Nebraska’s availability picture shifted a bit on the eve of kickoff, with three Huskers getting new designations on Friday’s Big Ten report.
The biggest move came on the edge, where Jordan Ochoa went from questionable to probable. Ochoa is part of Nebraska’s top-six rotation at the position, so his status change gives the Huskers a little more clarity there.
In the secondary, safety Rex Guthrie moved from doubtful to questionable. Guthrie started in Week 1 and remains a key name behind Dwayne McDougle. Young cornerback Bryson Webber, meanwhile, was added to the out list.
Everything else on the conference-mandated report stayed the same for both teams.
Michigan State will be without linebacker Brady Pretzlaff, who has the second-most tackles on the team with 17. As highlighted by our Michigan State site, Spartan Tailgate, Pretzlaff served as MSU's "green dot" player - the one who receives play calls through an in-helmet radio - for the majority of the team's Week 2 win.
The Spartans also listed Jay Coyne out. He’s a special teamer who was injured in the 27-10 loss at Notre Dame and played 182 special teams snaps for Michigan State last season.
Another Spartan worth watching is cornerback Tyran Chappell, who is questionable after starting Michigan State's past two games. The Houston Christian transfer has eight tackles and one pass breakup this season.
Big Ten teams are now required to submit availability reports three days before kickoff, then update them daily until game day. That’s a change from last year’s game-day-only setup, though the process itself is familiar to Nebraska coach Matt Rhule from his NFL background.
"Myself and (head football trainer) Drew Hamblin and the medical staff will handle it. We've practiced it the last three weeks.
So every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday he showed me what he would do," Rhule said. "We're not going to play any games with it.
If they are expected to play, if they're doubtful to play, we'll list all that."
Nebraska’s report lists Carter Nelson, Bryson Webber, Khamir Prescott, Tanner Terch, Gabe Moore, Gage Stenger, Jacob Bower and Jase Reynolds as out. Guthrie is the lone Husker listed as doubtful, while Ochoa is now questionable.
Michigan State’s out group includes Pretzlaff, Jay Coyne, Eliyjah Caldwell, Eli Bickel, Tristan Comer and Joe Caudill. Chappell, KK Smith and Cal Thrush are questionable.
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