• Zac Lee at the postgame press conference:



LINCOLN — Take it from a guy who makes a habit of hitting quarterbacks, Nebraska's got a tough one.

Referring to teammate Zac Lee, NU defensive tackle Jared Crick said: “Some of those hits, anybody else would still be down.”

Lee took a couple of monster shots Saturday, and each time bounced back up. In one bone-rattling second-quarter hit, Kansas State linebacker John Houlik drilled Lee out of bounds for a 15-yard late-hit penalty. But NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson still dialed up an option call on the next play.

“He likes to play that way,” Watson said. “He loves to get in there and get knocked around a little bit.

“I think he actually plays better when he gets knocked around like that. He likes it. At least he says he does.”

Lee's take? He said he was just trying to pick up an extra 15 yards.

“That's just that swagger he has,” Crick said. “He's a strong kid. He's a lot more tough than most quarterbacks you see.”

The Wildcats sacked Lee twice for a combined loss of 24 yards. But they put hit after hit on him as he carried nine times for 24 yards. Defensive back Troy Butler was flagged for roughing the passer when he tagged Lee in the backfield.

In all, Lee officially finished with a net of minus-5 yards on 11 carries with the sacks and other losses factored in.

“He's a trooper, and he's a battler,” tight end Mike McNeill. “We know he's tough.

“Just because you're a quarterback doesn't mean you can't take a hit.”

Burkhead gains 17 yards in return

Rex Burkhead didn't fly into the NU huddle with his cape flowing behind him.

But Superman was definitely back Saturday.

The freshman running back returned after missing five games with a broken foot bone. Burkhead carried six times for 17 yards and had a reception for 9 yards.

“I mean, you guys saw him run,” running backs coach Tim Beck said. “What'd you think? He looked pretty good, didn't he?”

Burkhead said he stayed off the foot for four entire weeks. He began testing it a week or so ago, doing work in the pool and on a special treadmill. Burkhead said he ran and cut on it for the first time Tuesday and was cleared to practice Wednesday morning after he felt no effects of the previous day's work.

“I was kind of excited,” he said. “(It was) kind of unexpected.”

Burkhead, who was the primary backup to Roy Helu before he was injured in practice before the Texas Tech game, said he felt as if he was getting “pretty close” to 100 percent, adding that now it's just about getting his legs underneath of him.

“I would say (I'm) right there,” Burkhead said.

Linemen pleaded for fourth-down try

Pelini was ready to punt on fourth-and-1 from the NU 36 with less than three minutes to play. The offensive linemen had different ideas.

“The kids, they assured me they were going to get it,” Pelini said. “There was no question in their minds they were going to get it.”

After a timeout, the Huskers hurried to the line of scrimmage. A quarterback sneak by Lee gained 2 yards, and the Huskers ran out the clock.

“We kind of went in there and said, ‘There's no way we're going to punt this ball,'” center Jacob Hickman said. “If it's coming down a little less than a yard to go (for the Big 12 title game), I was really confident we could get it. I'm really glad Coach Bo let us go for it.”

Asked what he'd have done if the Huskers did not convert fourth down, Pelini smiled.

“They were lucky they did,” the coach said.

One less day for preparations

Hickman said he's eager to gauge the Huskers' readiness in practice Monday, the start of a short week in preparation for the regular-season finale Friday at Colorado.

“The short week is tough” Hickman said. “We've got to make sure we practice real, real well this week. But I don't think anybody's going to overlook Colorado. We always want to get after them.”

The Buffaloes (3-8, 2-5 Big 12) have more time to prepare after losing 31-28 Thursday at Oklahoma State.

Asante gets shower along with Pelini

Pelini got the Gatorade bath — but not without Larry Asante going along for the ride.

Asante never saw it coming as the senior shared a moment with Pelini as the final seconds ticked off the clock Saturday night.

“Coach came up to me and was giving me a hug,'' Asante said. “He was telling me how much he loved me and how I had came along as a player. Out of nowhere, they just dumped the Gatorade machine on me. It was out of joy, though, so I'm happy.''

— Nick Rubek, Steven Pivovar, Jon Nyatawa, Mitch Sherman and Rich Kaipust


• Video: Nebraska coach Bo Pelini at the postgame press conference:

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