NEBRASKA AT OU
Fifty years after the “Game of the Century,” ex-Big Eight rivals meet for first time since 2010.
11 a.m., Ch. 26
The mere mention of Oklahoma and Nebraska in the same sentence brings back waves of turkey-filled childhood memories for many college football fans.
At the rivalry’s peak between 1970 and 2000, the programs combined to win nine national championships — five for Nebraska and four for Oklahoma. Their annual November showdowns often sent the winner to the Orange Bowl to play for the title. The best-known game in the series was the “Game of the Century” 50 years ago when No. 1 Nebraska beat No. 2 Oklahoma in 1971.
Third-ranked Oklahoma (2-0) will play host to Nebraska (2-1) on Saturday in the first meeting between the programs since 2010.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH What’s at stake?
1 Pride always is on the line when these two old rivals meet. The Sooners likely can’t stay in the national title hunt with a loss. They want to keep building momentum after rolling past Western Carolina 76-0 last Saturday. A Nebraska win could take pressure off coach Scott Frost, who has struggled since taking over before the 2018 season. “This (was) my favorite day of the year growing up my entire life,” said Frost, who quarterbacked the Cornhuskers to wins over the Sooners in 1996 and 1997. “One of the best rivalries in sports. It’s kind of a shame it went away, but it’s going to be special.”
Can OU slow Adrian Martinez?
2 The Nebraska quarterback has rushed for 256 yards in three games and is capable of creating passing opportunities with his legs. Oklahoma is talented up front, but the Sooners had trouble with Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt, who also is mobile. Lincoln Riley said Martinez will be as athletic as any quarterback the Sooners face this season. Martinez ranks 13th nationally with 328 yards of total offense per game. “His athleticism — it jumps off the screen,” Riley said. “So he looks to me improved on the on-script stuff, and then the things that get off script is when he gets really, really good.”
Are the “Blackshirts” back?
3 Nebraska’s defense has looked a bit like those dominant units from yesteryear the past two weeks. The Huskers held Fordham to seven points and Buffalo to three — the first time Nebraska has held back-to-back opponents to single-digit points since 2010. “They’ve really improved from looking at some of last year’s tape and on to this year,” Riley said. “I think it’s a much better unit, and they’re playing at a high level.”
What about Spencer Rattler?
4 The Oklahoma quarterback bounced back from a subpar opener against Tulane to throw five touchdown passes in the first half against Western Carolina last Saturday. He likes big stages, and he has one this week. “They have got about as good of players there is in the country at almost every position,” Frost said. “But I do not want our guys to back down to that, and I do not think they will.”
And the history?
5 The programs meet 50 years after the “Game of the Century,” No. 1 Nebraska’s 35-31 win over No. 2 Oklahoma in 1971. The Huskers and Sooners met for 71 consecutive seasons from 1927 to 1997. … Oklahoma beat Nebraska 23-20 in the 2010 Big 12 title game in their last meeting. The teams haven’t played since the Cornhuskers left the Big 12 for the Big Ten. Nebraska has struggled in recent years, and many fans are unhappy with Frost. But just like the old days, a win over Oklahoma would immediately make things better.