LINCOLN, Neb. -- Virginia Tech's long trip to Nebraska assured a long night at the office for the Hokies.

John Ballein, Tech's director of football operations, said prior to Saturday night's game that the team's early itinerary had it leaving via charter plane from Lincoln at approximately 1:30 a.m. After a two-hour flight to Roanoke Regional Airport, the team will then bus to Blacksburg. The estimated time of arrival: 4:15 a.m.

Next year, it will be the Huskers' turn. Nebraska will visit Lane Stadium next Sept. 19 in the back end of the one-and-one scheduling deal.

The series came about in May 2006, when Weaver struck a deal with then-Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson, who since has returned to Pittsburgh for a second stint as AD. It filled a void on Tech's schedule created when Wisconsin asked to push back a scheduled series with the Hokies to 2016-17.

"You play these intersectional games so you get good television exposure," said Weaver, referring to Saturday night's contest that was an ABC regional telecast.

First-time fliers

The trip marked the first plane flight for many of the Hokies' young players. Senior defensive end Orion Martin of Martinsville recalled his first plane ride -- a 2005 trip to West Virginia.

"We flew into Pittsburgh for the game," Martin said. "I was a little nervous and some other players were shaking my seat as we were taking off. I was sweating up a storm, and Darryl Tapp [ex-Tech defensive end] was like, 'Don't worry, you'll be all right, youngin'."

Morgan injured

Tech rover Davon Morgan was injured during kickoff coverage in the second quarter and did not return to the game. The early diagnosis was a sprained right knee. The junior was on crutches as he made his way to the halftime locker room.

Dorian Porch, a sophomore, replaced Morgan and played the rest of the way.

Quick slants

Tech hadn't scored in the first quarter all season -- until getting nine points Saturday. ... Stephen Virgil's first-quarter punt block that rolled out of the end zone was Tech's first punt block of the season. It marks the 16th consecutive season in which Tech has blocked at least one punt. It was Virgil's second blocked punt of his career. ... Macho Harris' first-quarter interception was his second of the season and 11th of his career. ... The overflow crowd of 85,831 fans was a Memorial Stadium record. It marked the third-largest crowd ever to see a Tech game, trailing only LSU last year (92,379) and Southern California (91,665) at FedEx Field in 2004.

On deck

In the middle contest of a five-game road stretch, the Hokies will face Division I-A newcomer Western Kentucky at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Lane Stadium. The Hilltoppers were 2-2 heading into their game Saturday night at Kentucky, including losses at Alabama (by 34) and Indiana (by 18). It will be the first meeting between the two in football.