Nebraska–Oklahoma football rivalry
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The Nebraska–Oklahoma football rivalry was an American college football rivalry between the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team of the University of Nebraska and Oklahoma Sooners football team of the University of Oklahoma. The rivalry continued in the Big 12 Conference until 2010, though the rivalry was more prominent when both teams were members of the former Big Eight Conference before 1996. The annual rivalry effectively ended when Oklahoma was lined up in the Southern division of the newly formed Big 12 to maintain its rivalry with Texas and also its recruiting hotbeds in Texas.[1][2][3] As both teams won their respective divisions in 2010, they met one last time, in the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game.[needs update] Following the 2010 season, Nebraska left the Big 12 for the Big Ten Conference. As a result, the 2009 meeting turned out to be the last regular-season scheduled meeting. Nebraska's departure left the future of the rivalry in doubt. The two teams have agreed to play a home-and-home non-conference series scheduled for 2021 in Norman (to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 classic) and 2022 in Lincoln.
The rivalry had been less intense since the 1996 forming of the Big 12 Conference. This was due to the split-division nature of the Big 12 that scheduled the Cornhuskers and Sooners to meet only twice every four years. Before the beginning of Big 12 play in 1996, the Cornhuskers and Sooners had met for 71 straight years.
The 1923 game, only the fifth time these teams met, was the first game played in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
These teams have been involved in several historic match-ups, such as the Game of the Century, where the teams came into the game ranked one and two in the Associated Press Poll, often making these games of great importance in deciding the national championship. Historically, the rivalry's most distinguishing quality had been the grudging respect and appreciation between the two tradition-rich programs. Also of note is the game's former status as the premier Thanksgiving Day game for the middle of the country.
Oklahoma gave Nebraska their only regular-season losses in 1964, 1966, 1975, 1979, and 1987, while Nebraska did the same to Oklahoma in 1971 and 1978. In the 1978 season, Nebraska and Oklahoma met twice; once in the regular season with a Nebraska victory, and later at the 1979 Orange Bowl with an Oklahoma victory.
The 1959 meeting between these teams is often considered Nebraska’s biggest upset ever. On that day, unranked Nebraska defeated #19 Oklahoma 25–21 in Lincoln, ending Oklahoma's 74-game conference win streak.
Former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini served as an assistant at Oklahoma in 2004.[4]
End of the rivalry
On June 11, 2010, the University of Nebraska announced that its regents had unanimously voted to end the university's affiliation with the Big 12 Conference, and would be joining the Big Ten Conference beginning with the 2011 season.[1][2][3] The two teams met one final time in the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game before NU joined the Big Ten, which OU won 23–20.[5]
On November 29, 2012 an agreement was reached between the two schools to play a home series during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.[6]
Game results
Nebraska victories are shaded ██ scarlet. Oklahoma victories are shaded ██ crimson. Ties are white.
| Date | Site | Winner | Loser | Series | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 23, 1912 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 13 | Oklahoma | 9 | Nebraska 1–0 |
| October 25, 1919 | Omaha | Oklahoma | 7 | Nebraska | 7 | Nebraska 1–0–1 |
| October 29, 1921 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 44 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 2–0–1 |
| October 28, 1922 | Norman | Nebraska | 39 | Oklahoma | 7 | Nebraska 3–0–1 |
| October 13, 1923 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 24 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 4–0–1 |
| October 11, 1924 | Norman | Oklahoma | 14 | Nebraska | 7 | Nebraska 4–1–1 |
| October 31, 1925 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 12 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 5–1–1 |
| November 10, 1928 | Norman | Nebraska | 44 | Oklahoma | 6 | Nebraska 6–1–1 |
| November 16, 1929 | Lincoln | Oklahoma | 13 | Nebraska | 13 | Nebraska 6–1–2 |
| October 11, 1930 | Norman | Oklahoma | 20 | Nebraska | 7 | Nebraska 6–2–2 |
| October 10, 1931 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 13 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 7–2–2 |
| November 19, 1932 | Norman | Nebraska | 5 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 8–2–2 |
| October 28, 1933 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 16 | Oklahoma | 7 | Nebraska 9–2–2 |
| October 20, 1934 | Norman | Nebraska | 6 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 10–2–2 |
| October 26, 1935 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 19 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 11–2–2 |
| October 24, 1936 | Norman | #15 Nebraska | 14 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 12–2–2 |
| October 16, 1937 | Lincoln | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska | 0 | Nebraska 12–2–3 |
| October 22, 1938 | Norman | #14 Oklahoma | 14 | Nebraska | 0 | Nebraska 12–3–3 |
| November 25, 1939 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 13 | #14 Oklahoma | 7 | Nebraska 13–3–3 |
| November 26, 1940 | Norman | #12 Nebraska | 13 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 14–3–3 |
| November 29, 1941 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma | 6 | Nebraska 15–3–3 |
| October 24, 1942 | Norman | Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma | 0 | Nebraska 16–3–3 |
| November 27, 1943 | Lincoln | Oklahoma | 26 | Nebraska | 7 | Nebraska 16–4–3 |
| December 2, 1944 | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 31 | Nebraska | 12 | Nebraska 16–5–3 |
| September 29, 1945 | Lincoln | Oklahoma | 20 | Nebraska | 0 | Nebraska 16–6–3 |
| November 23, 1946 | Norman | #18 Oklahoma | 27 | Nebraska | 6 | Nebraska 16–7–3 |
| November 22, 1947 | Lincoln | Oklahoma | 14 | Nebraska | 13 | Nebraska 16–8–3 |
| November 13, 1948 | Norman | #9 Oklahoma | 41 | Nebraska | 14 | Nebraska 16–9–3 |
| October 22, 1949 | Lincoln | #4 Oklahoma | 48 | Nebraska | 0 | Nebraska 16–10–3 |
| November 25, 1950 | Norman | #1 Oklahoma | 49 | #16 Nebraska | 35 | Nebraska 16–11–3 |
| November 24, 1951 | Lincoln | #12 Oklahoma | 27 | Nebraska | 0 | Nebraska 16–12–3 |
| November 22, 1952 | Norman | #5 Oklahoma | 34 | Nebraska | 13 | Nebraska 16–13–3 |
| November 21, 1953 | Lincoln | #4 Oklahoma | 30 | Nebraska | 7 | Nebraska 16–14–3 |
| November 20, 1954 | Norman | #3 Oklahoma | 55 | Nebraska | 7 | Nebraska 16–15–3 |
| November 19, 1955 | Lincoln | #1 Oklahoma | 41 | Nebraska | 0 | Tie 16–16–3 |
| November 24, 1956 | Norman | #1 Oklahoma | 54 | Nebraska | 6 | Oklahoma 17–16–3 |
| November 23, 1957 | Lincoln | #6 Oklahoma | 32 | Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma 18–16–3 |
| November 22, 1958 | Norman | #4 Oklahoma | 40 | Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma 19–16–3 |
| October 31, 1959 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 25 | #19 Oklahoma | 21 | Oklahoma 19–17–3 |
| November 19, 1960 | Norman | Nebraska | 17 | Oklahoma | 14 | Oklahoma 19–18–3 |
| November 25, 1961 | Lincoln | Oklahoma | 21 | Nebraska | 14 | Oklahoma 20–18–3 |
| November 24, 1962 | Norman | #10 Oklahoma | 34 | Nebraska | 6 | Oklahoma 21–18–3 |
| November 23, 1963 | Lincoln | #10 Nebraska | 29 | #6 Oklahoma | 20 | Oklahoma 21–19–3 |
| November 21, 1964 | Norman | Oklahoma | 17 | #4 Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma 22–19–3 |
| November 25, 1965 | Lincoln | #3 Nebraska | 21 | Oklahoma | 9 | Oklahoma 22–20–3 |
| November 24, 1966 | Norman | Oklahoma | 10 | #4 Nebraska | 9 | Oklahoma 23–20–3 |
| November 25, 1967 | Lincoln | #5 Oklahoma | 21 | Nebraska | 14 | Oklahoma 24–20–3 |
| November 23, 1968 | Norman | #14 Oklahoma | 47 | Nebraska | 0 | Oklahoma 25–20–3 |
| November 22, 1969 | Norman | #16 Nebraska | 44 | Oklahoma | 14 | Oklahoma 25–21–3 |
| November 21, 1970 | Lincoln | #3 Nebraska | 28 | Oklahoma | 21 | Oklahoma 25–22–3 |
| November 25, 1971 | Norman | #1 Nebraska | 35 | #2 Oklahoma | 31 | Oklahoma 25–23–3 |
| November 23, 1972 | Lincoln | #4 Oklahoma | 17 | #5 Nebraska | 14 | Oklahoma 26–23–3 |
| November 23, 1973 | Norman | #3 Oklahoma | 27 | #10 Nebraska | 0 | Oklahoma 27–23–3 |
| November 23, 1974 | Lincoln | #1 Oklahoma | 28 | #6 Nebraska | 14 | Oklahoma 28–23–3 |
| November 22, 1975 | Norman | #7 Oklahoma | 35 | #2 Nebraska | 10 | Oklahoma 29–23–3 |
| November 26, 1976 | Lincoln | #8 Oklahoma | 20 | #10 Nebraska | 17 | Oklahoma 30–23–3 |
| November 25, 1977 | Norman | #3 Oklahoma | 38 | #11 Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma 31–23–3 |
| November 11, 1978 | Lincoln | #4 Nebraska | 17 | #1 Oklahoma | 14 | Oklahoma 31–24–3 |
| January 1, 1979 | Miami 1 | #4 Oklahoma | 31 | #6 Nebraska | 24 | Oklahoma 32–24–3 |
| November 24, 1979 | Norman | #8 Oklahoma | 17 | #3 Nebraska | 14 | Oklahoma 33–24–3 |
| November 22, 1980 | Lincoln | #9 Oklahoma | 21 | #4 Nebraska | 17 | Oklahoma 34–24–3 |
| November 21, 1981 | Norman | #5 Nebraska | 37 | Oklahoma | 14 | Oklahoma 34–25–3 |
| November 26, 1982 | Lincoln | #3 Nebraska | 28 | #11 Oklahoma | 24 | Oklahoma 34–26–3 |
| November 26, 1983 | Norman | #1 Nebraska | 28 | Oklahoma | 21 | Oklahoma 34–27–3 |
| November 17, 1984 | Lincoln | #4 Oklahoma | 17 | #1 Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma 35–27–3 |
| November 23, 1985 | Norman | #5 Oklahoma | 27 | #2 Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma 36–27–3 |
| November 22, 1986 | Lincoln | #3 Oklahoma | 20 | #5 Nebraska | 17 | Oklahoma 37–27–3 |
| November 21, 1987 | Lincoln | #2 Oklahoma | 17 | #1 Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma 38–27–3 |
| November 19, 1988 | Norman | #7 Nebraska | 7 | #9 Oklahoma | 3 | Oklahoma 38–28–3 |
| November 18, 1989 | Lincoln | #6 Nebraska | 42 | Oklahoma | 25 | Oklahoma 38–29–3 |
| November 23, 1990 | Norman | Oklahoma | 45 | #10 Nebraska | 10 | Oklahoma 39–29–3 |
| November 29, 1991 | Lincoln | #11 Nebraska | 19 | #19 Oklahoma | 14 | Oklahoma 39–30–3 |
| November 27, 1992 | Norman | #12 Nebraska | 33 | Oklahoma | 9 | Oklahoma 39–31–3 |
| November 26, 1993 | Lincoln | #2 Nebraska | 21 | #16 Oklahoma | 7 | Oklahoma 39–32–3 |
| November 25, 1994 | Norman | #1 Nebraska | 13 | Oklahoma | 3 | Oklahoma 39–33–3 |
| November 24, 1995 | Lincoln | #1 Nebraska | 37 | Oklahoma | 0 | Oklahoma 39–34–3 |
| November 2, 1996 | Norman | #5 Nebraska | 73 | Oklahoma | 21 | Oklahoma 39–35–3 |
| November 1, 1997 | Lincoln | #1 Nebraska | 69 | Oklahoma | 7 | Oklahoma 39–36–3 |
| October 28, 2000 | Norman | #3 Oklahoma | 31 | #1 Nebraska | 14 | Oklahoma 40–36–3 |
| October 27, 2001 | Lincoln | #3 Nebraska | 20 | #2 Oklahoma | 10 | Oklahoma 40–37–3 |
| November 13, 2004 | Norman | #2 Oklahoma | 30 | Nebraska | 3 | Oklahoma 41–37–3 |
| October 29, 2005 | Lincoln | Oklahoma | 31 | Nebraska | 24 | Oklahoma 42–37–3 |
| December 2, 2006 | Kansas City 2 | #8 Oklahoma | 21 | #19 Nebraska | 7 | Oklahoma 43–37–3 |
| November 1, 2008 | Norman | #4 Oklahoma | 62 | Nebraska | 28 | Oklahoma 44–37–3 |
| November 7, 2009 | Lincoln | Nebraska | 10 | #20 Oklahoma | 3 | Oklahoma 44–38–3 |
| December 4, 2010 | Arlington 3 | #9 Oklahoma | 23 | #13 Nebraska | 20 | Oklahoma 45–38–3 |
1 1979 Orange Bowl
2 2006 Big 12 Championship Game
3 2010 Big 12 Championship Game
References
- ^ a b "Perlman hopes to begin Big Ten athletics by 2011". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
- ^ a b "Nebraska to the Big Ten". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
- ^ a b "It's unanimous: Nebraska to the Big Ten". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
- ^ http://www.huskers.com//pdf7/135049.pdf
- ^ "Osborne: Nebraska has offer to play OU in 2020-21". The Macon Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
- ^ "Oklahoma And Nebraska Rivalry Renewed". News9.com. November 29, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.