LINCOLN — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said Monday his team is “very well aware of what's at stake'' as the Huskers begin preparations for Kansas State.

The NU-KSU winner will clinch the North Division title and a trip to the Big 12 championship game.

“Obviously the game means a lot,'' Pelini said. “It's going to determine the Big 12 North. We have a lot of respect for our opponent in every way. We know they're going to be ready to play. We've got to be ready to play our best football.”

NU and K-State combined to win the first five North Division titles from 1996 through 2000. In the past eight years, however, the Huskers and Wildcats have won the North only one more time apiece.

“Coach Pelini said today it's a normal game, but it's also a big game,'' NU cornerback Prince Amukamara said. “We know what's at stake. We have to just go out and just get it.''

Amukamara said winning the 6:45 p.m. game Saturday on ESPN would be a nice going-away present for the Husker seniors. It also would set up a likely game with Texas on Dec. 5 in Arlington, Texas.

“I think it would mean a lot just for the university,'' Amukamara said. “I guess someone said we haven't had a Big 12 championship in this whole decade (last in 1999). The opportunity's out there.''

Paul figures out body positioning

Niles Paul likes his chances on those long pass plays when he's matched up one-on-one with a cornerback, especially now that he's figured out how to position his body properly.

Three months ago, the junior wide receiver was chastised by the coaching staff for using his hands too often to create separation.

“All fall camp, that was the downfall to my game,” Paul said. “I pushed.”

But now, Paul said he has learned out how to use his 6-foot-1, 215-pound frame in an advantageous fashion.

On the first offensive play from scrimmage Saturday, Paul leaned to his left, creating a little bit of contact with Kansas cornerback Anthony Davis. Then Paul caught the deep lob pass over his right shoulder for a gain of 35 yards.

“Coach said you can use your body, and I've been trying to master that all week,” he said. “On the first play of the game, everybody thought I pushed him. No, I was using my body.”

For the season, Paul has caught 29 passes for 567 yards and three touchdowns. He's averaging 56.7 receiving yards per game.

Helu went down to run the clock

Junior I-back Roy Helu admitted Monday that his 30-yard run on third down might have resulted in a touchdown if he didn't cut back one extra time in hopes of running out the clock.

Helu made his way to the sideline on a third-down toss play with 3:16 left, accelerating downfield as soon as he found a clearing. And after a deceptive cutback to the middle of the field, Helu appeared to be headed for the end zone.

But he immediately turned back toward the sideline and voluntarily fell to the turf.

“I was under the impression that we were going to get two first downs, and that would milk it,” he said. “Me just going through executing plays, I lost track of everything and forgot they had timeouts still. It was a poor decision on my part.”

Helu is only 38 yards from the 1,000-yard mark this season. He has rushed for 962 yards on 167 carries, 96.2 yards per game, and has rushed for nine touchdowns. Nebraska's No. 2 rusher, freshman Dontrayevous Robinson, has rushed for 159 yards on 38 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Kinnie made one-handed catch

Brandon Kinnie's one-handed catch in the third quarter wasn't by design, but the sophomore receiver wasn't surprised by his ability to make the play.

He expects more of the same this week.

On second-and-goal from the 17-yard line Saturday, Kinnie ran a crossing route and snatched Zac Lee's pass with only his right hand, falling out of bounds for an 8-yard gain.

“The ball seemed too far, and I just reached out there and grabbed it,” he said. “But I expect stuff like that out of me. That's why I was brought in here, to make plays.”

Practice routines won't change

Pelini acknowledged Monday that his team might be a little bit fatigued at this point in the year, but he doesn't have plans to change his practice routine.

Ten games into the season, all college football players are trying to deal with the physical toll, Pelini said. And for most, he said, it's a mental hurdle that they have to clear.

“I think our guys are fine,” he said. “We're not going to lighten much up. Our guys will be fine. We know how to take care of their legs. We need to get our work done this week.”

Junior tight end Mike McNeill didn't return Saturday after absorbing a powerful hit in the fourth quarter, but he should be ready to play against Kansas State, Pelini said.

McNeill is Nebraska's second-leading receiver with 21 receptions for 211 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior defensive end Pierre Allen (toe) will be OK too, Pelini said. Allen ranks No. 7 among NU tacklers with 39 total stops.

Checking out NU, KSU stats

Kansas State's rushing attack ranks No. 31 in the NCAA with an 183.6-yard average.

But the Wildcats are No. 105 in passing at 170.9 yards per game and No. 75 in total offense at 354.5.

Nebraska ranks No. 57 in rushing offense at 152.4 yards and No. 82 in passing at 200.9. The Huskers' average total yards per game, 353.3, rank No. 77.

The teams' scoring average are close, too. Nebraska ranks No. 68 at 26.2 points per game, and Kansas State is No. 75 at 24.8 points per game.

Kansas State holds an edge in turnover margin, ranking No. 19 at +0.73, while Nebraska is No. 59 at +0.10.

Kansas State has one of the nation's best kickoff-return units, averaging 26.9 yards per return and ranking No. 6. NU is No. 44 at 22.8.

— Rich Kaipust and Jon Nyatawa

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