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GAME NOTES: Arguably the biggest game of the week will take place in Blacksburg this Saturday, as the 13th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies clash with the 19th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in a battle of Top 25 programs.

The Hokies have one of the more difficult schedules around and they are already set to play their second Top 25 opponent after opening the season with a hard fought 34-24 loss to then fifth-ranked Alabama. Like years past though, VT showed its resiliency under head coach Frank Beamer and bounced back with a convincing 52-10 triumph of Marshall last weekend.

"It was a good win over a good football team," stated Beamer. "We played real well, especially coming off last week [the loss to Alabama] with people asking if we could get back up, and mentally what it would do to us. I think the kids and the coaches responded today."

It marked the 31st consecutive non-league home win for the Hokies, whose 52 points were their most since tallying the same amount against Virginia in 2005.

As for the Huskers, this will be their first game of the season against a team outside of the Sun Belt Conference. Nebraska opened its season with a pair of games in Lincoln, trouncing both Florida Atlantic (49-3) and most recently Arkansas State (38-9) this past weekend.

"I thought we played better than we did a week ago, but we're not where we need to be. I think everybody feels that," said head coach Bo Pelini following last weekend's win.

Pelini may not be satisfied, but Nebraska is still undefeated and riding a six-game winning streak dating back to last season. It marks the program's longest streak since winning 13 in a row between the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

Nebraska and Tech have clashed on just two other occasions on the gridiron, with each team winning one of those encounters. Most recently, the Hokies went into Lincoln and emerged with a 35-30 victory over the Huskers last season.

Quarterback Zac Lee threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns, as the Huskers amassed over 490 total yards of offense for the second straight week in a 38-9 rout of ASU this past weekend. Lee, who passed for 213 yards and a pair of scores in an opening win over FAU, completed an efficient 27-of-35 tosses with no picks in his second career start.

"He's playing at a high level," said Pelini of his quarterback. "I really like how hes playing. I thought he spread the ball around well and he played really well. "

Lee certainly did a terrific job in spreading the wealth, as 14 players caught a pass. Niles Paul was his main target with six receptions for 69 yards and a score, and he also added a 30-yard touchdown run on a reverse. Tight end Mike McNeill even got involved with four receptions for 57 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

With all the success through the air, Nebraska didn't need its ground game all that much, but still managed 135 yards on 28 carries. Roy Helu Jr. toted 14 times for 60 yards in an average performance after rushing for 152 yards and three touchdowns in the opener.

Nebraska's defense has dominated a pair of lesser opponents thus far, as the unit has given up just 12 points through the first two games. Last weekend, the Huskers limited ASU to just 274 total yards and only a 2-of-10 effort on third down conversions. The group added four sacks as well, but Pelini thinks this unit could be further along.

"I thought we would be a little bit further. We're sloppy at times. Sometimes our inexperience at some areas shows."

Still, the Huskers have recorded four takeaways on the year and are now set to face their biggest challenge in Virginia Tech. Ndamukong Suh brought the pressure for Nebraska last week and finished with three TFLs and 1.5 sacks. The senior tackle will have his hands full with a Tech offense that is coming off an impressive performance.

The Hokies put together one of their finest offensive performance in recent memory, as they racked up 605 yards, including 444 rushing, in a romp of Marshall last weekend. It was the sixth most yards in a single game in school history for Tech, which eclipsed the 600-yard mark for the first time since 2001.

Tailbacks Ryan Williams and true freshman David Wilson sparked the offense, rushing for 164 and 165 yards, respectively. Wilson had one score and Williams posted three, as they became the first two Tech backs to rush for more than 160 yards in the same game in the modern era.

"It was excellent," said Williams, who had 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the team's opening loss to Alabama. "The offensive line blocked well, and that's how we were able to get the yards that we got. I owe it all to the offensive line and the wide receivers who were blocking downfield."

It was a dramatic improvement for Virginia Tech, which recorded its most rushing yards since 1995, once week after being limited to only 64 yards against Alabama.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor also got into the mix with 58 yards on the ground and 161 through the air. The dual-threat gunslinger never found his rhythm in the opener, throwing for just 91 yards, but he bounced back by completing 9-of-16 tosses with two touchdowns last weekend.

Tech also got its second special teams touchdown of the season, as Jayron Hosley returned a punt 64 yards to paydirt against Marshall. Always strong on special teams, the Hokies' Dyrell Roberts returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score in the team's opener as well.

With the offense scoring at will, Tech's defense didn't need to be all that sharp last weekend, but the group still did a good job in holding Marshall to only 252 total yards. The unit, which was pushed around for 498 total yards by Alabama, stiffened against the run and limited Marshall to 126 yards on the ground after allowing 268 to the Crimson Tide.

Tech forced 10 punts from Marshall and allowed only 10 first downs in a much improved effort. After leading the team with 13 tackles in the opener, Jake Johnson once again paced VT with seven stops last weekend.

Nebraska is facing its toughest task to date, meanwhile Virginia Tech has had the luxury of already playing an elite team. The Hokies are at home for this one and that support should help the defense slow down the Huskers' attack, while the offense grinds out enough yards for the victory.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Virginia Tech 31, Nebraska 24