Nebraska’s offensive line, which appears to have made strides through two games, won’t be at full-strength for its biggest test to date.

Senior center Kurt Mann, suffering from an undisclosed illness that left him hospitalized Wednesday, will miss Saturday night’s game at USC, Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. Mann could be released from the hospital as soon as today, and Callahan is hopeful he can return next week.

“He’s doing great,” said Callahan, declining to discuss specifics regarding Mann’s illness. “He wishes he could be with this team. Unfortunately, he’s still a little bit weak.”

Starting in place of Mann for the second straight game will be junior Brett Byford, who before last week had played in only one game in two years.

Now, he’s starting against the nation’s fourth-ranked team on the road.

“It definitely helps to get that first start out of the way,” said the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Byford, a native of Hartselle, Ala. “We played pretty good, and I got a little confidence.”

That came last week against Nicholls State, a Division I-AA team.

“I think the competition will be more challenging to him this week,”   Callahan said. “They have a heck of a defensive line.”

The 6-4, 290-pound Mann, who made 24 consecutive starts before falling ill, was a key cog in a unit that had been showing significant improvement.

Maligned much of last season, the offensive line has begun this season on a strong note, helping the Huskers rush for more than 250 yards in each of NU’s first two games, while also keeping Zac Taylor upright. The senior quarterback has been sacked once thus far.

Can the Huskers keep it going against the likes of USC?

“It’s a real big test for us,” sophomore tackle Matt Slauson said. “We’ll be able to see how far we’ve actually come, how much consistency we really do have. Now we’re playing against a national championship-caliber team, and it will be a lot of fun to see if we can dominate.”

Doing it without Mann figures to be challenging, at the very least. He’s well-versed in the offensive line calls, a factor Byford realizes is crucial.

“A lot of communication,” he said. “I’ve got to get that mouth open.”

Callahan credited Byford for his performance against Nicholls State.

“I was pleased — it was a good game for him,” Callahan said. “I thought he managed the line well. He did a good job communicating. He’s an experienced guy. He has a good feel for what we’re doing. He’s been in the system three years, so he knew exactly what to expect. He came in, stepped in and stepped up.”

Byford, who came to Nebraska intending to play guard, redshirted in 2003, then made the switch to center when Callahan and staff came to Lincoln the following season. He played in only one game — against Western Illinois — in 2004. He didn’t play last season.

Did Byford get discouraged knowing he was stuck behind Mann?

“It’s better than playing behind somebody who’s not any good,” he said, laughing. “My faith has really kept me where I really need to be. Whereas most people would’ve probably gone in the tank, it kept me going and kept me positive, kept my attitude right.”

In USC, the Huskers will be facing a defensive front that’s experienced, quick and hard-hitting. 

“Speed, and their hands,” Slauson said, when asked what makes the Trojan defensive line so good. “They play really, really low. That’s their game. They get low enough, we won’t be able to push ’em. We have to get underneath them and just drive them back.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.