Oklahoma vs Nebraska Rivalry

Many were worried in 1996 that one of the great ones was dead; there would no longer be an annual Oklahoma vs. Nebraska game with the creation of the Big 12.  Each team would be in different divisions meaning that they would really have both teams win their respective divisions for the two historic rivals to meet.  Thank goodness that tragedy was not set in stone; they simply needed to add another game to the schedule.  Starting in the 2006 season schools could schedule a twelfth game.

Oklahoma currently holds the series lead 43-37-2.  For these two programs it was not always about winning the game.  Players on the respective teams often saw playing the other as a barometer; beat them and then they knew they were good.  The rest of the season could be filled with disappointment, mistakes and close games, but beat Oklahoma or beat Nebraska and then it was possible to rest knowing that you were truly a good team.

That couldn’t be truer than with the historic years between 1971 and 1988.  Seventeen times the teams met with both of them in the top eleven in the nation; fifteen times with both teams being top ten.  The 1971 matchup is widely considered the greatest college football game ever played, or “The Game of the Century.”

Number one versus Number two; Nebraska vs. Oklahoma with Nebraska defending a 29 game winning streak.  Seventeen of twenty two all conference first team players were on the two teams.  Fifty five million fans were not disappointed that Thanksgiving as they were treated to a truly great game. 

The first half was a back and forth affair with Oklahoma surging towards the end of the half to take a 17-14 lead.  Nebraska came out fired up after half time and took a 28-17 lead by the start of the fourth quarter.  The lead changed again with just over seven minutes remaining in favor of the Sooners 31-28.  However, gutsy play by the Cornhusker offense and a timely sack by the defense brought the Sooners their thirtieth straight victory, 35-31.

Some shine came of the nation spotlight of the game after 1988.  Oklahoma had some down years followed by tough times at Nebraska.  Then with the forming of the Big 12 and the teams separated by divisions, the annual affair was no more. 

Thankfully that did not mean the end to this storied rivalry, and it goes on still today.  The ’06 match up found both programs ranked in the top 25 for the 24^th time; in case you still needed proof of the quality if this rivalry, the higher ranked team has only won 13 out of the 24. 

Oklahoma vs. Nebraska rivalry dead?  Ask the players if the rivalry is dead and see how they react; if you still have doubts then you were not paying attention.

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