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Arkansas coach John L. Smith says quarterback Tyler Wilson didn't practice Thursday and his status remains uncertain Saturday's game with No. 1 Alabama.

Wilson, who missed the second half of the Razorbacks' loss to Louisiana-Monroe last week with a head injury, went through a light practice Wednesday, but Smith says the quarterback was "busy" doing some kind of "evaluating" during practice on Thursday.

Smith says he expects to find out Friday if Wilson, the first-team All-Southeastern Conference quarterback last season, will be able to play against the Crimson Tide (2-0).

Redshirt freshman Brandon Allen or junior Brandon Mitchell could start for the Razorbacks (1-1) if Wilson is unable to play.

Nebraska paying Arkansas State $1M

Nebraska is paying Arkansas State $1 million for playing at Memorial Stadium on Saturday — the highest amount ever guaranteed to an opponent for a game in Lincoln.

Athletic director Tom Osborne said Thursday in an email to The Associated Press that the price is the "going rate" for many teams to play an away game with no return engagement.

"We believe that Arkansas State is a decent program and will provide an attractive non-conference matchup," Osborne said. "We probably could have gotten a lesser opponent for less money but are trying to maintain a reasonably strong schedule."

Nebraska paid Southern Mississippi $300,000 for the Sept. 1 opener, but the Huskers will play an away game against the Golden Eagles next year. Idaho State, a Football Championship Subdivision program, will earn $600,000 for visiting next week.

Last year, Ohio State paid Colorado $1.4 million and Alabama wrote Kent State a check for $1.2 million. Florida Atlantic is getting $1 million each for games at Georgia and Alabama this week and next.

The previous high guarantee paid by Nebraska was $800,000, to Western Kentucky and Idaho in 2010, and to San Jose State in 2008. Arkansas State was paid $750,000 for playing at Nebraska in 2009.

With the playoff system beginning in 2014, Osborne said, teams with national-championship hopes will be willing to pay big money for games that can build their schedule strength.

Oregon State vs. Nicholls State on Dec. 1

The season opener between Oregon State and Nicholls State that was postponed because of concerns over Hurricane Isaac has been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1.

Both schools agreed to the rescheduled game at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. However, there is a mutual understanding that the game won't be played if Oregon State is in the Pac-12 championship game or Nicholls State qualifies for the NCAA FCS playoffs.

Nicholls State's campus in Thibodaux, La., was closed down when Hurricane Isaac bore down on the region. It was decided that it was in the best interests of the athletes to postpone the game, which was scheduled for Sept. 1.

Tickets for the opener will be honored at the rescheduled game.