One of coach Matt Rhule’s favorite sayings — prepare through the event, not just to it — is especially apt with Illinois looming sooner than usual.

The Husker coach on Wednesday said there’s still “lots” to be done ahead of the ranked-on-ranked matchup. There will be all the way past kickoff too.

“People say the hay is in the barn — we don’t believe that,” Rhule said. “You get in the game, you see how they’re playing, you try to adjust. We have a lot of work to do. But so far the guys have worked hard. We’ll see if we can keep picking up steam heading into the game.”

NU’s routine moves up a day, with the team staying in a hotel Thursday night instead of the usual Friday. One positive of this week’s late start, Rhule said, is there’s no temptation for anyone to get emotionally invested watching other earlier games.

“It’s a unique challenge but it’s a great opportunity to showcase the University of Nebraska nationally, a home game, our crowd, what I think is the best student section I’ve ever been a part of,” Rhule said. “I want the world to see it.”

Nebraska will have starting right guard Micah Mazzccua available, though Henry Lutovsky will start for a second straight game, Rhule said. Mazzccua isn’t injured but missed the Northern Iowa game for what Rhule previously called a coach’s decision.

“He’s dealing with some things right now, like I said,” Rhule said of the Florida transfer. “But he’s making some real progress. Practiced good today so he’ll be there. If we need him we’ll go to him.”

Big Red has rolled out the second and even third units through the first third of the season amid lopsided second-half scores. It’s strategic, Rhule said, to build depth and prepare the next wave of future contributors who might be needed sooner than expected.

Friday, though, is less likely to provide such a luxury against a fellow Big Ten team that’s 3-0.

“This will be a four-quarter war,” Rhule said. “This will be a 60-minute football game. We’ll have to count on our guys to go play.”