No. 16 Nebraska 35, Purdue 14: Imani Cross ran for two touchdowns in relief of injured Heisman Trophy candidate Ameer Abdullah and Tommy Armstrong Jr. accounted for a pair of scores as the host Cornhuskers got off to their best start since 2010.

Cross carried 20 times for 66 yards while Armstrong threw for 118 yards and ran for a game-high 70 more after Nebraska (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) lost the nation’s leading rusher entering Saturday with a mild left MCL strain in the first quarter. De'Mornay Pierson-El hauled in Armstrong’s lone touchdown pass on the Cornhuskers’ second offensive snap and finished with three catches for 49 yards.

Austin Appleby finished 18-of-46 for 216 yards with a touchdown and ran for another score for Purdue (3-6, 1-4), which outgained the Cornhuskers 340-297 and forced three turnovers but was unable to prevent its third straight loss. Danny Anthrop led all receivers with four catches and 80 yards before leaving with an apparent right knee injury following a punt return early in the fourth quarter.

Pierson-El quickly staked Nebraska to an early lead with a leaping 17-yard grab in the corner of the end zone, but the Cornhuskers were stalled one drive later when Armstrong bobbled a shotgun snap on a fourth-and-goal play from the Purdue 1. Abdullah, who scooped up the loose ball but was stopped short of the goal line before he was bent back awkwardly, returned for one more carry before leaving for good.

Appleby knotted the score early in the second quarter with a 25-yard run on a quarterback draw, but Cross powered his way into the end zone from 2 yards out on the ensuing drive and Armstrong sent the Cornhuskers into the break with a 21-7 advantage when he broke loose for a 29-yard TD run on a fourth-and-four play. Cross converted from a yard out in the third quarter and Terrell Newby added a late fourth-quarter scoring run after Cameron Posey’s 23-yard TD catch early in the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Abdullah, who finished with six carries for one yard, and Nebraska will have a bye week to recover before traveling to Wisconsin on Nov. 15 to face the Badgers. … Purdue WR DeAngelo Yancey left after suffering a knee injury, but was able to return. Anthrop was unable to put any weight on his leg following his injury and did not return. … The Cornhuskers blocked two punts, both of which led to touchdown drives.