The Fast Lane - Oklahoma Preview

Lane Grindle
Husker Sports Network

 

It’s time for this game to have that extra meaning again. There have been so many conversations this week (like every week of the NU ? OU game) about whether or not we should find a way to play this game every year. While I would love to see that happen, I don’t believe it’s the biggest obstacle in front of this rivalry taking flight again. Only three times in the Big 12 era have these two teams squared off with the stakes as high as they were during the traditional years of this rivalry. Three times in 13 years is not enough to keep it at the level it once was. Only one time since the inception of the Big 12 Conference have the two teams met in the conference championship game. That is not enough.

 

I think we are getting close to this game hitting that level again. Bo Pelini has restored the tradition and defense prowess of Nebraska football. Oklahoma has been at the summit of the college football mountain since Bob Stoops took the job in 1999. There is familiarity and respect between the two coaches and their staffs that resembles the Osborne ? Switzer years.

 

Whether these two teams play every year or not is secondary to these two programs mirroring each other once again. Let’s hope Saturday night is a step back toward the glory days of Nebraska vs. Oklahoma.

 

So what is it going to take? Nebraska is the underdog. When an underdog is at home it needs to feed off the fuel provided by its fans. It needs a big turnover that changes momentum. It needs a big play on special teams. It needs efficient play from the offense. No turnovers. It will take Nebraska playing its most complete game of the year.

 

Can it happen? I say it can.