Filed by Rich Kaipust at 2:39 p.m.
Oklahoma and South Florida allowed enough points Saturday to allow for Nebraska to become the national leader in scoring defense.
Through four games, the Huskers have allowed 28 points for a 7.0 average.
Bo Pelini was asked about that at his weekly press conference -- moved from Tuesday to today because of the Thursday night game -- and the Nebraska coach gave a predictable answer.
"I don't pay attention to that,'' Pelini said. "We have a long way to go as a defense yet. I don't really get caught up in statistics and all those things. I go off what I see on the film and the execution that we have. Obviously I'm not satisfied with where we are as a defense.''
Behind Nebraska, the Football Bowl Subdivision leaders include Florida (7.25 points per game), Southern Cal (8.6), Oklahoma (8.75) and South Florida (9.4). The next closest Big 12 North team is Kansas at 13.5.
The Husker defense surely will be tested at Missouri, which is scoring 36.8 points a game and ranks fifth in the Big 12 in total offense (453.0 yards per game).
Pelini said the Tigers' offense remains similar to a year ago although sophomore Blaine Gabbert has replaced Chase Daniel at quarterback. Pelini also had nice things to say about Gabbert, who will be making his fifth career start against NU.
"Blaine's a good player,'' Pelini said. "Obviously he was a really highly recruited kid out of high school. He's big, he can throw, pretty athletic … He's a good football player.''
Not much news from the press conference, the first media access to Pelini and Nebraska players since Wednesday.
Pelini seemed at ease today with the Big 12 opener just three days away. Probably because he knows the Huskers are much better off than a year ago, when then-No. 4 Mizzou came to Memorial Stadium and rolled to a 52-17 win.
"I didn't think we were a very good football team at that point last year, in a lot of different ways,'' he said. "I think we're further along now and we'll find out Thursday night how far we've come.''
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