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Friday, December 13, 2002
No. 1 Nebraska
at No. 2 Oklahoma
By Will Weiss
BCSfootball.com
"You can throw the rankings out the door because it is now just a plain old college football game. Both teams want to win because if they don't, it has repercussions on the rest of the season."
--Nebraska guard Russ Hochstein
In 1971 and '87, Nebraska and Oklahoma were the top two teams in country and produced Game of the Century I and II. With new schemes and new weapons, Saturday's contest has all the makings of a Game of the 21st Century.
|  | | Since 1983, Frank Solich has helped the Huskers lead the nation in rushing 10 times. |
Nebraska and Oklahoma fans will be out in full force this weekend, recalling the days of Johnny Rodgers, Billy Sims, Tom Osborne, Barry Switzer, as the No. 1 Huskers and No. 2 Sooners (in the BCS) resurrect one of the most intense rivalries in college football (ABC, 12 p.m. ET).
"If you're human, and you put No. 1 against No. 2 together, it's got to be something special," says Nebraska head coach Frank Solich.
When Nebraska has the ball:
The Cornhusker offense revolves around the option and quarterback Eric Crouch, but Oklahoma knows there's more to Crouch than just his ability to run.
"He's very smart at the line of scrimmage, you can tell -- switching plays and getting them in the best play possible," says OU head coach Bob Stoops. "He's fast and powerful -- he can break away from people as well as power through people, and he makes excellent decisions on the option."
It is Crouch's decision-making that makes this offense go. He has an uncanny ability of knowing when to keep it himself, pitch to the tailback, or throw. Add Crouch's considerable field presence and vision to the mix, and it basically enables him to do whatever he wants with the football.
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ABC's Brad Nessler:
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The circumstances surrounding Saturday's game are similar to the 1971 game: Nebraska is No. 1, Oklahoma is No. 2, the game is in Norman, and I can't wait.
Something has to give because these are the two highest-powered offenses in the country -- Nebraska is No. 1 in total offense and Oklahoma has the highest scoring offense. Now, neither team is perfect, Nebraska doesn't throw the ball particularly well, and Oklahoma doesn't run the ball too well.
With that said, it's going to come down to the offensive and defensive lines for both teams. There are so many fireworks that can be had from the skill positions, and I think whoever wins the battle in the trenches wins this game.
I give Nebraska the edge for big-game experience. In the last six years, the Cornhuskers have won three national championships, and have played in three of the four Big XII Championship games. But for regular season games, OU has proven in two of the last three weeks that it can handle the big stage, beating Texas and Kansas State.
The fact that the game is in Norman helps the Sooners, but Nebraska will have its fans as well, and will be ready to play. I don't know if the home field will mean that much.
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Crouch is definitely the focal point of the offense, but the Sooners must not neglect Dan Alexander, Correll Buckhalter or Bobby Newcombe, all of whom will see considerable action in the backfield. These three running backs have differences as well: Alexander is a bull-type runner with deceptive speed, Buckhalter is one of the most durable backs you'll find and is difficult to tackle, while Newcombe is a burner who can outrun just about anyone on the field.
The most important matchup is OU's front four against Nebraska's O-line, which is downright offensive. Center Dominic Raiola, guards Russ Hochstein and Toniu Fonoti, and tackles Dave Volk and Jason Schwab supply more pancakes than IHOP. At an average size of 6-foot-3, 306 pounds, the unit is the largest Oklahoma has faced this season.
"These guys (the Huskers) are big and fast, and they're good cutters," says OU linebacker Rocky Calmus. "They execute what they do better than anybody in the Big XII."
Don't underestimate OU's run defense, which ranks 19th in the country. The Sooners have held opponents to 102 yards per game, and did a fine job against the potent ground attacks of both Texas and Kansas State. Their starting front four has also combined for seven sacks, 11 QB hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. They will have to rely on their quickness and athleticism to elude NU's powerful blockers, who weigh on average 45 pounds more.
Calmus puts it best: "If one person is not in the right spot, it's going to be out of the gate -- they're going to get positive yards."
When Oklahoma has the ball:
Times have changed in Norman. Just ask former quarterback J.C. Watts.
"I have said several times in the last year that wishbone quarterbacks think that throwing the football 40 times a game is Communism," Watts says. "But we're winning, and that's always good. It's been a fascinating transformation."
|  | | Josh Heupel faces another big pass rush with Nebraska. |
Credit head coach Bob Stoops and quarterback Josh Heupel for the rapid turnaround at OU, which Stoops and Mike Leach implemented last year. Leach left for Texas Tech this season, but the Sooners are throwing with the same effect, and rank fourth in the nation with 327.3 yards per game. In the Sooners' last two games, Heupel has engineered convincing wins against Texas and K-State, and now leads the highest scoring offense in the country into "The Big Game."
The Sooners throw the ball an average of 36 times per game, and there is balance in this attack, as 11 different receivers have caught passes this season. Leading the way are Antwone Savage and Andre Woolfolk, who have combined for 46 catches for 669 yards and six touchdowns.
Count on Nebraska defensive backs Joe Walker, Keyuo Craver, Erwin Swiney and Dion Booker to get a workout. With Savage, Woolfolk, Curtis Fagan, Seth Littrell, and Quentin Griffin, the list of people to cover seems almost endless. Nebraska has held opponents to 190.4 yards passing through seven games. But as Oklahoma has not seen a rushing attack like Nebraska's, NU hasn't faced this sort of passing prowess, either.
If NU keys too much on the pass, watch for Griffin to carry the ball at least 20 times. Nebraska has not allowed a 100-yard rusher since San Jose State's Deonce Whitaker gained 147 yards in the season opener. Husker defensive coordinator Craig Bohl views Griffin as the secret weapon in the Sooners' offense and sees similarities between him and Whitaker.
"He has great feet, great balance, excellent change of direction. He has all the components of a great running back," Bohl says. "Because of him, I don't think you can look at Oklahoma and say that they're strictly a passing team."
Add Renaldo Works into the mix and you have a formidable tandem at running back. Oklahoma has used the end-around effectively as well, with Savage and Fagan each having rushed for a touchdown this season.
But with all its talent, it is Heupel's toughness that has carried this offense. He persevered against Kansas State, hanging in against a furious Wildcat blitzing scheme that sacked him five teams, and pressured and hit him countless other times. NU's pass rushers will attempt to do the same, but as Heupel will adjust to what the Huskers defense takes away, Nebraska must adjust to him.
Middle linebacker Carlos Polk will be extremely active in this game, checking Heupel and calling defensive audibles to assist his front four. Look for Polk to be an important cover-man on short and intermediate passing routes.
The only question remaining is, can the game live up to its hype?
News and notes:
After missing the last three games with a foot injury, NU defensive tackle Loran Kaiser has been cleared to play.
Oklahoma has spoiled Nebraska's undefeated regular season record five times: 1964, 1966, 1975, 1979, and 1987. Nebraska has given Oklahoma its first defeat only twice: 1971 and 1978.
This is the third time in the last four NU-OU meetings Nebraska is ranked No. 1.
Five times Oklahoma has hosted the No. 1 team in the country at Memorial Stadium. The Sooners are 0-5 in these encounters.
Nebraska holds a seven-game winning streak against the Sooners, outscoring them 265-61 in that span. In the last meeting (1997), Nebraska demolished Oklahoma 69-7.
Oklahoma leads the all-time series 39-36-3, 19-16 in Norman.
Quote of the Week: "I've had more interviews this week than when I was with the (Dallas) Cowboys at the Super Bowl."
--Former Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer
Will Weiss is the assistant editor of BCSfootball.com.
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Oklahoma's Josh Norman comments on his teams attitude heading into Saturday's game against Nebraska.