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Nebraska, Oklahoma renew rivalry in Big 12 title game

Nov 28, 2006 - 9:06 PM No. 19 Nebraska (9-3) vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2), 8:00 pm EST

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - Somewhat unexpectedly, No. 19 Nebraska and No. 8 Oklahoma will renew acquaintances in Saturday's Big 12 Conference championship game at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Sooners (10-2, 7-1 Big 12 South) appeared certain to miss out on the conference title game until Texas - which won their "Red River Rivalry" game on October 7 - lost at Kansas State on November 11, then allowed a late touchdown in a 12-7 home setback to Texas A&M last Friday.

Oklahoma took advantage of the opportunity by edging Oklahoma State, 27-21, on the road a day later to clinch its fifth trip to the title game in seven seasons.

Allen Patrick ran for 163 yards and a touchdown for the Sooners, who have won seven straight games since the loss to Texas. Most impressively, they have not tasted defeat since star running back Adrian Peterson was lost for the season with a broken collarbone against Iowa State on October 14.

Peterson is doubtful for Saturday's matchup.

The Sooners lead the series against their old Big Eight Conference rivals, 42-37-3, but the teams no longer meet every year since they are in separate divisions of the Big 12. Oklahoma posted a 31-24 win in Lincoln in 2005, but the schools did not meet during the regular season this year.

In fact, this will be the teams' first meeting in the 11-year history of the Big 12 title game. The teams were consistent national powers until the 1990s, when Nebraska won three national championships and Oklahoma stumbled.

While the Sooners have soared under Bob Stoops this decade, the Cornhuskers often have struggled, with this being their first appearance in the game since 1999.

In their third season under former Oakland Raiders coach Bill Callahan, the Cornhuskers (9-3, 6-2 North) won their final three games, including a 37-14 triumph over Colorado last Friday.

Zac Taylor passed for 249 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Brandon Jackson had both a TD catch and TD run for Nebraska, which capped a 5-0 mark in Big 12 North play.

The winner will earn the Big 12's automatic berth in a BCS bowl game.