Five Nebraska football players, including three key contributors, have been suspended for the Cornhuskers' season opener Saturday against BYU, coach Mike Riley announced Thursday.
The suspended players are top-unit linebacker Michael Rose-Ivey, a junior who sat out last season with a knee injury after setting a Nebraska freshman record with 66 tackles in 2013; senior cornerback Jonathan Rose; junior tight end Cethan Carter; senior defensive end Joe Keels; and junior offensive lineman Robby Painter.
Riley previously announced that five players would sit for a violation of team rules, but he waited to reveal their identities.
"There's no doubt this is not helpful," said Riley, who is preparing for his debut as Nebraska's head coach. "There's some, obviously, good players right there and guys who have been in the mix. But it is what it is. We've been able to plan for it for a while."
Redshirt freshman Luke Gifford will start at linebacker in place of Rose-Ivey. Sophomore Josh Kalu is set to replace Rose, also listed atop the depth chart. Senior David Sutton gets the start at tight end and will split time with junior Trey Foster, who is back this week from an injury that slowed him in preseason practice.
Nebraska has won a nation-leading 29 consecutive home openers.