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"What do you do," little Eric Cichy of Lincoln asked Nebraska Eric Crouch, "when you have to go to the bathroom during the game?"

Seventy-eight thousand fans chuckled as they watched a 50-foot-high 5-year-old engage Nebraska's starting quarterback in videotaped banter.

"Sometimes," a flustered Crouch finally said, "you just have to go."

Collectively, No. 4 Nebraska almost did just that Saturday during a 20-13 victory over Southern Mississippi. Faced with one of the biggest upsets in their history, the 'Huskers had, well, better bladder control than the Golden Eagles.

Five turnovers and anemic offense would suggest there was something other than sweat involved in Nebraska's effort. But when all else has failed in Nebraska's three decades of dominance, defense hasn't. The Nebraska defense forced Southern Miss quarterback Jeff Kelly into four interceptions and sacked him five times in keeping the Cornhuskers' record (3-0) -- and underwear -- clean.

"I didn't mean to say 'Just go,'" Crouch said after the game. "I meant go to the locker room."

Crouch and the offense weren't so easily corrected. Nebraska produced only 185 yards on 51 snaps. For the first time since 1988, there hasn't been a 100-yard rusher in the first three games of the season.

If Nebraska is going to maintain its lofty standing, it is becoming obvious that it is going to have to do it with defense this year. That's where all the athletes are. Keyuo Craver picked off two passes, benefiting from Kelly's reluctance to throw at All-Big 12 cornerback Ralph Brown.

Who needs the departed DeAngelo Evans anyway? Linebacker Julius Jackson, subbing for the injured Eric Johnson, did all the things Evans couldn't.

Jackson played hurt -- coming back in the game after bruising a knee -- and he ran to daylight. The senior became the first Nebraska defender in at least 25 years to score two touchdowns in a game. His 16-yard return of Kelly's fumble made it 6-0. His 28-yard interception return of a tipped pass in the third quarter was the winning score after Southern Miss had taken a 13-12 lead.

"That's one thing I did in high school, I was a fullback," said Jackson, a native of Gainesville, Texas. "After I scored I was saying, 'Man, they need to move me to offense.'"

Man, they should because for a time it seemed like victory was almost secondary for Nebraska. This was the first game A.D. -- after DeAngelo. Evans, who just a week ago was the starting I-back, began his life as a full-time student Sunday when he quit the team.

Since then no one has been crying. Evans was perceived as a slacker who went to coach Frank Solich last Sunday demanding to get the ball 25 times per game. The way Southern Miss played defense, Nebraska was lucky to get off 25 snaps.

The 'Huskers had four first downs at halftime and ended with only eight, the fewest by Nebraska since 1968. When it became evident Nebraska's offense wasn't going to be able to sustain a drive, Solich shut it down. He went conservative and let the defense win the game, sacrificing big plays for big punts.

"You can't win championships without a great defense," Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said. "I told them, 'Don't ever take anything for granted. Don't think they can't come in here and beat you.' "

Southern Miss (2-1), the Conference USA favorite, held 7-6 and 13-12 leads. The difference for the Eagles was the inconsistent play of Kelly as he showed little savvy in the pocket. When he wasn't rushing his passes, he was absorbing 45 yards in losses due to the sacks.

The Eagles reached Nebraska's 14 with 80 seconds left to play when Kelly threw a silly interception near the goal line to Craver.

"That quarterback looked like a big hamburger out there," Nebraska rush end Kyle Vanden Bosch said.

The week's upheaval didn't change anything on defense except lighten the mood in the locker room. On offense, things are a mess. With Evans, Nebraska pumped out only 114 rushing yards last week against Cal. Without him, they got only 119 against Southern Miss. The new starter, junior Dan Alexander, contributed an unspectacular 54 yards and fumbled twice.

Eric Crouch stumbled as a starter Saturday, throwing for 66 yards and two interceptions, in addition to just 26 rushing yards.(AP)

There just isn't much depth. When Evans was injured last year, junior Correll Buckhalter bravely led the team with 799 yards. This year he is an afterthought with 23 yards in three games. Two weeks ago, Buckhalter left the team for three days but was talked back.

Crouch, taking over for Bobby Newcombe, threw two interceptions and almost blew the game Baylor-style. With less than a minute to play with the ball at his own 6, Crouch fumbled the snap. While a state held its breath, Crouch fell on the ball to preserve the victory.

Newcombe -- hang with us here -- the one who went from quarterback to backup wingback, was also ineffective. After running the offense a week earlier, Newcombe played maybe 10 snaps. He muffed a punt and dropped a wide-open pass in the end zone accounting for absolutely zero yards.

"I don't believe that changing personnel around affected us," Nebraska Solich said. "I don't believe the distractions played a role."

Uh sure, Frank. The lack of Nebraska's vaunted running game is now more of a trend than an anomaly. In the last two games, Nebraska has averaged 2.5 yards per rush and totaled 233 yards. That's a good half for some of the storied teams of the past.

There might be peace in the locker room without the lazy Evans around, but there certainly is less depth.

The offensive line is average, there are no game-breaking I-backs in the pipeline and the house that Osborne built it is on shaky ground.

"I'm not quite sure why the execution is at the level it is right now," Solich said.

Don't look for answers or peace in the ranks. When Solich suggested that there is still a chance that Evans could rejoin the team, the players unity council balked. One player said Evans would have to start "at ground zero" with his teammates.

Considering the state of the offense, Evans would have plenty of company.