Pelini

Nebraska coach Bo

is safe for now. Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst issued a statement Saturday expressing support for Pelini and his staff and quashing speculation that the sixth-year coach’s job was in jeopardy following a disappointing regular season.

The Cornhuskers are 8-4, 5-3 in the Big Ten, after their 38-17 loss to Iowa on Friday. Pelini is 57-24 at Nebraska, but the school has not won a conference title since 1999.

The Huskers will learn their bowl destination next weekend. Eichorst, who is in his first full year as athletic director, until Saturday had adhered to his policy of not commenting about his coaches until after their seasons.

“However,” he said in his statement, “given the volume of unfounded speculation and conjecture about our head football coach, I want to reaffirm what I have said many times since I have arrived at the University of Nebraska — that I positively respect, appreciate and support our football student-athletes, coaches and staff, as we do everyone in the Husker family.

“We very much look forward to our upcoming bowl game and Coach Pelini continuing to lead our program in the future.”

» Texas A&M and coach Kevin Sumlin have agreed in principle to a new six-year contract that could keep him with the Aggies through 2019.

The university said Saturday that the terms of the deal still needed to be approved by its Board of Regents.

Sumlin was 19-5 in two seasons with the Aggies (8-3) heading into their game Saturday at Missouri. That’s the most victories by a coach in school history in his first two years.