The Blackshirts are back?

Apparently, standards have slipped at Nebraska.

They handed out the Blackshirt practice jerseys Tuesday in Lincoln, after the Huskers surrendered 35 points to Kansas, albeit in a win. Still, Nebraska ranks just 81st nationally in total defense and 89th in scoring defense.

Of course, it could be worse. It could be K-State worse. The Wildcats are 110th in total defense and 108th in scoring defense.

Maybe Nebraska’s nod to the defense — returning a tradition used to recognize previous dominant defenses — is in anticipation of this meeting with the Wildcats.

“We had a staff meeting on Sunday and made a decision,” said defensive coordinator Carl Pelini. “We thought the physical nature of the play on Saturday, the great effort of our guys made running sideline to sideline, we felt like that was a performance where they earned the Blackshirts.”

Nebraska’s win over Kansas was significant, making the Huskers bowl eligible in a bounce-back game after being routed by Oklahoma in Norman.

The Huskers showed some moxie by rallying a week later, although a return to North division competition surely helped.

Now they catch K-State little more than a week after Ron Price’s dismissal as coach, effective at season’s end. If the Wildcats are inspired to play for Prince, it didn’t show last Saturday.

Just the way it happened — it blew my mind,” said sophomore cornerback Lamark Brown. “He’s only been here three years. I thought he’d be here the entire time... for a while.”

Prince and the Wildcats’ season have been doomed by a one-dimensional offense, with nothing to fear in the running game. Quarterback Josh Freeman has been up and down, with the weight of the entire offense riding on his right arm.

Notes:

At least K-State scored on Saturday, making it 150 straight games that the Wildcats have scored, the 10th longest streak in the nation.

The Huskers are bowl eligible, seeking postseason for the 38th time in 40 seasons.

Nebraska has six players with 20 or more receptions — a school record.

Player to Watch (Wildcats) — Josh Freeman, QB

It must be a burden for Freeman to have his team’s hopes riding on him weekly. Freeman became K-State’s career total offense leader last week, bittersweet, since the record is due in part to the team’s lack of other playmakers.

Player to Watch (Huskers) — Ndamukong Suh, DT

The big tackle earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after setting a career-high with 12 tackles and adding 2 1/2 sacks among four tackles for losses. Suh leads league defensive linemen with 6.8 tackles per game.

Nebraska by 17