Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Five classic games in the OU-Nebraska gridiron rivalry

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 13: Wide receiver Mark Bradley #1 of the University of Oklahoma Sooners runs upfield against defensive back Cortney Grixby #26 the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers during the game on November 13, 2004 at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Nebraska 30-3. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 13: Wide receiver Mark Bradley #1 of the University of Oklahoma Sooners runs upfield against defensive back Cortney Grixby #26 the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers during the game on November 13, 2004 at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Nebraska 30-3. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Wide receiver Cameron Kenney #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the ball against Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the Big 12 Championship. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Wide receiver Cameron Kenney #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the ball against Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the Big 12 Championship. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. 1987 — No. 2 Oklahoma 17, No. 1 Nebraska 7

One year after pulling off another fourth-quarter come-from-behind victory on the road at Nebraska with some Sooner Magic provided by OU All-American tight-end Keith Jackson, Oklahoma was back in Lincoln the following year and having to go up against No. 1 Nebraska.

The Huskers sat No. 1, but right behind in the No. 2 spot were the Oklahoma Sooners. This was one of just two games in this longtime rivalry series that featured a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.

An injury to Oklahoma starting quarterback Jamelle Holieway forced the Sooners to start backup Charles Thompson.

Nebraska scored a touchdown on a long drive very late in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. That’s the way things stood at the half after Oklahoma squandered a couple of scoring chances, having a pass intercepted at the Nebraska eight-yard line and fumbling the ball away at the Husker 25 on another scoring drive.

At halftime, Switzer was said to have told his team, “Men, we got them just where we want them. And they know it, too.”

The Sooners completely dominated Nebraska in the second half. Early in the third quarter OU picked off a pass from Nebraska quarterback Taylor and returned it to the Cornhusker 13-yard line. Two plays later the Sooner scored to draw even at 7-7.

Later in the third quarter, Thompson shoveled a pitch to Patrick Collins, who raced 65 yards for Oklahoma’s second touchdown of the game, putting the Sooners ahead by the score of 14-7.

The Sooners would add a fourth-quarter field goal by R.D. Lashar, closing out the scoring and the OU victory. It was the Sooners’ 20th consecutive victory, and Nebraska’s first loss since losing to Oklahoma the year before.

Oklahoma rolled up 444 yards of offense against one of the best defensive teams in the country, with 419 of those yards coming on the ground. The low score in the game didn’t truly reflect the Oklahoma domination in this game. Had it not have been for three Sooner fumbles and two missed field goals, the final score could just as easily been 38-7 or even 44-7.

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