admitting how important Saturday's game is.

"I don't feel any different, me as a football coach," said Pelini, whose team lost 35-30 to Virginia Tech at home last season. "I'm sure you ask me on Saturday, I'll probably feel a little bit differently. I don't approach it much different, and I don't think our football team approaches it any different than they do any other week.

"Obviously, we have a lot of respect for this football program and it's going to have your stinger up a little bit more. The reality of what's needed to win the football game doesn't really change you're just playing against different people."

Not surprisingly, Lee agrees with his coach.

"It's just the next step," he said. "I know you guys [in the media] are thinking [Pelini]'s just saying it's the next step, but it is. It's the next game on our schedule, and therefore, it's the most important game.

"It's obviously a little different because they're a highly-ranked opponent, who's played good people and done well against them. But we're focused every week and we prepare every week as if it is the biggest week. I think preparation and everything will be very similar this week, just because that's how our coaches prepare us every week."