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Eric Martin suspended for helmet hit

Nebraska sophomore reserve linebacker Eric Martin is suspended for Saturday's game against Missouri, the Big 12 Conference announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Nebraska kick returner Niles Paul returned a kick 100 yards for a score with 6:27 to play in the first quarter of the Cornhuskers' 51-41 win over Oklahoma State last week, but on the play, Martin made helmet-to-helmet contact on a block with Cowboys freshman defensive end Andrew Hudson.

Hudson suffered a concussion and was attended to for several minutes before being carted off the field.

On Thursday, Oklahoma State officials told ESPN's Jeannine Edwards that Hudson has "a severe concussion and will be out for an extended period, perhaps the season."

"Mr. Martin committed a flagrant act of targeting an opponent with the crown of his helmet in violation of NCAA football rules," commissioner Dan Beebe said in a statement. "This dangerous hit is one that we in the football community are trying to remove from the game."

No penalty was assessed on the play, but Big 12 officials reviewed the game tape and issued a suspension in accordance with NCAA Football Rule 9-6-3, which states, "if subsequent review of a game by a conference reveals plays involving flagrant personal fouls that game officials did not call, the conference may impose sanctions prior to the next scheduled game."

No. 14 Nebraska will host Missouri (No. 6 BCS, No. 7 AP) at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

David Ubben covers Big 12 football for ESPN.com.