LINCOLN — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini was sure Monday to let everybody know his full focus is on Colorado, saying “I don't want anybody to talk about the Big 12 title game around me.''

The Huskers have clinched the North Division but still have the Buffaloes on Friday. The Big 12 championship game is Dec. 5 in Arlington, Texas.

“I've told our people in the offices, on the coaching staff, I don't want to hear about plans, about travel plans, about tickets or anything else about the Big 12 title game,'' Pelini said. “That means nothing. That time will come.''

Pelini said he could understand Texas going through the same thing. The South Division champs play at Texas A&M on Thursday night.

“You've got to take care of the here and now,'' Pelini said. “It's very easy to buy into distractions and what people are saying.

“People are going to talk about going to Dallas and everything else, but we don't have that luxury. We've got to make sure we stay on track.''

Junior defensive back Eric Hagg said NU players share Pelini's focus.

“Colorado's the next step and hopefully we can beat them,'' Hagg said. “We've just got to practice really hard. That's the next game so why worry about something else when we have a game right in front of us.''

• Video: Husker offensive lineman Jacob Hickman speaks at the team's weekly press conference:

Signs of life

Opposing defenses have incorporated more blitzes than usual lately, a sign that Nebraska's run-first approach on offense is working pretty well, according to senior center Jacob Hickman.

Hickman said opponents have been making an extra effort to disrupt the Huskers' blocking schemes by moving their linemen and filling running lanes with linebackers, even if those defensive strategies contradict their general philosophies.

According to Hickman, Kansas State blitzed far more Saturday night than its previous film-based tendencies indicated.

But that's a good thing, Hickman said, because it creates opportunities downfield.

“When you see teams try to do things like that — blitzing a lot, uncharacteristic things to try to get you off balance — you know you're having some success there,” Hickman said. “That opens up other things, like some big plays in the passing game or some possibilities of big runs like we've kind of had the last couple weeks.”

• Video: Husker tight end Mike McNeill speaks at the team's weekly press conference:

Time out for comedy

Few realize that Mike McNeill was on the field when kicker Alex Henery made that 57-yard field goal against Colorado last year, so the junior tight end took time to remind reporters Monday.

Holding back a smile, McNeill said his block was critical.

“I was probably the reason that he made the field goal actually,” McNeill said, drawing laughter from the media assembled nearby. “The credit really should probably go to me, but Henery gets most of it.”

But in the middle of McNeill's playful badgering of Henery, he was reminded of the pass he dropped on third down, right before the field goal attempt. That play could have given Henery at least 10 extra yards to work with.

McNeill didn't miss a beat.

“Shhh. ... I was just setting up history in the making, you know?” McNeill told reporters. “I didn't want Alex to hit like a 40-yard field goal. I wanted it to be a little longer, so I dropped the third-down pass.”

• Video: Husker kicker Alex Henery speaks at the team's weekly press conference:

Buff neighbors

Pelini offered praise Monday for Nebraska fans in the western part of the state, saying the NU-Colorado series carries extra importance for them.

“They're right there in the Colorado zone,” Pelini said. “They want bragging rights. That's our job. They make a lot of sacrifices driving a long way every week to come see us play, and we've got to have their back on this end when we play Colorado. That's all part of the deal.”

Hustling Helu

I-back Roy Helu fell just short of putting up his usual November numbers against Kansas State.

The junior finished with 95 yards on 26 carries in the 17-3 win. It marked only the second time in the Huskers' last seven November games that Helu didn't reach 100.

Overall, Helu did go over 1,000 yards for the season (1,057) and 2,000 for his career (2,069).

Rex's fresh legs

NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said the return of Rex Burkhead at I-back should take another step at Colorado. Out since Oct. 12 with a broken bone in his foot, Burkhead rejoined practice last Thursday, then carried six times for 17 yards and caught a pass against Kansas State.

“I think he's even better this week,'' Watson said. “He's got the freshest legs on our football team. Rex will log more time.''

Watson said NU sought several opinions before bringing Burkhead back.

In terms of the Husker game plan for Colorado, Watson said the offense has to compress some of its installation because it has one less day than usual. The process will continue until Nebraska leaves Thursday for Boulder.

“Our schedule is totally different,'' Watson said. “We've kind of revamped it, obviously, to fit and get everything in. We've got a lot of work to do in terms of getting a lot of stuff turned around fast.''

— Mitch Sherman, Jon Nyatawa and Rich Kaipust

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