Nebraska and Oklahoma will be meeting on the football field for the 87th time at 11 a.m. Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma.
The previous 86 meetings made up one of the greatest rivalries in college sports. They also produced some of the greatest moments in college football. We somehow got the list down to 12.
In no particular order (though there is a clear No. 1 for Husker fans), here are 12 moments that defined the rivalry.
Black 41 Flash Reverse
Date: Oct. 27, 2001.
The site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Nebraska (2), Oklahoma (3).
If you root for the Big Red, you know exactly what play we're talking about.
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With the Huskers clinging to a 13-10 lead in the fourth quarter, Eric Crouch pitched the ball to Thunder Collins, who flipped the ball to Mike Stuntz, who found a wide-open Crouch running toward South Stadium.
Crouch took it 63 yards to the house to put the game away. It was Crouch's Heisman Trophy moment (and he had some others, too … that run at Missouri!), and it helped put the Huskers in position for a run at the national title.
Final: Nebraska 20-10.
They said it: "I won't lie — I was nervous. But once I got the ball in my hand, it was just playing football." — Stuntz.
Lewis' parting gift
Date: Dec. 4, 2010.
The site: Arlington, Texas.
Rankings: Oklahoma (10), Nebraska (13).
Nebraska was on its Big 12 farewell tour, and how fitting was this? The Huskers were meeting the rival Sooners with a conference title on the line.
Nebraska took a 17-0 lead and was on the verge of a 24-7 advantage in the second quarter before Sooner linebacker Travis Lewis changed everything.
His interception of Taylor Martinez in the end zone sapped all the momentum and the Sooners, aided by several Husker turnovers, outscored NU 16-3 the rest of the way.
Final: Oklahoma 23-20.
They said it: “I was kind of baiting them into throwing at me, and he threw it.” — Lewis.
It's on the carpet!
Date: Nov. 11, 1978.
The site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Oklahoma (1), Nebraska (4).
Nebraska ended six years of frustration, and it came courtesy of six lost Oklahoma fumbles.
None was bigger than Billy Sims' fumble at the Nebraska 3-yard line with 3:27 remaining.
Sims, the nation's leading rusher, turned the corner, but NU safety Jeff Hansen delivered a big pop, the ball came out and Jim Pillen pounced on it.
A couple of key runs and an Oklahoma personal foul penalty helped the Huskers run out the clock.
It was Tom Osborne's first win against the Sooners.
Final: Nebraska 17-14.
They said it: "The key to beating Oklahoma is having a better team than they do. I think these were pretty evenly matched teams out there today. This is as good a football team as we've had here in a long, long time." — Osborne.
Game 'Buster'
Date: Nov. 22, 1980.
Site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Nebraska (4), Oklahoma (9).
NU could taste victory after Jeff Quinn plunged into the end zone to give the Huskers a 17-14 with 3:16 remaining.
But Osborne knew it wasn't over. "(I) told them to get ready to score again," Osborne said of his offense. "Oklahoma has the potential to score quickly."
That's because the Sooners had freshman Buster Rhymes.
The big running back took a pitch from J.C. Watts and galloped 43 yards along the Oklahoma sideline. OU scored five players later to take the lead for good.
Final: Oklahoma 21-17.
They said it: "That's what can happen when you get the ball pitched to a great back, I mean, a great speed back." — OU coach Barry Switzer.
Bell rings early
Date: Nov. 19, 1988.
Site: Norman.
Rankings: Nebraska (7), Oklahoma (9).
It wasn't the prettiest game of the series. Far from it.
But on a cold, wet and gray day in Norman, all Nebraska needed was one pretty drive.
The hands of Richard Bell made it happen. The wingback hauled in a 30-yard pass on third-and-13 in Sooner territory. Steve Taylor scored from a yard out to cap the game's only touchdown drive.
Nebraska's defense needs a mention here. It held an OU wishbone attack to 98 rushing yards, and OU failed to score a touchdown in the series for the first time since 1942.
This was also Switzer's final game in the series.
Final: Nebraska 7-3.
They said it: "If anyone had told me before the game we would hold Nebraska to seven points, I would have said we would win the game. On the other hand, if anyone had told me we would score only three points, I would have said they would beat the hell out of us." — Switzer.
Stuff and OUch!
Date: Nov. 17, 1984.
Site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Nebraska (1), Oklahoma (4).
Maybe Osborne didn't want to settle for a potential tie. Maybe three missed field goals earlier in the game made it an easy call.
But with his Huskers trailing 10-7 with less than 6 minutes remaining, and the ball just inches from the goal line, Osborne made the call to go for it.
NU's Jeff Smith took a pitch, but was met by OU cornerback Brian Hall, who avoided a block and dropped Smith for a loss.
It wasn't the first time in the game the Huskers came up empty deep in OU territory, but Hall's stop came at the biggest moment and it halted NU's 27-conference game win streak.
Final: Oklahoma 17-7.
They said it: "You saw something you don't see maybe once in a lifetime. They put that thing down there twice and said 'Stop us.' We stopped the No. 1 team in the nation twice." — Switzer.
A Halloween treat for the ages
Date: Oct. 31, 1959.
Site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Oklahoma (19), Nebraska (NR).
The headline in the next day's paper (HOW THE MIGHTY ARE FALLEN!) said it all. Jubilation followed after Nebraska, for the first time in 17 tries, knocked off the Sooners, ending OU's 74-game conference winning streak in the process.
Nebraska had critical plays all day — LeRoy Zentic's punt return for TD and Don Olson's fumble recovery — but none bigger than Ron Meade's interception in the end zone in the final minute.
It was NU's first win against OU since 1942 and Bud Wilkinson's first league loss as the Sooners' head man.
Final: Nebraska 25-21.
They said it: "There will be no school Monday.” — Nebraska Chancellor Clifford Hardin to the crowd after the game.
Running past No. 1
Date: Oct. 21, 1987.
Site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Nebraska (1), Oklahoma (2).
It was labeled the Game of the Century II, and more than 900 media credentials were issued for the game. A record crowd also was on hand.
No, it didn't live up to the first Game of the Century. It was more of a clinic put on by the Sooners, offensively and defensively.
A year after Keith Jackson broke the hearts of Husker fans, Patrick Collins tugged at them some more.
Late in the third quarter, backup QB Charles Thompson pitched the ball to Collins, who turned the left corner, shook off some arm tackles and jetted 65 yards for a touchdown to break a 7-7 tie.
Final: Oklahoma 17-7.
They said it: "Charles made the read and the pitch, and then it's my job to turn upfield. I felt a guy grab my back but I just ran." — Collins.
A somber day
Date: Nov. 23, 1963.
Site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Oklahoma (6), Nebraska (10).
This game is most notable because it was played one day after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. School officials talked about not playing it.
The other Big Eight games were called off, but a TV crew, thousands of fans and Orange Bowl officials were already in Lincoln, and OU had a game the following week. After two hours of deliberation, the Nebraska Board of Regents decided to move forward with the game.
In a span of 32 seconds, Nebraska took full control of the game. A David Theisen interception set up Kent McCloughan's 2-yard touchdown. Moments later, Nebraska added to its lead on Fred Duda's score, which was set up by a McCloughan interception.
Final: Nebraska 29-20.
They said it: “The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, deeply sorrowful about the death of President Kennedy, believes the people of Nebraska wish to have the Nebraska-Oklahoma game played as scheduled. This will be done.” — Nebraska news release.
One-hand act
Date: Nov. 22, 1986.
Site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Oklahoma (3), Nebraska (5).
Despite the uniform faux pas (Nebraska wore all red), all was going well for the scarlet and cream. Nebraska was up 17-7 early in the fourth quarter.
But the Sooners rallied, and quickly silenced the 76,000 fans in attendance.
Facing third-and-long with seconds remaining, Jamelle Holieway delivered a strike to tight end Keith Jackson, who caught the ball with one hand and rumbled to the NU 14-yard line with 9 seconds remaining. OU completed the comeback with Tim Lasher's 31-yard field goal with 6 seconds left.
Behind the sure hands, er, hand, of Jackson, OU won another Big Eight title.
Final: Oklahoma 20, Nebraska 17.
They said it: "We weren't hurting just for ourselves. We were hurting for each other. I don't think I've ever been that emotional about a football game." — NU linebacker Kevin Parsons.
The Peacock strut
Date: Nov. 26, 1976.
Site: Lincoln.
Rankings: Oklahoma (8), Nebraska (10).
There was no secret to what Oklahoma wanted to do on a football field. Run, run, run.
But on this day, the Sooners turned to its bag of tricks to rally from a 17-13 deficit with less than four minutes remaining.
On third-and-19, OU quarterback Dean Blevins passed to split end Steve Rhodes, who lateraled the ball to Elvis Peacock, who rumbled 32 yards to the NU 2-yard line. OU scored on the next play to take the lead with 38 seconds remaining.
The Sooners ran 51 plays in the game. Only two were passing plays and both were trick plays on the game-winning drive.
Final: Oklahoma 20-17.
They said it: "This is the most disappointed any of us have been since I've been associated with Nebraska football." — Osborne.
Man, woman and child
Date: Nov. 25, 1971.
Site: Norman.
Rankings: Nebraska (1), Oklahoma (2).
C'mon. What moment flashes into the minds of Husker fans over the age of 50 when they think of NU-OU?
You could make a list of 12 Husker-Sooner defining moments from this game alone, but none stand out more than Johnny Rodgers' electrifying 72-yard punt return in the first quarter.
The Jet's return set the tone for the game and produced arguably the greatest radio call — salute to Lyell Bremser — in Husker lore.
It wasn't the winning play in the Game of the Century — in fact, Rodgers had a critical third-down catch late in the fourth quarter — but you can't paint the portrait of Nebraska football or the Husker-Sooner rivalry without it.
Final: Nebraska 35-31.
They said it: "It just means volumes that it’s been such a long period of time that has passed by, and people still give you credit for things that you’ve done in the past that have stood the test of time." — Rodgers, in recent interview with Associated Press.
The heartwarmers … and the heartbreakers in Nebraska football history
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 35, Oklahoma 31 (Nov. 25, 1971)
Close your eyes and imagine Jeff Kinney, his jersey in tatters, powering across the goal line for the winning touchdown — and his fourth of the game — in the final moments. Close your eyes and imagine Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers racing 72 yards to a touchdown on a punt return for the opening points of the game. Close your eyes and imagine Husker middle guard Rich Glover recording 22 tackles on a gray and chilly day. Husker fans of a certain age saw it all. The Game of the Century was indeed incredible theater. By the way, who remembers that Nebraska two weeks later defeated Hawaii 45-3 on the island?
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 14 (Nov. 11, 1978)
OK, let's close our eyes again. Imagine jubilant Husker fans tearing down goalposts in Memorial Stadium's south end zone and carting the heavy steel to O Street. What a scene. The victory ended the Sooners' six-game winning streak against the Huskers. NU won it on Billy Todd’s 24-yard field goal 3:08 into the fourth quarter. Get this: Oklahoma had outscored Nebraska 80-0 in the final 15 minutes during the six-year drought.
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 20, Oklahoma 10 | Oct. 27, 2001, Lincoln:
The roar was incredible as Eric Crouch sprinted toward the end zone with 6:17 to play. We do mean sprint. The Husker quarterback turned on his jets after hauling in a 63-yard touchdown pass. The play, called "Black 41 Flash Reverse," sent the crowd into a tizzy and highlighted third-ranked Nebraska's triumph against second-ranked Oklahoma. It marked NU's best win of Frank Solich's six-year tenure.
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 24, Colorado 7 | Oct. 29, 1994, Lincoln
Colorado's Chris Hudson (left), Jon Knutson (back), Matt Russell (16) and Ted Johnson (right) converge to bring down NU's Brook Berringer after an 11-yard run on Oct. 29, 1994.
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 52, Colorado 7 | Oct. 31, 1992, Lincoln
OK, let's be clear: Some Nebraska fans will argue this was the game that rocked Memorial Stadium harder than it's ever been rocked. The roar began immediately, as outside linebacker Travis Hill intercepted Colorado quarterback Koy Detmer's deflected pass, starting a Halloween rout that was cathartic for the Husker faithful. NU hadn't beaten CU since 1988. But this marked the first of nine straight wins against the Buffaloes.
Heartbreaker: Nebraska 45, Missouri 38, OT | Nov. 8, 1997, Columbia, Missouri
Did you really think we'd forget "The Flea Kicker?" Nebraska didn't play all that well in this game. Its defense was on its heels much of the afternoon until a late fourth-quarter stop set up the dramatic tying touchdown drive led by quarterback Scott Frost. His final pass of regulation, intended for Shevin Wiggins, was kicked into the air by Wiggins. Somehow, Matt Davison snagged it before it hit the turf. Mizzou fans were in utter disbelief. The atmosphere was incredible. Davison's catch, remarkable.
Heartbreaker: Miami 31, Nebraska 30 | Jan. 2, 1984, Orange Bowl
Nebraska's Dean Steinkuhler scores on the "Fumblerooski" in the 1984 Orange Bowl.
Heartbreaker: Florida State 18, Nebraska 16 | Jan. 1, 1994, Orange Bowl
Again, you know the deal. Byron Bennett, whose 27-yard field goal with 1:16 to play had given Nebraska the lead, hooked his game-winning try wide left with one second remaining. That allowed Florida State to make a claim for its first national championship. “I guess it was our time,” then-FSU head coach Bobby Bowden said, "because Nebraska played as good or better than we did. Nebraska is a lot better than I thought. A lot better.” History tells us Bowden was on to something with those comments.
Heartbreaker: Missouri 35, Nebraska 31 | Nov. 18, 1978, Lincoln
Richard Berns had a banner day against the Colorado Buffaloes just days after appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Heartbreaker: Texas 13, Nebraska 12 | Dec. 5, 2009, Big 12 Championship Game
Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh (93), sets his sights on Texas' Colt McCoy (12), in second-quarter action Dec. 5, 2009.
Episode 73 The Showdown: Making the roster work
