Nebraska is a candidate to break back into the Associated Press Top 25 Sunday based on its win at Colorado, a 9-3 record and because some rivalry games took a toll on ranked teams. Specifically, No. 23 North Carolina lost 28-27 to unranked North Carolina State on Saturday and No. 20 Mississippi lost 41-27 to Mississippi State.

Stanford, a 45-38 winner against Notre Dame on Saturday, and Nebraska were just outside the Top 25 as the next two teams receiving the most votes heading into this week's games.

Nebraska was No. 23 in the coaches poll and No. 24 in the Harris poll last week.

Trophy dash

It's safe to say that Ndamukong Suh will know all about banquet protocol before his career is over at Nebraska.

On Saturday, Suh was announced as a finalist for the Lott Trophy along with Eric Berry of Tennessee, Rolando McClain of Alabama and Jerry Hughes of TCU.

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's defensive player of the year and will be presented Dec. 13 in Newport Beach, Calif.

The Lott Trophy is the fifth major national award Suh has been named a finalist for in the past three weeks. He's also one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award, one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, one of five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy and one of three finalists for the Bednarik Award. He is also one of 15 players on the “players to watch list” for the Walter Camp player of the year award. Suh is one of only three defensive players on that list.

‘Old-school Nebraska'

NU fans won't soon forget the Huskers' 13-play, clock-killing scoring drive in the fourth quarter against Colorado. The Buffs' Marcus Burton probably will remember it for a while, too.

“Just old-school Nebraska,” the senior linebacker said.

Burton said it looked as if the Huskers took the things that Oklahoma State did well against the Buffaloes a week earlier and exploited them. With Colorado trailing 21-14 and needing a stop, Nebraska pounded away for a back-breaking score.

“They run a particular game plan — running the ball — and they do it well,” he said. “We needed to get the ball back and we didn't do that.”

Not special for Buffs

Colorado coach Dan Hawkins was asked if the Buffs' special teams need to improve next year. His short answer?

“Definitely,” Hawkins said.

CU gave up a touchdown on a punt return, averaged 16.3 yards on kickoff returns and missed both of its field-goal attempts.

Kicker Aric Goodman finished 10 of 18 in field-goal tries and missed his last four.

“Well it doesn't help, that's for sure,” Hawkins said when a reporter asked how much the missed field goals hurt. “It doesn't help. I don't know. I feel bad for the guy. I do, because he works hard and he tries hard. But somehow we've got to figure out a way to make some more of those things because we need them.”

— Compiled from press services and local reports

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