OSU football: More talent than Nebraska?
Posted by berrytramel on October 21, 2010M at 11:23 pm
In the Thursday Oklahoman, our man Brandon Chatmon compared the talent levels of
Oklahoma State and Nebraska football. His basic conclusion: OSU has the superior
offensive talent, Nebraska the better defensive talent. Which seems pretty obvious.
Some have wondered how OSU could be on equal footing with Nebraska in talent,
but I have a question. What has happened in the last five years to make anyone think
Nebraska should have more talent than OSU?
Record the last five years: Nebraska 38-21, OSU 38-20.
Record the last four years: Nebraska 29-16, OSU 31-14.
Record the last three years: Nebraska 24-9, OSU 24-8.
Record the last two years: Nebraska 15-5, OSU 15-4.
Record this season: Nebraska 5-1, OSU 6-0.
And while you might be able to argue the Huskers have played slightly tougher non-conference opponents
— I don’t buy it, but you could argue it — that doesn’t make up for OSU playing in the Big 12 South and
Nebraska in the weaker North.
So why the belief that Nebraska automatically has to have better talent?
I don’t claim to know who has better linemen. Or heck, better DBs and linebackers. But ballhandlers,
I can distinguish. And OSU clearly has the talent edge in ballhandlers. Brandon Weeden,
Justin Blackmon, Kendall Hunter. The Huskers have a good tailback in Roy Helu, a fast quarterback
who can’t throw much in Taylor Martinez and receivers who have angered their own fans for a dismal
performance against Texas.
The Huskers got everyone excited with their performance down the stretch last season — a disputed loss
to Texas in the Big 12 title game and a 33-0 rout of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl — and jumping to a
5-0 start in 2010. But there’s no evidence that Nebraska out-talents OSU.
