I was taking care of some last minute Saturday chores and tuned in around 7:25 to settle in to watch what I thought could be an interesting game between Nebraska and Oklahoma. Needless to say I was a little shocked when I saw the score. 28-0 with 9:27 to play in the first quarter! The final would end 62-28.
The OU offense made an impact right away when DeMarco Murray returned the opening kickoff 62 yards. Then Sam Bradford went right to work and connected on a 41 yard pass to set up a first down at NU’s 13. Five plays later it was 7-0.
Joe Ganz’ first pass was then picked off and taken back 18 yards. 14-0. On NU’s next possession, Ganz hit Dreu Young on a 19 yard pass on 2nd and 6. Young fumbled. OU ball. Three plays later, 48 yard touchdown pass, 21-0.
Two plays later, Ganz picked off again and the ball is returned 26 yards. Bradford, nine yard pass, touchdown 28-0. OU would take a series off between two NU punts, but Bradford would pick up his third touchdown pass of the quarter and NU was down 35-0.
After the game, Pelini’s comments were positive. “That is a heck of a football team. They are a damn good football team. I give all the credit to Oklahoma. They beat us in every phase of the game tonight. I have a good feeling that this team will bounce back. One thing that I can say is that ‘this is not a football team that points fingers’ and we are not a team that is divisive. This a team that is going to hang in thick and thin. We are going to keep working. I do appreciate the way they didn’t quit but I would not expect anything less from these guys.”
Those two interceptions were the only two Ganz threw as he finished with 206 yards on 14 of 26 pass. Roy Helu Jr. rushed for 157 yards on 16 carries, but it was the defense that didn’t do much to stop Oklahoma. Bradford was threw for 311 yards and five touchdowns.
For more coverage on the Huskers, click here.
The Big 12 will be turned upside when the new BCS rankings come out. Texas Tech beat Texas which should open the door for Alabama to become the new number one. Missouri and Kansas both won, which just about knocks Nebraska out of Big 12 North contention. Both MU and KU are 3-2, NU 2-3, but Missouri holds a head to head advantage over the Huskers making that a two game lead with three to play.