Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
WHEN: Saturday, September 18 | 11:00 AM (CT)
WHERE: Gaylord Family / Oklahoma Memorial Stadium | Norman, Oklahoma
TV: FOX (Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft)
Radio: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Jeremiah Sirles)
HUSKERS
Record: 2-1, 0-1 Big Ten
Last Game: vs. Buffalo (W 28-3)
Rankings: NR
Coach: Scott Frost (14-21, 4th year NU / 33-28, 6th year overall)
SOONERS
Record: 2-0, 0-0 Big 12
Last Game: vs. Western Carolina (W 76-0)
Rankings: AP (#3), Coaches (#3)
Coach: Lincoln Riley (47-8, 5th year at OU and overall)
This Week's Numbers
50 - As part of Saturday's game in Norman, the 50th anniversary of the "Game of the Century" will be recognized. No. 1 Nebraska defeated second-ranked Oklahoma, 35-31, on Nov. 25, 1971, en route to its second straight national championship.
96 - Nebraska and Oklahoma have combined for 96 conference championships in their history. Oklahoma (50) and Nebraska (46) rank first and second nationally in conference titles won.
5 - Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez became the fifth player in Big Ten history to record 6,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards. Martinez joins Taylor Martinez (Nebraska), Antwaan Randle El (Indiana), Denard Robinson (Michigan) and JT Barrett (Ohio State).
The Matchup
Nebraska renews one of the great matchups in college football history this Saturday, as the Huskers travel to Norman, Okla., to take on the Oklahoma Sooners. Game time at OU's Gaylord Family/Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is set for 11 a.m. CT, with national television coverage on FOX. The network's Big Noon Kickoff will also originate from Norman for the marquee non-conference matchup.
Nebraska and Oklahoma were in the same conference from 1921 to 2010, spanning the Missouri Valley, Big Six, Big Seven, Big Eight and Big 12 Conferences. The Huskers and Sooners met for 71 consecutive seasons from 1927 to 1997, and squared off most recently in the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game. Saturday's matchup will be the 87th all-time meeting between the schools.
Nebraska is 2-1 following a solid 28-3 win over Buffalo. The Blackshirt defense controlled the game for a second straight week, holding the Bulls scoreless in the first half and allowing just a field goal. It marked the second straight week Nebraska's defense has allowed fewer than 10 points. In turn, the Husker offense finished with better than 500 yards, featuring a balanced attack for the second straight game.
Oklahoma comes into Saturday's game with a 2-0 record, following a 76-0 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday night in Norman. The Sooners are ranked No. 3 in both the the Associated Press Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll. Coach Lincoln Riley's team has won the past four Big 12 titles, with Riley compiling a 47-8 record with the Sooners.
Oklahoma is averaging 527.0 yards of total offense per game, behind quarterback Spencer Rattler who has completed 77 percent of his passes with six touchdowns. The Sooner defense has limited opponents to 287.0 yards per game.
Series History
Saturday's matchup in the storied "Battle of the Big Reds" is the first between Nebraska and Oklahoma since the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, Texas. The school have met 86 times on the gridiron, with Oklahoma owning a 45-38-3 edge in the all-time series.
This year's game is the first in a home-and-home series between the schools. Nebraska is set to play host to the Sooners at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Sept. 17, 2022. The schools are also set to meet in a home-and-home series in 2029 (Norman) and 2030 (Lincoln).
- Nebraska and Oklahoma met for 71 consecutive seasons from 1927 to 1997 before the streak was snapped in 1998 with the start of the North-South scheduling rotation in the Big 12.
- Nebraska was 16-3-3 in the first 22 games in the series, including 11 shutouts, before Oklahoma was 22-4 from 1943 to 1968. The series has been nearly even since 1969, with Oklahoma holding a slim 20-18 edge.
- Five times Oklahoma handed Nebraska its only regular season loss (1964, 1966, 1975, 1979, 1987), while twice Nebraska gave Oklahoma its only regular-season loss (1971, 1978)
- The schools met twice in No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups including the 1971 Game of the Century and the 1987 game in Lincoln. Both of those games were won by the visiting team, with Nebraska using the 1971 victory to catapult it to a second consecutive national championship.
- One of the two schools has been ranked No. 1 in 13 meetings, including eight times by Nebraska, most recently in 2000.
- Since the AP Poll began in 1936, the NU-OU matchup has featured at least one ranked team in 61 of 71 games, including Oklahoma's No. 3 ranking this season. Both teams have been ranked in 24 of the meetings.
- The series has featured at least one top 10 team in 49 games and two top 10 teams 18 times, with the matchup featuring at least one top 10 team in 22 straight games from 1970 to 1990. In 17 games since 1971, both teams were ranked in the top 10.
- Nebraska's biggest ever upset win was a 25-21 victory in 1959, ending OU's 36-game win streak and 74-game conference unbeaten streak.
- Hall of Fame Coach Tom Osborne posted his 250th win against Oklahoma in 1997 with a 69-7 win in Lincoln, the largest margin of victory in the series.
Past Ten NU-OU Meetings
1996: #5 Nebraska 73, Oklahoma 21 (Norman)
1997: #1 Nebraska 69, Oklahoma 7 (Lincoln)
2000: #3 Oklahoma 31, #1 Nebraska 14 (Norman)
2001: #3 Nebraska 20, #2 Oklahoma 10 (Lincoln)
2004: #2 Oklahoma 30, Nebraska 3 (Norman)
2005: Oklahoma 31, Nebraska 24 (Lincoln)
2006: #8 Oklahoma 21, #19 Nebraska 7 (Kansas City - Big 12 Championship)
2008: #4 Oklahoma 62, Nebraska 28 (Norman)
2009: Nebraska 10, #20 Oklahoma 3 (Lincoln)
2010: #10 Oklahoma 23, #13 Nebraska 20 (Arlington, TX - Big 12 Championship)
Huskers, Sooners Share Rich History
Nebraska and Oklahoma are two of just eight schools in college football history to win 900 or more games, with OU ranking sixth in all-time wins (919) and Nebraska seventh (907).
- In looking at the most wins in college football over the past 30, 40 and 50 years, Nebraska and Oklahoma each rank in the top 10 in all of those categories.
- The schools have combined to win 12 national championships and 96 conference titles, including five national championships and 46 conference crowns by Nebraska.
Nebraska-Oklahoma Superlatives
NU-OU Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Game of the Century
As one of college football's greatest rivalries there are numerous memorable games in the Nebraska-Oklahoma series. However, no game in the series is more remembered than Nebraska's 35-31 victory in Norman in 1971. The game is still referred to as the "Game of the Century".
- The schools will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Thanksgiving Day classic at this Saturday's game in Norman. Both teams will wear a helmet decal honoring the 1971 game.
- Nebraska opened the scoring on Johnny Rodgers' legendary punt return to give the Huskers a 7-0 lead. However, the game went back and forth, with three lead changes in the second half, after Oklahoma took its first lead of the game, 17–14, with five seconds left to play in the first half. Oklahoma would go ahead once more, 31–28 with 7:10 left in the game, but Nebraska then answered with a 74-yard drive for the winning touchdown with 1:38 left. In all, Nebraska had scored touchdowns on three of its last four possessions to secure a 35–31 victory.
- Nebraska went on to win its second consecutive national championship and complete a 13-0 season. Oklahoma finished at 11-1 and No. 2 in the final polls.
About Oklahoma
Oklahoma is one of the most storied programs in college football history. One of only eight teams with 900 wins, the Sooners rank sixth all-time with 919 all-time victories.
OU has won 50 conference titles in its history, which is the most of any FBS team, four more than second-place Nebraska. The Sooners have also been crowned national champions seven times by the Associated Press, trailing only Notre Dame (8) and Alabama (12) for the most AP national titles. Oklahoma also ranks fourth all-time in bowl appearances.
The Sooners have produced a record-tying seven Heisman Trophy winners, including two of the last three winners. OU also ranks fourth all-time with more than 400 NFL Draft picks.
First Year: 1895
All-Time Record: 919-329-53
Bowl Record: 30-23-1
Conference Titles: 50
National Titles: 7 (1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000)
Stadium: Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Capacity: 80,126
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Enrollment: 30,903
Colors: Crimson & Cream
Scouting the 2021 Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma is 2-0, and the Sooners bring a No. 3 ranking and an 11-game win streak into Saturday's game. Oklahoma began its season with a 40-35 win over Tulane, a game the Sooners led 37-14 at halftime. Last Saturday, OU shut out FCS Western Carolina, 76-0.
The Sooners boast one of the nation's most potent offenses. Oklahoma ranks 16th nationally averaging 527.0 yards per game this season. Spencer Rattler has completed 50-of-65 passes for 547 yards and six touchdowns. He ranks second nationally in completion percentage and seventh in completions per game and touchdown passes. Marvin Mims is averaging 22.7 yards per catch this season, and Kennedy Brooks leads OU with 67.5 rushing yards per game on 6.8 yards per carry.
Defensively, Oklahoma ranks seventh nationally with six takeaways. Delarrin Turner-Yell is the Sooners' leading tackler with 13 stops, while seven Sooners have recorded a sack this season.
2021 Oklahoma Schedule/Results (2-0)
Tulane (W 40-35)
Western Carolina (W 76-0)
Nebraska
West Virginia
at Kansas State
vs. Texas (at Dallas)
TCU
at Kansas
Texas Tech
at Baylor
Cockeye State
at Oklahoma State
About Oklahoma Head Coach Lincoln Riley
Lincoln Riley is in his fifth season as a collegiate head coach, all of which have come at Oklahoma. Riley boasts a 47-8 record at Oklahoma, and the Sooners have won the Big 12 title in each of his four seasons.
Riley owns the Oklahoma coaching record for most wins in his first season (12 in 2017) and he is the Sooners' winningest coach after four seasons. Riley has guided Oklahoma to three appearances in the College Football Playoff in his first four seasons, while producing two Heisman Trophy winners and two No. 1 NFL Draft picks.
Riley is 24-2 at home in his career, and he has led Oklahoma to 11 consecutive wins heading into Saturday's contest with Nebraska.
Riley was a quarterback at Texas Tech for one year (2002) before moving into a student assistant role under then head coach Mike Leach (2003-05). Riley then was promoted to an assistant coach (WR) position at TTU (2007-2009). Riley served as offensive coordinator at East Carolina from 2010 to 2014 and then came to Norman to serve as the Sooners' offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2015 through 2016. Riley was named head coach at Oklahoma in 2017.
Lincoln Riley vs. Nebraska
Riley will face Nebraska for the first time as a head coach on Saturday, but he does have experience coaching against the Huskers as an assistant. Riley spent seven seasons at Texas Tech from 2003 to 2009, including three seasons as a student assistant. The Red Raiders went 4-0 against Nebraska during Riley's time in Lubbock, including wins in 2008 and 2009 when he was Texas Tech's inside receivers coach.
Last Meeting: December 5, 2010
Big 12 Championship Game: #9 Oklahoma 23, #13 Nebraska 20 (at Arlington, TX)
ARLINGTON, TX - Oklahoma is keeping the conference title in the Big 12 family.
Nebraska is headed to the Big Ten with one more sour championship-game memory.
Travis Lewis had an interception in the end zone and recovered two fumbles, and the Sooners rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Nebraska 23-20 on Saturday night in the Big 12 championship, the Cornhuskers' last stand in the conference.
Oklahoma (No. 9 BCS, No. 10 AP) won its seventh Big 12 title -- more than twice as many as any other school -- and the seventh straight by schools from the South Division. With Nebraska bolting to the Big Ten and Colorado off to the Pac-12, there won't be another Big 12 title game in the immediate future.
"It's pretty special to have the last championship and to add to the number we already have is really pretty special for sure," coach Bob Stoops said.
Landry Jones threw for 342 yards and a touchdown and also sneaked in for another score from 1 yard out as the Sooners (11-2) made the second biggest comeback in Big 12 championship history. Colorado came back from 19 down to Texas in 2001.
The No. 13 Cornhuskers (10-3) self-destructed, squandering a 17-0 lead with four turnovers and getting shut out in the second half for the first time all season.
"This is a great feeling. This is my third Big 12 championship and this one's definitely the sweetest," Lewis said. "The fashion that we won this game in, we always pride ourselves that defense wins championships. I felt like we got rattled a little early, we gave up some big plays but we never panicked."
Jimmy Stevens delivered the game-winner, a 27-yard field goal, with 8:28 to play after Lewis' third takeaway.
Nebraska, which lost 13-12 to Texas on a field goal after 1 second had been put back on the clock in last year's title game, suffered another tough defeat -- without a close call at the end.
The Huskers had to punt it away with less than 4 minutes left after Taylor Martinez was sacked on third-and-8 from the Oklahoma 39-yard line. Alex Henery had already hit a championship game-record 53-yard field goal.
"We thought we were in range. That is the shame of it," said coach Bo Pelini, who even lamented deciding not to let Henery try a 62-yard field goal after the sack.
"But [we] can't take a sack in that situation."
Nebraska got the ball back with 1:46 to play at their own 41-yard line but couldn't convert a first down, with Martinez getting sacked a seventh time on the final drive.
"We wanted this bad," Lewis said. "This has been a long season. We have been tested in so many ways. We have been with our backs against the wall. We came out here and the defense totally dominated."
The longtime rivals had played each other in 71 straight seasons as members of the Big Six and as national powerhouses in the Big Eight before being split up into separate divisions in the Big 12. That divide, along with down stretches for both programs, took some of the sizzle out of one of college football's most storied rivalries.
This was only the second time Nebraska and Oklahoma met in the Big 12 championship game after deciding the Big Eight title 31 times in 36 seasons. Now, they don't figure to meet again unless it's in a bowl game, though the schools are working on scheduling a series starting in 2020.
"Beating Nebraska, like this, in this game? Are you kidding" Stoops said. "It's just great to get another championship."
Nebraska will likely fall into the Insight or Alamo Bowl.
Martinez, who didn't play in the Huskers' North-clinching win against Colorado eight days earlier, had 143 yards passing with an interception but wasn't taking the snaps in some key moments down the stretch.
After Martinez finally lost a fumble -- he had put the ball on the ground four times -- the Huskers turned to Rex Burkhead in the wildcat formation. But after Burkhead picked up 24 yards on his first two carries, he couldn't handle a shotgun snap, and Lewis pounced again.
Cameron Kenney made a 23-yard catch on third-and-24 and then made an 11-yard catch to move the chains on fourth down, setting up Stevens' field goal that put Oklahoma ahead for the first time in the game.
Nebraska shot out to a 17-0 lead on Roy Helu Jr.'s 66-yard touchdown run, Henery's record-setting field goal and a 5-yard touchdown pass from Burkhead to Kyler Reed out of the wildcat. The last score came after Pelini made a successful challenge and had Courtney Osborne's fumble overturned.
Oklahoma answered right back with Jones' 49-yard TD strike to Kenny Stills, and Lewis came up with an interception in the end zone against Martinez and then scooped up Helu's fumble to set up a field goal and Jones' touchdown run 58 seconds apart for the Sooners.
"It just shows the character of our team," Jones said. "Being down 17-0, [we] fight back into the game and finish it off. That was a great win for us."
----------------------------------------------------
Oklahoma outgained Nebraska in the contest 454 yards (364 pass, 112 rush) to 293 yards (200 pass, 145 rush). Nebraska had four turnovers in the loss while the Sooners committed just one. The Huskers had only three penalties in the game for 15 yards while the Sooners totaled 6 for 47yards.
Landry Jones was 23-of-41 for 342 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT in the win. DeMarco Murray rushed 17 times for 68 yards and Kenny Stills led OU receivers with three catches for 83 yards and a TD.
For Nebraska, Taylor Martinez was 12-of-24 for 143 yards with 1 INT but rushed 14 times for minus-32 yards. Roy Helu Jr. led Husker rushers with 11 carries for 91 yards and a TD and Rex Burkhead added 16 carries for 90 yards. Burkead was also 1-of-2 passing for 5 yards with a TD and an INT.
Tight end Mike McNeill led Nebraska receivers with four receptions for 63 yards. Fellow tight end Kyler Reed had three catches for 41 yards and a TD. Brandon Kinnie (2 rec, 18 yds), Joe Broekemeier (3 rec, 15 yds) and Rex Burkhead (1 rec, 11 yds) also contributed in the receiving department.
| NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten) | at | #3 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) |
| 
|
WHEN: Saturday, September 18 | 11:00 AM (CT)
WHERE: Gaylord Family / Oklahoma Memorial Stadium | Norman, Oklahoma
TV: FOX (Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft)
Radio: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Jeremiah Sirles)
HUSKERS
Record: 2-1, 0-1 Big Ten
Last Game: vs. Buffalo (W 28-3)
Rankings: NR
Coach: Scott Frost (14-21, 4th year NU / 33-28, 6th year overall)
SOONERS
Record: 2-0, 0-0 Big 12
Last Game: vs. Western Carolina (W 76-0)
Rankings: AP (#3), Coaches (#3)
Coach: Lincoln Riley (47-8, 5th year at OU and overall)
This Week's Numbers
50 - As part of Saturday's game in Norman, the 50th anniversary of the "Game of the Century" will be recognized. No. 1 Nebraska defeated second-ranked Oklahoma, 35-31, on Nov. 25, 1971, en route to its second straight national championship.
96 - Nebraska and Oklahoma have combined for 96 conference championships in their history. Oklahoma (50) and Nebraska (46) rank first and second nationally in conference titles won.
5 - Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez became the fifth player in Big Ten history to record 6,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards. Martinez joins Taylor Martinez (Nebraska), Antwaan Randle El (Indiana), Denard Robinson (Michigan) and JT Barrett (Ohio State).
The Matchup
Nebraska renews one of the great matchups in college football history this Saturday, as the Huskers travel to Norman, Okla., to take on the Oklahoma Sooners. Game time at OU's Gaylord Family/Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is set for 11 a.m. CT, with national television coverage on FOX. The network's Big Noon Kickoff will also originate from Norman for the marquee non-conference matchup.
Nebraska and Oklahoma were in the same conference from 1921 to 2010, spanning the Missouri Valley, Big Six, Big Seven, Big Eight and Big 12 Conferences. The Huskers and Sooners met for 71 consecutive seasons from 1927 to 1997, and squared off most recently in the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game. Saturday's matchup will be the 87th all-time meeting between the schools.
Nebraska is 2-1 following a solid 28-3 win over Buffalo. The Blackshirt defense controlled the game for a second straight week, holding the Bulls scoreless in the first half and allowing just a field goal. It marked the second straight week Nebraska's defense has allowed fewer than 10 points. In turn, the Husker offense finished with better than 500 yards, featuring a balanced attack for the second straight game.
Oklahoma comes into Saturday's game with a 2-0 record, following a 76-0 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday night in Norman. The Sooners are ranked No. 3 in both the the Associated Press Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll. Coach Lincoln Riley's team has won the past four Big 12 titles, with Riley compiling a 47-8 record with the Sooners.
Oklahoma is averaging 527.0 yards of total offense per game, behind quarterback Spencer Rattler who has completed 77 percent of his passes with six touchdowns. The Sooner defense has limited opponents to 287.0 yards per game.
Series History
Saturday's matchup in the storied "Battle of the Big Reds" is the first between Nebraska and Oklahoma since the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, Texas. The school have met 86 times on the gridiron, with Oklahoma owning a 45-38-3 edge in the all-time series.
This year's game is the first in a home-and-home series between the schools. Nebraska is set to play host to the Sooners at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Sept. 17, 2022. The schools are also set to meet in a home-and-home series in 2029 (Norman) and 2030 (Lincoln).
- Nebraska and Oklahoma met for 71 consecutive seasons from 1927 to 1997 before the streak was snapped in 1998 with the start of the North-South scheduling rotation in the Big 12.
- Nebraska was 16-3-3 in the first 22 games in the series, including 11 shutouts, before Oklahoma was 22-4 from 1943 to 1968. The series has been nearly even since 1969, with Oklahoma holding a slim 20-18 edge.
- Five times Oklahoma handed Nebraska its only regular season loss (1964, 1966, 1975, 1979, 1987), while twice Nebraska gave Oklahoma its only regular-season loss (1971, 1978)
- The schools met twice in No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups including the 1971 Game of the Century and the 1987 game in Lincoln. Both of those games were won by the visiting team, with Nebraska using the 1971 victory to catapult it to a second consecutive national championship.
- One of the two schools has been ranked No. 1 in 13 meetings, including eight times by Nebraska, most recently in 2000.
- Since the AP Poll began in 1936, the NU-OU matchup has featured at least one ranked team in 61 of 71 games, including Oklahoma's No. 3 ranking this season. Both teams have been ranked in 24 of the meetings.
- The series has featured at least one top 10 team in 49 games and two top 10 teams 18 times, with the matchup featuring at least one top 10 team in 22 straight games from 1970 to 1990. In 17 games since 1971, both teams were ranked in the top 10.
- Nebraska's biggest ever upset win was a 25-21 victory in 1959, ending OU's 36-game win streak and 74-game conference unbeaten streak.
- Hall of Fame Coach Tom Osborne posted his 250th win against Oklahoma in 1997 with a 69-7 win in Lincoln, the largest margin of victory in the series.
Past Ten NU-OU Meetings
1996: #5 Nebraska 73, Oklahoma 21 (Norman)
1997: #1 Nebraska 69, Oklahoma 7 (Lincoln)
2000: #3 Oklahoma 31, #1 Nebraska 14 (Norman)
2001: #3 Nebraska 20, #2 Oklahoma 10 (Lincoln)
2004: #2 Oklahoma 30, Nebraska 3 (Norman)
2005: Oklahoma 31, Nebraska 24 (Lincoln)
2006: #8 Oklahoma 21, #19 Nebraska 7 (Kansas City - Big 12 Championship)
2008: #4 Oklahoma 62, Nebraska 28 (Norman)
2009: Nebraska 10, #20 Oklahoma 3 (Lincoln)
2010: #10 Oklahoma 23, #13 Nebraska 20 (Arlington, TX - Big 12 Championship)
Huskers, Sooners Share Rich History
Nebraska and Oklahoma are two of just eight schools in college football history to win 900 or more games, with OU ranking sixth in all-time wins (919) and Nebraska seventh (907).
- In looking at the most wins in college football over the past 30, 40 and 50 years, Nebraska and Oklahoma each rank in the top 10 in all of those categories.
- The schools have combined to win 12 national championships and 96 conference titles, including five national championships and 46 conference crowns by Nebraska.
Nebraska-Oklahoma Superlatives
| Nebraska | Category | Oklahoma | 907 | All-Time Wins | 919 | 5 | National Championships | 7 | 46 | Conference Championships | 50 | 53 | Bowl Appearances | 54 | 3 | Heisman Trophy Winners | 7 | 110 | All-Americans | 162 | 50 | 9-Win Seasons | 48 | 27 | 10-Win Seasons | 41 |
NU-OU Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Game of the Century
As one of college football's greatest rivalries there are numerous memorable games in the Nebraska-Oklahoma series. However, no game in the series is more remembered than Nebraska's 35-31 victory in Norman in 1971. The game is still referred to as the "Game of the Century".
- The schools will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Thanksgiving Day classic at this Saturday's game in Norman. Both teams will wear a helmet decal honoring the 1971 game.
- Nebraska opened the scoring on Johnny Rodgers' legendary punt return to give the Huskers a 7-0 lead. However, the game went back and forth, with three lead changes in the second half, after Oklahoma took its first lead of the game, 17–14, with five seconds left to play in the first half. Oklahoma would go ahead once more, 31–28 with 7:10 left in the game, but Nebraska then answered with a 74-yard drive for the winning touchdown with 1:38 left. In all, Nebraska had scored touchdowns on three of its last four possessions to secure a 35–31 victory.
- Nebraska went on to win its second consecutive national championship and complete a 13-0 season. Oklahoma finished at 11-1 and No. 2 in the final polls.
About Oklahoma
Oklahoma is one of the most storied programs in college football history. One of only eight teams with 900 wins, the Sooners rank sixth all-time with 919 all-time victories.
OU has won 50 conference titles in its history, which is the most of any FBS team, four more than second-place Nebraska. The Sooners have also been crowned national champions seven times by the Associated Press, trailing only Notre Dame (8) and Alabama (12) for the most AP national titles. Oklahoma also ranks fourth all-time in bowl appearances.
The Sooners have produced a record-tying seven Heisman Trophy winners, including two of the last three winners. OU also ranks fourth all-time with more than 400 NFL Draft picks.
First Year: 1895
All-Time Record: 919-329-53
Bowl Record: 30-23-1
Conference Titles: 50
National Titles: 7 (1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000)
Stadium: Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Capacity: 80,126
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Enrollment: 30,903
Colors: Crimson & Cream
Scouting the 2021 Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma is 2-0, and the Sooners bring a No. 3 ranking and an 11-game win streak into Saturday's game. Oklahoma began its season with a 40-35 win over Tulane, a game the Sooners led 37-14 at halftime. Last Saturday, OU shut out FCS Western Carolina, 76-0.
The Sooners boast one of the nation's most potent offenses. Oklahoma ranks 16th nationally averaging 527.0 yards per game this season. Spencer Rattler has completed 50-of-65 passes for 547 yards and six touchdowns. He ranks second nationally in completion percentage and seventh in completions per game and touchdown passes. Marvin Mims is averaging 22.7 yards per catch this season, and Kennedy Brooks leads OU with 67.5 rushing yards per game on 6.8 yards per carry.
Defensively, Oklahoma ranks seventh nationally with six takeaways. Delarrin Turner-Yell is the Sooners' leading tackler with 13 stops, while seven Sooners have recorded a sack this season.
2021 Oklahoma Schedule/Results (2-0)
Tulane (W 40-35)
Western Carolina (W 76-0)
Nebraska
West Virginia
at Kansas State
vs. Texas (at Dallas)
TCU
at Kansas
Texas Tech
at Baylor
Cockeye State
at Oklahoma State
About Oklahoma Head Coach Lincoln Riley
Lincoln Riley is in his fifth season as a collegiate head coach, all of which have come at Oklahoma. Riley boasts a 47-8 record at Oklahoma, and the Sooners have won the Big 12 title in each of his four seasons.
Riley owns the Oklahoma coaching record for most wins in his first season (12 in 2017) and he is the Sooners' winningest coach after four seasons. Riley has guided Oklahoma to three appearances in the College Football Playoff in his first four seasons, while producing two Heisman Trophy winners and two No. 1 NFL Draft picks.
Riley is 24-2 at home in his career, and he has led Oklahoma to 11 consecutive wins heading into Saturday's contest with Nebraska.
Riley was a quarterback at Texas Tech for one year (2002) before moving into a student assistant role under then head coach Mike Leach (2003-05). Riley then was promoted to an assistant coach (WR) position at TTU (2007-2009). Riley served as offensive coordinator at East Carolina from 2010 to 2014 and then came to Norman to serve as the Sooners' offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2015 through 2016. Riley was named head coach at Oklahoma in 2017.
Lincoln Riley vs. Nebraska
Riley will face Nebraska for the first time as a head coach on Saturday, but he does have experience coaching against the Huskers as an assistant. Riley spent seven seasons at Texas Tech from 2003 to 2009, including three seasons as a student assistant. The Red Raiders went 4-0 against Nebraska during Riley's time in Lubbock, including wins in 2008 and 2009 when he was Texas Tech's inside receivers coach.
Last Meeting: December 5, 2010
Big 12 Championship Game: #9 Oklahoma 23, #13 Nebraska 20 (at Arlington, TX)
ARLINGTON, TX - Oklahoma is keeping the conference title in the Big 12 family.
Nebraska is headed to the Big Ten with one more sour championship-game memory.
Travis Lewis had an interception in the end zone and recovered two fumbles, and the Sooners rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Nebraska 23-20 on Saturday night in the Big 12 championship, the Cornhuskers' last stand in the conference.
Oklahoma (No. 9 BCS, No. 10 AP) won its seventh Big 12 title -- more than twice as many as any other school -- and the seventh straight by schools from the South Division. With Nebraska bolting to the Big Ten and Colorado off to the Pac-12, there won't be another Big 12 title game in the immediate future.
"It's pretty special to have the last championship and to add to the number we already have is really pretty special for sure," coach Bob Stoops said.
Landry Jones threw for 342 yards and a touchdown and also sneaked in for another score from 1 yard out as the Sooners (11-2) made the second biggest comeback in Big 12 championship history. Colorado came back from 19 down to Texas in 2001.
The No. 13 Cornhuskers (10-3) self-destructed, squandering a 17-0 lead with four turnovers and getting shut out in the second half for the first time all season.
"This is a great feeling. This is my third Big 12 championship and this one's definitely the sweetest," Lewis said. "The fashion that we won this game in, we always pride ourselves that defense wins championships. I felt like we got rattled a little early, we gave up some big plays but we never panicked."
Jimmy Stevens delivered the game-winner, a 27-yard field goal, with 8:28 to play after Lewis' third takeaway.
Nebraska, which lost 13-12 to Texas on a field goal after 1 second had been put back on the clock in last year's title game, suffered another tough defeat -- without a close call at the end.
The Huskers had to punt it away with less than 4 minutes left after Taylor Martinez was sacked on third-and-8 from the Oklahoma 39-yard line. Alex Henery had already hit a championship game-record 53-yard field goal.
"We thought we were in range. That is the shame of it," said coach Bo Pelini, who even lamented deciding not to let Henery try a 62-yard field goal after the sack.
"But [we] can't take a sack in that situation."
Nebraska got the ball back with 1:46 to play at their own 41-yard line but couldn't convert a first down, with Martinez getting sacked a seventh time on the final drive.
"We wanted this bad," Lewis said. "This has been a long season. We have been tested in so many ways. We have been with our backs against the wall. We came out here and the defense totally dominated."
The longtime rivals had played each other in 71 straight seasons as members of the Big Six and as national powerhouses in the Big Eight before being split up into separate divisions in the Big 12. That divide, along with down stretches for both programs, took some of the sizzle out of one of college football's most storied rivalries.
This was only the second time Nebraska and Oklahoma met in the Big 12 championship game after deciding the Big Eight title 31 times in 36 seasons. Now, they don't figure to meet again unless it's in a bowl game, though the schools are working on scheduling a series starting in 2020.
"Beating Nebraska, like this, in this game? Are you kidding" Stoops said. "It's just great to get another championship."
Nebraska will likely fall into the Insight or Alamo Bowl.
Martinez, who didn't play in the Huskers' North-clinching win against Colorado eight days earlier, had 143 yards passing with an interception but wasn't taking the snaps in some key moments down the stretch.
After Martinez finally lost a fumble -- he had put the ball on the ground four times -- the Huskers turned to Rex Burkhead in the wildcat formation. But after Burkhead picked up 24 yards on his first two carries, he couldn't handle a shotgun snap, and Lewis pounced again.
Cameron Kenney made a 23-yard catch on third-and-24 and then made an 11-yard catch to move the chains on fourth down, setting up Stevens' field goal that put Oklahoma ahead for the first time in the game.
Nebraska shot out to a 17-0 lead on Roy Helu Jr.'s 66-yard touchdown run, Henery's record-setting field goal and a 5-yard touchdown pass from Burkhead to Kyler Reed out of the wildcat. The last score came after Pelini made a successful challenge and had Courtney Osborne's fumble overturned.
Oklahoma answered right back with Jones' 49-yard TD strike to Kenny Stills, and Lewis came up with an interception in the end zone against Martinez and then scooped up Helu's fumble to set up a field goal and Jones' touchdown run 58 seconds apart for the Sooners.
"It just shows the character of our team," Jones said. "Being down 17-0, [we] fight back into the game and finish it off. That was a great win for us."
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Oklahoma outgained Nebraska in the contest 454 yards (364 pass, 112 rush) to 293 yards (200 pass, 145 rush). Nebraska had four turnovers in the loss while the Sooners committed just one. The Huskers had only three penalties in the game for 15 yards while the Sooners totaled 6 for 47yards.
Landry Jones was 23-of-41 for 342 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT in the win. DeMarco Murray rushed 17 times for 68 yards and Kenny Stills led OU receivers with three catches for 83 yards and a TD.
For Nebraska, Taylor Martinez was 12-of-24 for 143 yards with 1 INT but rushed 14 times for minus-32 yards. Roy Helu Jr. led Husker rushers with 11 carries for 91 yards and a TD and Rex Burkhead added 16 carries for 90 yards. Burkead was also 1-of-2 passing for 5 yards with a TD and an INT.
Tight end Mike McNeill led Nebraska receivers with four receptions for 63 yards. Fellow tight end Kyler Reed had three catches for 41 yards and a TD. Brandon Kinnie (2 rec, 18 yds), Joe Broekemeier (3 rec, 15 yds) and Rex Burkhead (1 rec, 11 yds) also contributed in the receiving department.