ESPN College Football

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nicholls State is hoping to catch Nebraska looking ahead. But even that might not be enough to pull of a major upset.

The 21st-ranked Cornhuskers need to avoid a classic "trap game" Saturday when they host Division I-AA Nicholls State in the first ever meeting between the schools.

Nebraska clearly is the more talented team in this matchup, but coach Bill Callahan must make sure his team keeps its focus. After all, the Cornhuskers play No. 3 Southern California next week and they have a realistic opportunity to hand the Trojans their first regular-season loss since a triple-overtime defeat to California on September 27, 2003.

Nebraska certainly seemed focused in its first game, a 49-10 rout of Louisiana Tech in which Zac Taylor threw for 287 yards and a career high-tying three touchdowns. Four different tight ends caught TD passes and four running backs combined for 250 rushing yards for the Huskers, who won their 21st consecutive season opener.

The win was Nebraska's fourth straight dating to last season. The team has not won five consecutive games since opening the 2003 campaign with five straight triumphs.

Nicholls State opened with a 35-0 rout against Southern Arkansas last weekend. The Colonels ran for 195 yards and limited the Muleriders to 200 total yards. Michael McLendon rushed for a pair of one-yard TDs for Nicholls State, which needed to throw only four passes in the victory.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index