Can Nebraska beat UT and defile the BCS?

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

Fox Sports

 

Nebraska capable of beating Texas, defiling BCS

by Peter Schrager

Peter Schrager is a frequent contributor for FOXSports.com. You can e-mail him at PeterSchrager@gmail.com.

 

Updated: November 9, 2009, 11:22 AM EST 18 comments

 

Two years ago this month, the Nebraska Cornhuskers surrendered 76 points in a loss at Kansas. Three weeks later, the 'Huskers gave up 65 points in a nationally televised, season-ending defeat in Boulder.

 

With Saturday night's 10-3 win over Oklahoma, the 'Huskers have now given up an average of seven points in their past three games. They've held the opposition to 10 points or less six times in nine games.

 

Rest assured, folks — the Blackshirts are back.

 

And if you're a fan of the burnt orange down in Austin, that fact probably shouldn't go unnoticed.

 

Yes, though the offense looks more like a middle school starting 11 than a college one these days, the Nebraska Cornhuskers — still unranked and under the radar — have emerged as one of the few teams in the nation still capable of throwing a wrench in the assumed plan for the BCS Championship Game.

 

With another week of Florida, Alabama and Texas wins now in the books, it appears as though the pundits have all but put the snooze button on until Jan. 7. The sentiment is as follows: The winner of Dec. 5's SEC Championship Game between likely unbeatens Alabama and Florida will play Texas for the BCS title.

 

Alabama continues to find ways to win each week, Florida's defense seems to only be getting better and Texas is finally putting it all together on a consistent basis. For all those pushing for a playoff system or a "plus-one" scenario, the 2009 BCS chase has shaped up to pretty much provide just that. On one side of a fictional bracket is your SEC champion and on the other is Texas.

 

Done and done. No controversies. No antitrust lawyers required. No need to worry, right?

 

Not quite.

 

TCU and Cincinnati fans may be quite pleased to hear that Nebraska — yes, downright ugly Nebraska — could very well be the squad to throw the whole picture-perfect setup into a frenzy.

 

The 'Huskers, 6-3 and winners of two straight, have the defense to put the clamps on a Texas Big 12 Championship Game aerial show. A half-game behind Kansas State in the Big 12 North, Nebraska controls its divisional race. With wins over Kansas, Kansas State and Colorado (teams with a collective record of 14-14) to close out the season, Nebraska would be Texas' last opponent before their assumed entry into the BCS Championship Game.

 

In Saturday night's nationally televised win, the Blackshirts hurried Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones from start to finish and intercepted him five times. The loss marked the first time an Oklahoma offense failed to reach the end zone since 1998.

 

The Sooners had 325 total yards — becoming the first team to put up more than 300 yards on Nebraska this season — but moved inside the Nebraska 20 just once, turned over the ball three times on downs, missed two field-goal tries and had another one blocked.

 

Bo Pelini's defense is more than just carrying this Nebraska team on its back. It's carrying Nebraska on its back, manning the canteen, holding the compass and doing just about everything needed for the climb. In truth, the defense is not only beating Nebraska's opponents in these games, but also willing NU to wins despite an anemic offense.

 

How good is the NU defense? The Blackshirts are second in the nation in scoring defense, second in passing defense and 11th in total defense.

 

How bad is the 'Huskers offense? Nebraska is eighth in the Big 12 in scoring, second-to-last in yards per game and dead last in first downs per game. On Saturday night, the Cornhuskers won despite getting just seven first downs and 180 total yards. They picked up 1 yard when they needed it, though. After Prince Amukamara returned an interception to the Oklahoma 1 in the second quarter, Zac Lee threw to Ryan Hill for Nebraska's fourth offensive TD in its past four games.

 

"That game could have gone a lot of different ways, and we just found a way to hang in there and hang in there, and we made enough plays to win the football game," Pelini said. What he likely meant was, "Thank you, defense. Again."

 

If Nebraska can somehow find an offense — or if one of its two quarterbacks manages to play the position even somewhat competently — over the 'Huskers' next three games, Texas' sleepwalk to Pasadena can be thrown for a loop in the Big 12 Championship Game.

 

In Ndamukong Suh, the likely overall No. 1 pick in the 2010 NFL draft, and sophomore sensation Jared Crick, Nebraska features two of the college game's top interior defensive lineman. Suh is the subject of legitimate Heisman buzz, while Crick had his national coming-out party in a five-sack, 13-tackle performance against Baylor two weeks ago. With Crick, Suh and a well-rounded back seven, the Blackshirts could be just the defense to destroy Texas' national title — and Colt McCoy's Heisman — dreams.

 

Some other unranked teams still capable of spoiling the all-too-perfect BCS picture? Auburn, which plays Alabama at Jordan-Hare Stadium on the Friday after Thanksgiving, could open the door for TCU or Cincinnati if a one-loss Alabama team toppled Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Florida State or South Carolina could do the same for the Gators. Texas A&M has beaten Texas in two of their past three meetings and is playing solid football of late. The Aggies play the Longhorns on Nov. 27.

 

Who knows? Maybe Kansas State takes care of the 'Huskers on Nov. 21, then gets the best of Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game instead. After all, it was the Darren Sproles-led Wildcats who got the best of then-unbeaten Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game.

 

But it's the surging Cornhuskers that intrigue me the most. In a year when the Heisman Trophy race has been muddied in mediocrity, injuries have sidelined more quarterbacks than ever before and top teams continue to stumble offensively, defense has been the underlining storyline of the 2009 college football season. The Blackhshirts boast arguably the top overall unit in the land. Would it not be fitting for such a squad — one that's all D and no O — to serve as the Steve Wynn elbow to the BCS Picasso?

 

Perhaps the most insightful thing said about Nebraska was what came out of the mouth of a high school kid on Saturday night.

 

Jay Guy, a 6-foot-1, 310-pound blue-chip recruit from Aldine, Texas, attended the 10-3 win.

 

When asked by a reporter about his future as a college player, Guy responded: "Yes, sir, I'm committed to Nebraska. It's a good fit for me. I don't know if you watched the game, but the Nebraska defensive line is ridiculous. I think Nebraska can take me to the next level as a player."

 

It can also ruin the perfect 2009 BCS Championship Game picture.

 

Consider yourself warned, Texas.

[Taylor]

that was a good read

[zoogs]

yeah, it was. But I felt it was a very cursory assessment of our team, and only in the way, way overused "Potential BCS buster?" angle. I'm glad he's so intruiged though.

[CENTEXHUSKER]

Nice find HFOL........

 

'Consider yourself warned Texas'

 

[holvy83]

Good read, I know that is a huge "IF" but that would be great to see something like that. But first, they need to finish out with W's. It would be cool to stir up the BCS in a good way and erase the 01 debacle where most said NU "slid" into the title game.

[knapplc]

Texas did it to us in 1996.

[irafreak]

It would be poetic justice to take away Texas' title shot in a meaningless game the way they did in 96 to us.

[HuskerRob]

Love our D, but we need some sort of offense to compete with Texas (if we even make it to the Big 12 Championship...). Do all of you really think we would've held Boomer Sooner to 3 points with Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham playing?

[Karawithasmile]

We have to get there first.

 

But, assuming we do, our defense should have some fun with that little pony, Colt.

 

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

Love our D, but we need some sort of offense to compete with Texas (if we even make it to the Big 12 Championship...). Do all of you really think we would've held Boomer Sooner to 3 points with Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham playing?

Yes. Because OU's O-line has been struggling all year long. Their losses this year have had nothing to do with whether Bradford is/was in the game or not. Their O-line is weak. Last year, their O-line was one of the best in the country which gave Bradford the chance to take a nap in the pocket then throw the ball. Landry is a good QB. He's proven this season IMO and he's only going to get better. But with that O-line they have right now, they're not going to do as well.

[LouisianaHuskerFan]

Texas did it to us in 1996.

 

 

Let's get some revenge.

[HuskerGBR]

Yes, though the offense looks more like a middle school starting 11 than a college one these days

 

I am sorry, but I almost died laughing at that comment...classic!

[predictionking]

Love our D, but we need some sort of offense to compete with Texas (if we even make it to the Big 12 Championship...). Do all of you really think we would've held Boomer Sooner to 3 points with Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham playing?

 

 

Well I would argue OU beats Texas with those two players in the lineup. So what's your point? I think Texas would struggle to move the football against us as well.

[holvy83]

Yes, though the offense looks more like a middle school starting 11 than a college one these days

 

I am sorry, but I almost died laughing at that comment...classic!

 

funny...yet so sad at the same time

[AF Husker Fan]

any team struggles to move the ball against this team and score. Have some faith guys if the D continues to be focused and we can grind out some tough wins running the ball we can ride the winning streak all the way to the Big 12 championship game! Let's go and beat KU!