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Defeat not a given for the Huskers
By Staff Reports
Published: 12/1/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 12/1/2009 2:22 AM
NEBRASKA SHOULD BE encouraged by the history of the Big 12 Championship game.
Big underdogs have done well in the game and have knocked off teams most believed were headed to national championship games.
Four underdogs have knocked off teams that appeared headed to the national championship during the 13 previous Big 12 title games.
"I've always thought its hurts (the league's chances to get a team in the national title game)," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "But it makes a lot of money and that's why we have it."
Nebraska will get that shot against third-ranked Texas in the Big 12 title game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will be nationally televised by ABC.
"This is a great opportunity," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. "We didn't really have a timetable (in bringing back Nebraska) but we wanted to get back to competing for championships, and we'll have that opportunity on Saturday night."
It was the Huskers who were headed to the national title game in 1996 in the first Big 12 title game when they were bumped off by Texas.
Texas A&M took out No. 1 Kansas State when it appeared the Wildcats would be playing for a national championship in 1998.
Colorado upset No. 3 Texas in 2001, and Oklahoma knocked off No. 1 Missouri in 2007.
In addition, No. 1 Oklahoma appeared virtually unbeatable and headed to the national title game in 2003 when Kansas State beat the Sooners. OU had strong enough BCS numbers to still reach the national championship game, where it lost to LSU.
"Any time you play an extra game it is another challenge," Pelini said.
So Texas should not assume anything as the Longhorns prep for the Big 12 Championship as the big favorite this week.
Yes, Texas has clearly been the best team in the Big 12 this season. But Nebraska has a long and glorious history. It allowed Pelini to get the Huskers back in the hunt in a hurry.
"All the things were in place to allow you to have success," Pelini said.
The Longhorns have been on a mission to reach this game since they were snubbed last year.
In a complicated tiebreaker that put Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game instead of Texas or Texas Tech (three tied for the Big 12 South last year), the 'Horns were bypassed for the Sooners. Texas had beaten OU but lost to Tech during the regular season.
Texas has been aiming to get this chance.
"A year ago, sitting and listening on Fox that you are not going to play in this game was very, very difficult," Brown said. "They set that as their goal to get here this year."
The Longhorns, with an 8-0 record in the league, were two games better than any other team in the league.
"We were upset last year," Texas quarterback Colt McCoy said. "It was disappointing news to hear. It was taken away and it was tough. From that point on, the seniors took a hold of this team. We've worked real hard to make sure we concentrated every week. Last year we didn't take care of business one week and that hurt us."
Nebraska and Oklahoma State, both at 6-2, had the second-best records in the conference. However, the Huskers, because of the rotating schedule between the South and North Division teams, did not have to play Texas or OSU this season.
Among South teams, the Huskers got blown out in Lincoln by Texas Tech, squeaked by Oklahoma at home and won a tight game on the road at Baylor.
But, as evidenced by history, the Big 12 Championship is a one-game shot.
It doesn't matter how or what happened during the regular season. The Huskers just have to be better on this one night.
"We know how huge this game is for us," McCoy said. "We've been working for this for a long time."
By Staff Reports
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