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Huskers' Pelini takes blame for close call, regrets he didn't demand more touches for Abdullah

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (4) throws in the first half of an NCAA college football game against McNeese State in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, center, and defensive coordinator John Papuchis, right, react to a replay on the big screen, in the second half of an NCAA college football game against McNeese State in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. Nebraska won 31-24. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini took responsibility for his team's poor performance in a close win over McNeese State.

The Huskers (2-0) are unranked this week after going into the McNeese State game No. 19 in the Associated Press poll. Since the AP poll expanded to 25 teams in 1989, no team ranked as high had ever dropped out after a win.

Nebraska, which plays at Fresno State (0-2) on Saturday, had problems on multiple fronts. Of particular concern was the use of star running back Ameer Abdullah. He touched the ball just once in the fourth quarter before he broke the 58-yard winning touchdown with 20 seconds to play.

Pelini said he should have demanded that offensive coordinator Tim Beck get Abdullah more involved.