OU v Nebraska in Big 12 Title Game

[eliot1171]

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"Nebraska's back," an excited Pelini said after the Cornhuskers' Holiday Bowl win over Arizona, "and we're here to stay."

 

The 33-0 whipping Nebraska put on the Wildcats and Pelini's lifelong friend, Arizona coach Mike Stoops, certainly had the look of a coming-out party to announce the Cornhuskers' return to the national stage.

 

The rest of Pelini's bold statement undoubtedly was a vow to not let the proud Cornhuskers program slip to the depths of where he found it when he replaced Bill Callahan.

 

Unfortunately, it certainly didn't apply to Nebraska's future in the Big 12 Conference. As we discovered last month, the Cornhuskers would like to join the Big Ten Conference immediately.

 

"I think if you're going to make a change," NU athletic director Tom Osborne said while accepting the Big Ten's invitation, "you'd like to do it tomorrow."

 

Tomorrow won't come for the Cornhuskers until the 2011 football season, which means at least eight Big 12 teams will get one last crack at Nebraska. It could be nine if the Cornhuskers prove Pelini right by advancing to the Big 12 championship game.

 

Yes, Colorado is also jumping the Big 12's ship.

But the Buffaloes have become so irrelevant under coach Dan Hawkins that a win over CU won't be nearly as sweet or significant as handing Nebraska a defeat as its parting gift.

 

In a sentimentalist's perfect world, Oklahoma and Nebraska will meet in the Big 12's final title game.

 

Perfection would include the Sooners and Cornhuskers both standing 12-0 when they arrive in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 4, with a spot in the BCS national championship game on the line.

 

It would be 1971 all over again for Big Eight traditionalists. The two Big Reds playing for the highest stakes while meeting for the final time as conference members.

 

OU and Nebraska won't play in the 2010 regular season. If the old Big Eight's fiercest rivalry doesn't happen in the Big 12 championship contest, a future bowl game could be the only opportunity for them to meet again.

 

Many in the national media want to see a Nebraska-Texas rematch in the Big 12 title tilt at Cowboys Stadium. But they won't have to wait that long; the Longhorns travel to Lincoln for an Oct. 16 meeting that's already being over-hyped as a "bloodbath."

 

The bitterness that remains from last season's controversial end in the league's title game will certainly test Nebraska's claim of having "the greatest fans in college football."

 

OU needs to do its part to make this Big Eight/Big 12 dream finale become a reality. The Sooners must snap their two-game losing streak against Texas on Oct. 2 in Dallas in the 105th edition of the Red River Rivalry first.

 

Texas could not care less about all the tradition and history in the OU-Nebraska series. The Longhorns have owned Nebraska (8-1) in Big 12 play and have won four of the last five October meetings with OU inside Cotton Bowl Stadium.

 

Osborne acknowledged at last month's press conference that "it may not be a real easy year for us on the athletic field."

 

The Huskers certainly won't find any welcome wagon waiting for them on conference road trips to Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Texas A&M.

 

But Nebraska's shot at going 12-0 is certainly better than OU's because the Huskers have a Bill Snyder-like nonconference schedule. A Sept. 18 trip to Washington could get interesting, but home dates against Western Kentucky, Idaho and South Dakota State won't be as challenging as a mid-week scrimmage against the scout team.

 

Bob Stoops spent seven seasons on Snyder's staff at K-State. But OU's 2010 nonconference games indicate the Sooners coach either didn't learn the benefits of Snyder's creampuff scheduling philosophy or doesn't subscribe to it.

 

At least not yet. Stoops might change his mind after a road trip to Cincinnati and home contests against Florida State and Air Force after opening against Utah State on Owen Field.

 

OU's Big 12 schedule is also full of potential potholes. After the Texas showdown in Big D, the Sooners must travel to Missouri, Texas A&M, Baylor and OSU.

 

Phil Steele's preseason magazine is the only one predicting OU will be 12-0 the first Saturday in December.

 

If Steele's right, the Sooners just might get the opportunity to test Pelini's "Nebraska's back" claim.

 

The Huskers, of course, could lose to Texas and still play for the championship. But 12-0 Nebraska vs. 12-0 Oklahoma for the Big 12 title sounds like the perfect ending

[HuskerGBR]

DOWN WITH TEXAS!!!

 

Whoops, this thread is about OU...just used to saying down with texas these days.

 

Anyways, I couldn't think of a better finish to our stay in the big 12. Winner decides who goes to the MNC game. Not a bad story there and could be the last and first "game of this century?"

[Bye Bye Texas!]

Undefeated (having beaten Texas) and meeting OU in the "final" Big 12 title game? Yeah, pretty sure there couldn't be any more perfect of a scenario.

[REDSTEEL]

Undefeated (having beaten Texas) and meeting OU in the "final" Big 12 title game? Yeah, pretty sure there couldn't be any more perfect of a scenario.

 

Shuting out OU in Nebraska last Big 12 game would be a end to a perfect regular season.

 

Just like NU did in the last ever Big Eight game though Stoops isn't as hated as Schllenburger.

 

Then play and beat either Miami or FSU in the title game.

[zoogs]

"Nebraska's back," an excited Pelini said after the Cornhuskers' Holiday Bowl win over Arizona, "and we're here to stay."

 

 

I think I remember hearing that, and Bo couldn't have possibly sounded less excited and more matter-of-fact.

[Redmusky]

Undefeated (having beaten Texas) and meeting OU in the "final" Big 12 title game? Yeah, pretty sure there couldn't be any more perfect of a scenario.

 

Shuting out OU in Nebraska last Big 12 game would be a end to a perfect regular season.

 

Just like NU did in the last ever Big Eight game though Stoops isn't as hated as Schllenburger.

 

Then play and beat either Miami or FSU in the title game.

 

I like to end with Ohio St in the NC game winning of course

[bleedNUred]

Would love to see Nebraska vs Oklahoma for the Big 12 title, epic ending to our last year in the Big 12.