VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : They Aren’t in Northridge Anymore : College football: Matadors head to Kansas facing perhaps their biggest challenge and a sizable payday.

If Dick Dull, Cal State Northridge athletic director, still is entertaining thoughts about scheduling a football game between the Matadors and Nebraska, he might want to wait until after this weekend.

Dull departed at midweek for Kansas, getting a jump on Northridge coaches and players for what figures to be either the Matadors’ finest hour or their most lopsided defeat.

Or perhaps somewhere in between.

Northridge, in its fourth season in NCAA Division I-AA and eager to raise money and stature by playing a Division I-A opponent, makes its biggest stride in that direction Saturday when the Matadors play a nonconference game at Kansas.

“Clearly, this is the greatest challenge this program has ever had,” Northridge interim Coach Jeff Kearin said.

It is the first meeting between the teams. The gap between Northridge and an opponent has never been greater.

The Matadors, a member of the Big Sky Conference, had to rally from a 10-point deficit in their opener Saturday to defeat Western Oregon, 38-19.

Kansas, a member of the Big 12 Conference, is sandwiching a game against Northridge between nationally televised matchups with Notre Dame and Colorado. The Jayhawks, 4-7 last season, are coming off a bye after losing to Notre Dame, 48-13.

Northridge plays its home games in ancient North Campus Stadium before fewer than 7,000 spectators while dreaming of a new stadium. Kansas’ Memorial Stadium seats more than 50,000.

Northridge’s schedule includes games against Northern Arizona, Montana, Portland State and Eastern Washington. Kansas’ opponents include Texas A&M;, Missouri and Nebraska.

Nebraska, by the way, defeated Kansas, 41-0, last season.

During practice this week, Northridge assistant Brent Huff chided players during wind sprints by reminding them of the possibility of a Kansas blowout.

Do the Matadors really want to run in these circles?

“I think if we get together and focused we can beat anybody on our schedule,” linebacker Brennen Swanson said.

Quarterback Marcus Brady threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns against Western Oregon. But he emerged with a slight ankle sprain and has been slowed in practice.

Northridge will be without a handful of players, most notably on defense. Safety Hassan Abdul-Malik is sidelined because of a hamstring injury, and cornerback Mel Miller and linebacker Kaleon Green await word on eligibility.

That will put pressure on Brady, who admitted feeling butterflies against Western Oregon.

“I just need to go out there and relax,” Brady said. “After that, the flow of the game will get going.”

Northridge players may be concerned only with making a strong showing on the field, but administrators are concerned about a strong showing at the gate.

An agreement signed in February guaranteed Northridge $200,000 from the game. Northridge is guaranteed $100,000 for a game at Southern Methodist in November.

Dull, who has approached Nebraska and Washington about scheduling games, speculated that a matchup with Nebraska would earn Northridge as much as $400,000. Dull said high-profile opponents will remain a priority.

Kansas is expected to win its only game this season against a I-AA opponent. Easily.

“That’s one of the perils of the situation,” Coach Terry Allen of Kansas said. “From a coaching standpoint, you want to eliminate mistakes and get better. But it’s always in the minds of I-AA [teams] to beat you.”

Allen said unfamiliarity breeds discontent among coaches. And Northridge is largely unknown .

“We’re starting to get a handle on them,” Allen said. “I’m impressed with their quarterback and they seem to have a couple of backs who can run.”

Northridge has tackled tough opponents but none nearly as formidable as Kansas.

A 24-18 victory over Nevada Las Vegas in 1993 ranks among the high points in Northridge history. The Matadors played respectably in losses to San Diego State in 1993 and Hawaii in 1997.

“None of those teams amounts to Kansas,” Kearin said. “It’s the first of several challenges for us this year. We put a premium on winning the Big Sky championship.”

On paper, Northridge appears capable of taking on bigger foes. The Matadors came within a victory of winning the Big Sky title last season.

Northridge has a nucleus of returning players and as much speed as any Big Sky team. The program’s problems that stemmed from an internal investigation during the summer are in the past.

But injuries and absences have hurt. Northridge’s hopes rest with Brady’s ability to connect with top receiver Aaron Arnold, who had 12 catches against Western Oregon to become the Matadors’ career receptions leader.

A Kansas publication speculated this week that the Jayhawks will make four interceptions against Brady, one for each member of the secondary.

“If we do what we do well and run the ball with any kind of effectiveness like we did last week, we have every chance in the world to win,” Kearin said. “But we’re going to need some breaks.”

Northridge (1-0) at Kansas (0-1)

When: 4:30 p.m.

Where: Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kan.

Why: Nonleague game

Fast fact: The Jayhawks return 16 starters, nine on offense