It’s probably not worth wondering over. It’s probably unfair. Still, a small part of me can’t help wonder what would have happened in the Nebraska game had Kicker Josh Cummings admitted how much the pain was bothering him, or the doctors had taken a closer look at his knee during the week or any other way that Cummings would not have been trying to kick. Now he’s out for at least 1 game, probably 2.

“It was bothering him considerably more after the (Nebraska) game,” Wannstedt said.

Cummings, who had a second MRI earlier this week, has not practiced since having a 46-yard attempt blocked with 1 second left against Nebraska. He has a torn meniscus and a strained medial collateral ligament, the result of an injury suffered several years ago.

“I’ve been kicking in pain for four years; I figured I can kick in pain for another four months. But it caught up with me today,” Cummings said following Saturday’s loss.

That means on Saturday, it will be either David Abdul or Conor Lee.

Wannstedt said he will make a final decision Saturday as to which one will replace Cummings.

“Conor’s never kicked in a major-college game and David is still coming back from his accident,” Wannstedt said. “I’ll evaluate them based on who I think gives us the best chance to be successful.”

Wannstedt said both players have strong legs and their range is comparable to Cummings’ He said pregame warm-ups will help him determine the kicker’s range based on factors such as the wind and the weather conditions.

That’s why it is mostly useless to speculate on what would have happened in the final play or the other attempts if Abdul or Lee had been kicking. Abdul is a huge question mark, not just because of the injuries from the car accident but his mental component after that disastrous 2003 season — on and off the field. Lee is just unknown in the game situations.

Then there is the timing of the kicks. How would the whole kicking unit have done with a new kicker at that point. The issues of timing.

Still…