Secrets can be tough to keep, especially when it involves dozens of huge guys wearing U.S.C. shirts at an Omaha high school field. The Trojans of Southern California practiced Friday at Westside High School in preparation for their Saturday showdown in Lincoln.

Westside's Athletic Director Bob Reznicek knew about it for days and didn't even tell his wife. "I talked to my wife about 12:37 this afternoon. I said you won't believe how this day has gone."

Your best kept secret ever? "Probably the only one I've kept."

"It's the biggest game day we've had in six years, since the 2001 Notre Dame game,” says Scott Strunc of the Husker Hounds store.

Fans are buzzed, but few were expecting a mid-September game to require the purchase of cold weather gear. "I'm buying sweatshirts, but I want turtlenecks,” says Husker fan Barb Dworak.

Even some of the opposing players noticed a crispness in the air. "One of my players who comes from Maui, first thing he said when we walked outside is, it's freezing,” says U.S.C. coach Pete Carroll. “Of course, he's from Maui."

Hotels and restaurants are braced for a busy weekend, although sports fans eat a little different than the business traveler.

"Pizza, our kitchen will be prepared to deliver a lot of pizzas to the rooms,” says Tim Darby at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

A potential upset also keeps feeding the ticket frenzy. "It's like the stock market, it's kind of going up and down,” says Brett Franksmann of Red Zone Tickets.

Fans are hoping the U.S.C. trip to Nebraska is remembered for two things, an upset and the insect that wouldn't leave the coach alone.

"This bee's right in my face,” says coach Carroll.