Ben Cotton sits alone on the Husker bench after Nebraska lost to Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 championship game.
REBECCA S. GRATZ, THE WORLD-HERALD
If you could take Nebraska football back to one fork in the road, which would you choose? One moment. Fire up the time machine. Your pick.
The first quarter at Colorado 2001? Steve Pederson’s decision to fire Frank Solich? Terrence Nunn’s fumble against Texas in ’06? The final second(s) of the 2009 Big 12 championship? Shawn Eichorst sacking Bo Pelini?
We could select dozens of what-ifs that might have produced long-term consequences.
But perhaps the most underrated — an opportunity so golden that it belongs among the most devastating failures in program history — happened the last time Nebraska and Oklahoma clashed.
The fourth quarter of the 2010 conference title game.
Do you ever chew on it? Discuss it with friends? Consume a podcast about it? Or does it slip through the cracks of your mind because it lacked controversy or humiliation?
True, it’s not as vivid as Texas 2009, Wisconsin 2012 or several other Big Red defeats. But goodness, it would’ve changed so much about the psyche of Husker football fans, then and now.
As I look back on the OU-NU rivalry since 2001 — the forgotten era, we might say — I recall several moments of intrigue. Not so much Bill Callahan’s absurd field goal avoiding a shutout in 2004. Not the Sooners’ 35 first-quarter points in ’08. But ’05, featuring Adrian Peterson’s touchdown dash, was excellent. The ’06 Big 12 title game carried weight. And ’09, one of the loudest Memorial Stadium games of the past 20 years, was a sweet comeback story for Bo’s Blackshirts.
But 2010 Oklahoma stands most prominent.
Nebraska fans were brimming with optimism as they entered the 2010 Big Ten championship game against Oklahoma.
MATT MILLER, THE WORLD-HERALD
The Huskers had a chance to A) upset Bob Stoops and Oklahoma, one of the nation’s most credible brands; B) break their conference championship streak (that now stands at 22 years); C) finish the season in the top 10; D) exit the Big 12 on high ground, triumphant and redeemed.
The last one is most important. All of our sappy reflections on the glory years? All this time and energy chasing the past? It wouldn’t be so wistful if Nebraska had closed the deal in 2010. Husker fans would’ve planted a new flag in the ground, seizing an achievement that might have carried over to the Big Ten.
The Huskers needed only one more drive. One.
Nebraska said "adios" to the Big 12 after the 2010 conference championship game.
KENT SIEVERS, THE WORLD-HERALD
Oddsmakers favored Oklahoma by 4½ points, but motivated Nebraska was still steamed over a 16-penalty robbery at Texas A&M and Dan Beebe’s refusal one week later to be in Lincoln when NU clinched the Big 12 North.
In Arlington, Pelini’s team jumped ahead 17-0 in the first quarter. At half, the Huskers led 20-17, despite a devastating Taylor Martinez interception in the end zone.
The Blackshirts battled hard, as they usually did in 2009-10. And at crunch time, NU still had victory sitting there, waiting to be grabbed. They just needed one more score.
Instead, Nebraska’s eight second-half possessions went like this:
Fumble. Punt. Punt. Punt. Fumble. Punt. Punt. Turnover on downs.
Eight drives. Thirty-four plays. Eighty yards. Zero points. Three turnovers. Ouch.
Circumstances weren’t perfect. An ankle injury hobbled Martinez. Mike Caputo snapped a ball past Rex Burkhead’s head. And Shawn Watson wasn’t exactly Tom Osborne. But one drive? The Huskers couldn’t summon one drive?
When it was over, Pelini boarded a golf cart in the tunnel and buried his face in his hands. He knew what it meant.
Bo Pelini looks stunned as the final seconds tick down in Nebraska's loss to Oklahoma.
MATT MILLER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Look back on the reclamation projects in college football — the programs that busted through — and you’ll discover a moment or two when they seized a huge opportunity.
Take Oklahoma. During the 1990s, the Sooners bottomed out with Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake. It flipped in Stoops’ second year.
In 2000, No. 1 Nebraska visited No. 3 OU and gashed the Sooners twice in the first quarter, 14-0. From there, Oklahoma dominated and carried that confidence boost to the national championship. It’s been a top program ever since.
Did Nebraska 2010 boast the same talent as Oklahoma 2000? Not quite. But the program was headed in the right direction when it came to Jerry World. That might have been Nebraska’s closest brush with excellence.
Rather than going to the Fiesta Bowl and (surely) beating Big East champ UConn, the Huskers fell to the Holiday Bowl and lost to Washington.
Now here we are, 11 years later, watching Scott Frost essentially start from the bottom. The gap between OU and NU was almost invisible in 2010. Now it’s a chasm.
But Saturday still presents an opportunity to take a step. Nebraska might not win, but it can make a statement, rebuild its reputation and give the program momentum. Feels like a mighty task, doesn’t it?
But it starts with one drive.
Sam looks at the three things Nebraska must do to come out of Norman with a win.
Photos: Nebraska-Oklahoma in the 2010 Big Ten championship game
4th quarter 14:21 ARLINGTON -- NU's Jase Dean (No. 31) chases down Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles (No. 85) in the fourth quarter. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- NU head coach Bo Pelini starts the game in a much happier mood than he ended it with the Huskers losing, 23-20. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- The team stands apart from Taylor Martinez as he tucks his pads back into his jersey and gets his helmet that was knocked off in a tackle. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- OU's Austin Box celebrates his fumble recovery in the third quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- Oklahoma's Travis Lewis pulls down an interception in the end zone as Nebraska's Rex Burkhead tackles him in the second quarter in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- Roy Helu first quarter touchdown run. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- Oklahoma's Kenny Stills is in the endzone and fans go wild in the second quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- Roy Helu Jr. barely holds on to the ball during a run on the first possesion for the Huskers. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- OU's Travis Lewis jumps into the arms of a coach after he recovered a fumble with 1:58 left in the second quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- OU's James Winchester consoles Roy Helu Jr. after OU won, 23-20. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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4:08 3rd qtr ARLINGTON -- NU quarterback Taylor Martinez (No. 3) loses his helmet alongside OU's Stacy McGee (No. 92) as, from left, NU's Ricky Henry (No. 72), Mike Caputo (No. 58) and OU's Frank Alexander (No. 84) pile on in the third quarter. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- 12/04/10: Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez speaks to the sidelines following his sack in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD nebraska nu cornhuskers huskers football oklahoma ou sooners big 12 championship
REBECCA S. GRATZ
ARLINGTON -- First quarter run by Roy Helu, bobble and regained control of the ball at 13:42. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- NU's Courtney Osborne returns an interception. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- Nebraska's Ben Cotton breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma's Marshall Musil in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- Oklahoma's Murray DeMarco is tackled by Nebraska's Will Compton (51) and Will Henry (8) in the first quarter at 14:21. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- OU's Marshall Musil (No. 32, at center) celebrates the Sooners' 23-20 win over NU. Also pictured is OU's Frank Alexander (No. 84), at left. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- NU's Shawn Watson and OU head coach Bob Stoops talk before the game. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- 12/04/10: A Nebraska fan reacts to the Huskers' 23-20 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD nebraska nu cornhuskers huskers football oklahoma ou sooners big 12 championship
REBECCA S. GRATZ
Arlington, TX, Saturday December 4, 2010 - Nebraska fans cheer on the defense in the first quarter. The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers took on the University of Oklahoma Sooners at Cowboys Stadium in Big 12 Championship. OMAHA WORLD-HERALD PHOTO BY KENT SIEVERS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
KENT SIEVERS
ARLINGTON -- OU's Landry Jones (No. 12) throws in the first quarter. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- The Sooner Schooner leads the team on the field. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
2nd qtr 13:25 ARLINGTON -- NU's Austin Cassidy (No. 8) hugs teammate Courtney Osborne (No. 12) after Osborne intercepted an Oklahoma pass in the second quarter. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- NU head coach Bo Pelini reacts when NU's last offensive pass drops incomplete. OU won, 23-20. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- Nebraska's Roy Helu Jr. runs in a touchdown ahead of the tackle by Oklahoma's Joseph Ibiloye in the first quarter in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- NU's Mike McNeill runs downfield after catching a pass on fourth and a yard in the second quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- 12/04/10: Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez (left) scrambles as Travis Lewis reaches to tackle in the first quarter Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD nebraska nu cornhuskers huskers football oklahoma ou sooners big 12 championship
REBECCA S. GRATZ
ARLINGTON -- OU's Travis Lewis jumps in front of Rex Burkhead to grab an interception in the endzone in the second quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- Nebraska's Alex Henery celebrates a field goal in the first quarter played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
4:34 4th qtr ARLINGTON -- OU's Frank Alexander (No. 84) forces a fumble by NU quarterback Taylor Martinez (No. 3) in the fourth quarter. Martinez recoverd the ball. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- OU's Frank Alexander (84) and the Sooners celebrate their 23-20 win. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- 12/04/10: Nebraska's Mike McNeill receives a pass in the second quarter against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD nebraska nu cornhuskers huskers football oklahoma ou sooners big 12 championship
REBECCA S. GRATZ
1st qtr 14:21 ARLINGTON -- NU's Austin Cassidy (No. 8) celebrates the blackshirts ending an Oklahoma drive in three downs in the first quarter. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- OU's Travis Lewis recovers a fumble with 11:31 left in the fourth quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- NU's Taylor Martinez is tackled by Ronnell Lewis just short of the first down with 8:59 left in the second quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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11:24 4th qtr ARLINGTON -- NU's Jared Crick (No. 94) sacks OU quarterback Landry Jones (No. 12) in the fourth quarter. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- OU's Landry Jones throws a pass under pressure with 1:48 left in the second quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- 12/04/10: Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez fumbles while getting sacked by Oklahoma's Frank Alexander late in the fourth quarter in the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. Martinez lost 10 yards, fumbled the ball and recovered it on the 50 yard line. around 4 min. REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD nebraska nu cornhuskers huskers football oklahoma ou sooners big 12 championship
REBECCA S. GRATZ
ARLINGTON -- 12/04/10: Nebraska's Rex Burkhead leaps over Oklahoma defender Jonathan Nelson (left) as Travis Lewis tackles him in the third quarter in the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD nebraska nu cornhuskers huskers football oklahoma ou sooners big 12 championship
REBECCA S. GRATZ
5:03 4th qtr ARLINGTON -- NU quarterback Taylor Martinez (No. 3) is unable to pull in a pass with pressure from OU's Demontre Hurst (No. 19) and Jamell Fleming (No. 32) in the fourth quarter. Nebraska played Oklahoma in the 2010 Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
ALYSSA SCHUKAR
ARLINGTON -- NU and OU fans, the Sherwood and Wiedel families gather for a photo before the game. The entire group is related and part of the family moved from Nebraska to Oklahoma so they wanted to come to the game together for the last game of the rivalry. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- OU's DeMarco Murray (7) celebrates with a teammate while Huskers hug after the 23-20 game. and The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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ARLINGTON -- OU kicker Jimmy Stevens celebrates his game-winning field foal in the fourth quarter to give the Sooners a 23-20 win. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
MATT MILLER
ARLINGTON -- OU's Pryce Macon brings down NU quarterback Taylor Martinez with :23 left in the third quarter. The NU University of Nebraska Cornhuskers played the OU Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2010. MATT MILLER/THE WORLD-HERALD
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