ESPN College Football

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said his decision on a starter at quarterback for the Cornhuskers' game Saturday against Iowa State likely will be a game-time decision.

"It's always open," Pelini said Monday. "That's kind of how we always approach it."

Junior quarterback Zac Lee has started every game this season but has sputtered in Nebraska's last two games. The Cornhuskers fell out of first place in the Big 12 North after dropping a 31-10 game against Texas Tech on Saturday as the Cornhuskers produced only 285 yards.

Freshman quarterback Cody Green was inserted into action during a third-quarter drive and brought back in later in the game to finish against the Red Raiders. Green produced the Cornhuskers' lone touchdown in their loss.

Nebraska's offense has teetered all season against FCS opponents. The Cornhuskers were limited to 15 points -- all on field goals -- in a loss to Virginia Tech. Lee rallied them for a 27-12 victory over Missouri, but all of those points came in the fourth quarter in a game that tied for the biggest fourth-quarter rally in the 120-season history of the Nebraska program.

Fans and media have been piling on the Cornhuskers since that loss, causing Pelini to lash out at those critics.

The sputtering offense has been the main target of vitriol on Internet message boards and sports call-in shows. Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, Lee and the offensive line have taken most of the heat.

After Monday's practice, Pelini said he doesn't care about what the fans say or if they boo him and his team.

He said when the fans and media earn the title of head coach, they can make the decisions. Until then, he said he and his staff are calling the shots.

And those shots include deciding which quarterback to start. Pelini said he likely won't make a call until shortly before Saturday's game.

"Right now, nothing's changed," Pelini said. "If and when it changes, we'll announce it."

The Cornhuskers would prefer to avoid rotating Lee and Green depending on game situations.

"It depends on how it goes, right?" Pelini said. "We'll see how it goes and how they practice and how they perform, and we'll go from there.

"There's a lot of variables. A lot of things that could happen."

Tim Griffin covers the Big 12 for ESPN.com. You may contact him at espntimgriff@yahoo.com. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.