|
|
 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE | |
LINCOLN, Nebraska (Ticker) -- Three decades after the "The Game of the Century," Nebraska and Oklahoma will build some memories for the new millennium. In a game with huge national title implications, second-ranked Oklahoma takes a 20-game winning streak to Memorial Stadium to play third-ranked Nebraska. Back in 1971, Nebraska edged Oklahoma, 35-31, in a contest widely regarded as one of the best in college football history. The rivalry is among the most storied in the sport with Saturday marking the 18th time that both enter in the Top 10 in the rankings. Saturday also marks the second straight year that the Sooners and Cornhuskers enter the game first and second in the BCS poll, which determines the participants in the national title game. One of the memorable games in the series was last season when Oklahoma rallied from a 14-point deficit for a 31-14 victory that continued the Sooners' return to prominence and paved the way for a national title. Linebacker Teddy Lehman and backup tight end Lance Donley will play for the Sooners, despite being arrested over the weekend. Lehman, who returned an interception for a touchdown against Texas, was cited for disturbing the peace, while Donley was jailed and released on a charge of public intoxication. Coach Bob Stoops opted not to suspend the players, choosing to discipline them in an undisclosed manner. Lehman has started all seven games and is third on the team in tackles with 45 tackles, including four for losses. The Sooners (7-0, 4-0 Big 12 South) are in contention for a second straight national title, a feat last accomplished by Nebraska in 1994 and 1995. But they will have to go through Nebraska (8-0, 4-0 North) and may even have to beat them twice. A loss by either team would drop them into no worse than a first-place tie in their respective divisions. The teams could meet again in the Big 12 title game on December 1. The Cornhuskers no longer have to contend with quarterback Josh Heupel, but the current crop of Sooners still rises to the occasion in big games. In its most serious test of the season, Oklahoma completely shut down Texas in a 14-3 win on October 6. "I feel very good about where our team is at, the way we've played and what we've been able to do," said Stoops, who is 8-0 against top-10 teams. "We're anxious to compete with Nebraska." Making his first start, quarterback Jason White threw for 343 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score in last week's 33-17 win over Baylor. Nebraska, by contrast, struggled before pulling away for a 41-31 win over Texas Tech last week. Eric Crouch is among the best rushing quarterbacks in college football, but also showed Stoops that he could throw the ball. Crouch had three TD passes last week, one short of his previous season total. This week, Nebraska coach Frank Solich likely will go with what works best, and that is running the ball. Crouch, 32-5 as a starter, holds the NCAA record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (55) and has 15 100-yard games. This week, Crouch will be tested by a defense, led by linebacker Rocky Calmus and safety Roy Williams, that may be the best in the nation. Crouch carried 24 times for 103 yards against Oklahoma last season, but completed just 12-of-27 for 133 yards with one interception. "There's a little more something for us since they beat us last year," Crouch said. White may be inexperienced, but Nebraska's defense showed signs of vulnerability last week when Kliff Kingsbury threw for 353 yards. The Cornhuskers have six starters listed as questionable this week due to injury, including tight end Tracet Wistrom, who did not play last week due to a knee ailment. Nebraska owns the longest home winning streak in Division I-A at 19 games and has won its last 10 games overall.
|
