Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan announced after Wednesday's practice that senior center Kurt Mann is hospitalized because of a virus and will not play in Saturday's game against Southern California.
Mann also missed the Cornhuskers' last game against Nicholls State on Saturday.
Callahan said Mann probably would be released from the hospital today but won't be ready to play. He added that coaches would take Mann's situation one day at a time.
Brett Byford, a junior from Hartselle, Ala., will start at center for the second week in a row. Sophomore Andy Christensen and junior Jordan Picou will be backups at the position.
Callahan said Byford played well against Nicholls State, but No. 2 Southern Cal should present a stiffer test.
"(Southern Cal has) got a heck of a defensive line, so this will definitely be a challenge for him," Callahan said.
On Tuesday, The Associated Press reported NU junior starting cornerback Andre Jones all but guaranteed a Husker win Saturday against the Trojans.
"We're going to come up on top," Jones told the AP. "USC is a great team. Of course, it's not going to be an easy game like it was against Louisiana Tech or Nicholls State."
Jones is in his first year with the Huskers after transferring from Fresno City (Calif.) Community College.
Callahan said Wednesday that younger players sometimes make judgment errors when they are not used to talking to the media.
"They're excited, they're a little emotional and they want to do well, but we don't need any bold statements," Callahan said. "We just need to remain humble and hardworking."
- Compiled by staff reporter Ben Gouldsmith
