One of the most historic rivalries in college football returns on Saturday as No. 3 Oklahoma hosts Nebraska in a battle of blue-blooded college football schools. The Sooners are 2-0 and considered an early favorite to make a trip to the College Football Playoff after beating Tulane and Western Carolina to open the season. Nebraska started off the year with a bad loss at Illinois, but showed signs of growth in dominant wins over Fordham and Buffalo.
How significant is the matchup between these two programs? When the game was scheduled for an 11 a.m. local start time, OU athletic director Joe Castiglione put out a statement saying how disappointed he was with the decision by Fox. Months later, Oklahoma opted to leave the Big 12. The television scheduling decisions were seen as a notable part of the separation.
Oklahoma and Nebraska have played 76 times all time and the Sooners hold a 45-38-3 advantage. Oklahoma also holds a 6-2 advantage over the Cornhuskers since 2000.
Oklahoma vs. Nebraska: Need to know
History: Before Nebraska and Oklahoma diverged, they were historic members of the Big Eight Conference starting in 1921. The programs were consistent rivals from then until Nebraska left the Big 12 in 2010, including the 1971 “Game of the Century” that earned Nebraska its second national championship. When Nebraska left the Big 12, it quickly scheduled a home-and-home with Oklahoma in 2021-22 to try and keep the rivalry alive. In the near future, neither Nebraska nor Oklahoma will remain in the spiritual predecessor of its old Big Eight Conference home.
Frost’s seat is melting: Entering Year Four, expectations were high for coach Scott Frost at Nebraska. The native son came to Lincoln, Nebraska, as one of the hottest coaching prospects in college football, but has yet to lead the Cornhuskers to a winning record through three seasons. The historic matchup against Oklahoma isn’t an ideal spot for Frost to save his job; the Cornhuskers are 0-8 against ranked opponents over Frost’s tenure.
Inconsistent offense: While Oklahoma beat Tulane in the opener, the offense was not its normal consistent self. The Sooners averaged just 3.3 yards per carry and quarterback Spencer Rattler threw a pair of bad interceptions to keep the game close. Rattler is the most talented quarterback in the country, but his downfall has been forcing throws when asked to do too much. With only two scholarship running backs in the lineup, Oklahoma has put far more responsibility on Rattler’s shoulders. Nebraska has to be prepared to take advantage.
How to watch Oklahoma vs. Nebraska live
Date: Saturday, Sept. 18 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium — Norman, Oklahoma
TV: Fox | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Oklahoma vs. Nebraska prediction, picks
Featured Game | Oklahoma Sooners vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska will come out motivated for this game, especially since it will have long-term implications for Frost’s job status. Unfortunately, the Cornhuskers are simply no match for a national title-caliber Oklahoma team. The only question about this cover is whether Oklahoma cares to keep scoring. Prediction: Oklahoma (-22)
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