CENTEXHUSKER
Starter
The author is obviously a Longhorn honk but here it is anyways...
Comparing Texas and Nebraska against common opponentsBy Suzanne Halliburton
Monday, November 30, 2009
It likely will be an easy film study for both Texas and Nebraska as the teams prepare for Saturday's Big 12 Conference championship game.
After all, there is a lot of commonality between the champions of the North and South divisions.
Each defensive staff is a bit uneasy — especially the Longhorns — after their respective units finished the regular season by allowing the most yards this season.
The teams faced six common opponents, or half their respective schedules.
The Longhorns were 6-0 against common opponents while Nebraska was 5-1.
Here's a look at the hottest DVDs of conference championship week for both coaching staffs, because these are the games that will be scrutinized the most:
Missouri
Nebraska's take: Nebraska, playing in a driving rainstorm for nearly three quarters, needed the fourth-biggest comeback in school history to beat the Tigers in Columbia, 27-12.
The Cornhuskers offense scored 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter to help Nebraska.
Meanwhile, the Husker defense limited Gabbert to 134 yards, as he completed only 17 of 43 passes.
Texas' take:The Longhorns had one of their strongest showings of the season, knocking off the Tigers 41-7 to ruin Missouri's homecoming.
They took a 35-7 lead at halftime, with McCoy throwing three touchdown passes, two of them to Jordan Shipley. Malcolm Williams also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.
The defense chased Gabbert out of the game. He completed 12 of his 24 passes for 99 yards and two interceptions.
More impressive: Texas
Texas Tech
Nebraska's take:The Huskers got the Red Raiders in Lincoln and lost 31-10. Nebraska didn't score a touchdown until midway through the fourth quarter. The Nebraska offense got to the red zone three other times and failed to score. But Tech did turn a Husker red zone fumble into an 82-yard scoring return.
The Husker defense generated five sacks but no turnovers. Tech took a 24-3 lead at halftime. Basically, the game was over at intermission.
Texas' take: The Longhorns were aching for payback from last year's lone loss —their only defeat now in the last 26 games. They got it, 34-24, in Austin. Colt McCoy, who was recovering from the flu, struggled early. He completed 24 of 34 passes for only 205 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Jordan Shipley gave the Longhorns a 7-3 lead in the first quarter with his 46-yard punt return. Texas never trailed after that.
More impressive: Texas
Baylor
Nebraska's take:The Huskers won 20-10 in Waco. And as it has all season, the Nebraska defense stood tall. Sophomore defensive tackle Jason Crick registered a school-record five sacks and the Huskers' first touchdown was scored off of a blocked punt.
The Husker offense totaled only 273 yards, three fewer than Baylor.
Texas' take: The Longhorns, who also played in Waco, breezed to a 40-0 halftime lead. McCoy took a seat on the bench midway through the third quarter. The Bears scored their two touchdowns in the final five minutes against Texas' reserves.
The Bears gained 240 total yards but needed the late surge in the fourth quarter to get into positive rushing yards.
More impressive: Texas
Oklahoma
Nebraska's take:The Huskers punished the Sooners, one of their oldest rivals, in Lincoln. They won 10-3 in a colossal struggle between defensive titans. Nebraska intercepted Landry Jones five times. Three were picked off by Matt O'Hanlon. Special teams also blocked a Sooner field goal.
OU gained 325 yards to Nebraska's 180.
Texas' take: The Longhorns, who beat the Sooners 16-13 in Dallas, knocked out Heisman winner Sam Bradford in the first quarter. Jones came off the bench and helped OU to a 6-3 lead. But the UT defense intercepted him twice in the fourth quarter, while limiting OU to a negative 16 rushing yards.
McCoy, who was battling bronchitis, had his worst statistical game since his freshman season.
More impressive: Tie
Kansas
Nebraska's take:The Cornhuskers, playing at Lawrence, got a nice game from its offense in winning 31-17. Receiver Niles Paul caught four passes for 154 yards, while running back Roy Helu Jr. rushed 28 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns.
The Nebraska defense harassed KU quarterback Todd Reesing into a bad day. Reesing completed only 19 of 41 passes for 236 yards.
Texas' take: McCoy set the major-college record for wins by a quarterback in UT's 51-20 victory. He threw for 396 yards, his third-best game of his career. The Longhorn defense had problems with missed tackles. Reesing completed 25 of 39 passes for 256 yards and an interception.
More impressive: Texas
Colorado
Nebraska's take:The Huskers prevailed 28-20 at Boulder to finish their regular season. They were aided by two non-offensive touchdowns off returns of an interception and punt. The score is deceiving because the Buffaloes scored on the final play of the game.
The Nebraska offense gained only 217 yards, while Colorado put up 403.
Texas' take: The Longhorns, playing in Austin, beat the Buffaloes 38-14 as UT tuned up for Oklahoma.
The offense, which struggled early, didn't need to do a lot because the defense and special teams scored three touchdowns. Earl Thomas had a 92-yard interception return; Ben Wells picked up a blocked punt and Shipley scored on a punt return.
The defense forced starting quarterback Cody Hawkins out of the game. CU quarterbacks completed only nine passes and the Buff offense gained only 127 yards.
More impressive: Texas
