Tag: game of the century

Social Buzz: Sooner Nation ready for Oklahoma vs. Nebraska

What’s social media saying ahead of the Oklahoma Sooners first road trip of the season to play the Nebraska Cornhuskers?

It’s a game that’s created some legendary moments in the history of college football. The Game of the Century Josh Norman’s blocked field goal in 2000 that gave OU the momentum to go on and win the game during a magical run to the 2000 national championship.

Keith Jackson’s one handed catch in 1986 put the Oklahoma Sooners in position to kick a game-winning field goal to beat the Cornhuskers and win another Big 8 championship.

Just last year, DJ Graham’s one-handed interception and Pat Fields blocked PAT return for two points were great moments in a game celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the Game of the Century.

Though Nebraska comes into this game with a couple of losses, and far from the program that was dominant in the 1980s and 1990s, the atmosphere and the environment of this renewed rivalry will create more incredible moments in one of the storied rivalries in college football.

As we gear up for kickoff, let’s check in on Sooner Nation and see what they have to say ahead of the Sooners first road test of the season.

Game of the Century: 2019’s LSU-Alabama showdown snubbed

In terms of “Game of the Century”, the LSU-Alabama slugfest in 2019 deserves a seat at the table.

On Saturday the Oklahoma Sooners will host the Nebraska Cornhuskers to Norman. This game takes place 50 years since their “Game of the Century” in 1971. That year the No. 1 Cornhuskers played the No. 1 Sooners in Oklahoma on a Thursday night in November.

This sparked a conversation about the best games of the century, in which the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams faced off in the regular season. AP writer Ralph D. Russo put together a list of the best games between top-ranked teams.

  1. Oklahoma-Nebraska, 1971
  2. Texas–Arkansas, 1969
  3. Miami (Fl)-Florida State, 1991
  4. Notre Dame-Florida State, 1993
  5. Notre Dame-Michigan State, 1966

This top five omits two other key matchups that should be in the top five. The 2006 classic between Michigan and Ohio State for one. The other is the LSU and Alabama throwdown in Tuscaloosa from the 2019 season. Prior to that game head coach Ed Orgeron claimed, “we’re coming and we ain’t backing down.” Boy did they ever not back down.

The Tigers raced out to a huge 33-13 advantage at halftime led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall Jr, and Cade York. Every time the Alabama team got close to LSU, the Tigers would pull away. They were able to withstand the 21-point fourth quarter to come away victorious.

Not to say that game was more deserving than let’s say the top three, but that game is worthy of being in the top five “Game of the Century” list. The other matchup under consideration would be the 2011 defensive slugfest between Alabama and LSU. The Tigers won 9-6 in overtime. That season the Bayou Bengals marched all the way to the BCS National Championship before Alabama got the better of them in round two.

Where would you rank the LSU-Alabama 2019 slugfest?

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

Can the Oklahoma Sooners keep the good times rolling their matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers? Check out what the staff here at Sooners Wire had to say about the matchup.

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers, this game has about as much anticipation as any nonconference game the Sooners have played in the last decade.

The Ohio State series stands out as an exciting pair of matchups that held national title significance early in the season, but the history of this rivalry, which dates back to 1919, holds much more significance in the history of college football.

The Oklahoma Sooners enter as huge favorites as the Cornhuskers haven’t really been the same program they were when they left the Big 12 for the Big 10. It’s a team that has struggled in the Big 10 and hasn’t been nationally relevant for some time now. Oklahoma continues to build one of the best programs in the country and finds itself with a chance to make a run at the national title if they can navigate a Big 12 schedule that will be full of potholes and potential missteps.

We’re excited for this game, and we know you are too. With that, let’s take a look at the Sooners Wire staff predictions for this week three matchup.

NEXT: Our staff provides their predictions for this week’s matchup.

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New to the OU-Nebraska rivalry? Study these flashcards before Saturday.

A whole generation of college football fans has emerged since Nebraska and Oklahoma last faced off. So if you’re unfamiliar with the rivalry, here are some flashcards to study before Saturday.

The last time Oklahoma and Nebraska played each other, “Tik Tok” by Kesha was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints to a 31-17 Super Bowl win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Those 2010 Cornhuskers went 10-4 in the regular season before earning a trip to the Capital One Bowl. Nebraska has had just one 10 win season since.

Oklahoma, however, won 12 games that season and would defeat Connecticut, 48-20 in the Fiesta Bowl. Since then, the Crimson and Cream have posted nine seasons with double-digit wins.

The Sooners and the Cornhuskers have been trending in opposite directions over the last decade. Expectations for these two programs could not be further apart as the anniversary of a once competitive rivalry is forecasted to become a blowout win for Oklahoma on Saturday.

An entire generation of college football fans has found love for the sport since the last time Oklahoma-Nebraska was a genuine rivalry. If you are one of those fans, fear not! Here are a few flashcards to use at the water cooler (or in arguments on Twitter.)

Up Next: How many times have they met?

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Where does the “Game of the Century” rank among no. 1 vs. no. 2 matchups all time?

The Sooners and the Cornhuskers renew a rivalry that is one of the best ever, but where does the 1971 matchup rank among top teams all time?

When the Oklahoma Sooners enter Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, they’ll play host to one of their oldest rivalries in all of sports. The Sooners and the Cornhuskers get set to renew a matchup that’s played 86 games.

It’s been 50 years since the Oklahoma Sooners and the Nebraska Cornhuskers played the “Game of the Century.” With the anniversary of that matchup coming on Saturday, Ralph Russo of the Associated Press ranked the top five matchups between the no. 1 and the no. 2 teams in the country of all time.

Russo put the “Game of the Century” matchup between the Sooners and Cornhuskers from 1971 as the top game between the top two teams in the Associated Press Polls.

For about two decades, a case could be made that Oklahoma-Nebraska was the most important rivalry in college football. From 1971-88, the Sooners and Cornhuskers played 15 top-five matchups. This game launched that period of dominance in college football and it still stands as the best of the bunch. Big Eight rivals Nebraska and Oklahoma were 1-2 in the AP poll for seven weeks leading up to their famous Thanksgiving Day showdown.

Some Games of the Century are marked by controversy during the game or in the aftermath. That’s not really the case with ’71 Nebraska-Oklahoma, a game that delivered on every bit of its hype. -Russo

It was a back and forth showdown that pitted the two best teams in the country and, as Russo tells it, marked the launched this matchup as the most important in college football.

The Sooners and the Cornhuskers get to renew that rivalry on Saturday with a game that may not mean as much in the rankings but means a ton to two fanbases longing for this game since conference realignment changed the landscape of college football a decade ago.

Nebraska loss takes a bit of the luster out of “Game of the Century” Anniversary matchup

The Cornhuskers loss to the Fighting Illini has taken some of the luster out of the 50th anniversary of the “Game of the Century.”

The Nebraska Cornhuskers went into their week zero matchup with the Illinois Fighting Illini as 6.5 point betting favorites per Tipico. The Cornhuskers had won four in a row before taking a blowout loss to the Illini in their 2020 matchup.

Led by turnovers and miscues, the Cornhuskers couldn’t get out of their own way as they fell behind early. In what turned out to be a closer score than the contest indicated, this was yet another disappointing loss for the once-storied franchise.

Coming to Norman to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the “Game of the Century,” anticipation had been building for a matchup that hadn’t been played in more than a decade.

The Sooners and Cornhuskers have played 86 times in their history that spans time as conference-mates in the Big 8 and the Big 12. The biggest disappointment in the last round of realignment was the loss of the game between Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, the two teams are in vastly different places. Oklahoma has been one of the best programs in the country over the last 20 years. After a solid run through the early part of this century, they’ve struggled to find consistency the last decade.

The start of a new season brings hope that things can change, but for the Cornhuskers, it’s the same story, different season. They aren’t very good.

Though the two teams don’t meet for another three weeks, leaving time for the Cornhuskers to find some relevance before making their trip to Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

With a non-conference schedule that is considered one of the weakest in the Big 12, the Sooners needed a relevant Nebraska team to bolster their strength of schedule. The Sooners have a great shot at going undefeated, but if they have a slip-up during the regular season as they’ve had in each of the last 16 seasons, having a strong non-conference schedule could help bolster their chances at getting into the College Football Playoff.

Winning the Big 12 should give them enough ammunition to get into the playoff. However, if Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, and a Pac-12 team like USC or Oregon all have strong seasons, a weak non-conference schedule could work against them with the committee, even if they go 3-0.

Fans will be hyped for the Sooners matchup with the Cornhuskers. When Nebraska comes to Norman, there will be a lot of energy and excitement to renew the storied rivalry. However, after an upset loss to one of the lower-tier teams in the Big 10, the matchup has lost some of its intrigue.

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Oklahoma Sooners ranked toughest game on Nebraska’s schedule

With the renewal of the rivalry between the Sooners and the Cornhuskers, Athlon Sports puts Oklahoma as Nebraksa’s toughest matchup in 2021.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a big season ahead of them in 2021. As one of the higher-ranked teams in the country returning much of the team that finished in the top five in 2020, The Spencer Rattler-led Sooners are expected to take another step forward and contend for the national championship.

Before they do that, they must navigate a schedule that has some interesting and difficult matchups. One of the most interesting is the renewal of the Sooners’ rivalry with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sep. 18.

On the 50th anniversary of the “Game of the Century,” these two historical rivals will lock up for the first time since 2010. It’s been 11 years since the Sooners beat Nebraska 23-20 in the Big 12 Championship game.

It may not be the toughest game on Oklahoma’s schedule, but it will be a lot of fun to square off on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff. For Nebraska, however, the Sooners might be the toughest matchup on their schedule. Kevin McGuire of Athlon Sports ranked Nebraska’s 2021 schedule, and Oklahoma came in as the toughest game on the slate.

The old classic rivalry will be renewed between Nebraska and Oklahoma in Week 3, and it presents the stiffest challenge for Nebraska this season. Controlling quarterback Spencer Rattler will be a tall order, and going on the road to face the Sooners is what helps make this the more challenging game for the Huskers than their home date with the Buckeyes. Oklahoma is being hyped as a national title contender, and will look to back up that hype against Nebraska. – McGuire

The Sooners are currently ranked higher than the Ohio State Buckeyes in the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches’ poll and the AP Top 25. By sheer ranking, that would make it tougher, but McGuire makes a good point. Going to Norman to play the return of a rivalry that includes 86 previous matchups will make for a difficult road trip.

The fans at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will be hyped for this matchup, and it would make for a raucous environment for the Cornhuskers. That would make for a tough place to reignite a 100-year-old rivalry even if the Oklahoma Sooners weren’t one of the best teams in college football in 2021.

Sooners release statement conveying frustration on OU-Nebraska game

The Sooners released a statement outlining the program’s frustration at the time slot of the 50th anniversary OU-Nebraska game.

The 2021 college football season is fast approaching, and on Thursday afternoon, the Oklahoma Sooners released the times and TV information for the first two games of the season.

On Sept. 18, OU will face the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The rivalry game will take place at 12 p.m. ET on FOX. The “Big Noon Kickoff” show will be live from Norman.

This year’s matchup takes place on the 50-year annivesary of the “Game of the Century:” the No. 1 Cornhuskers’ 35-31 victory over the No. 2 Sooners. That Thanksgiving Day game attracted a record-setting number of spectators, more than 55 million television viewers, and Oklahoma was hoping for this year’s game to be played in prime time.

The game will be played earlier than desired, resulting in a statement from Joe Castigilione, the program’s vice president and director of athletics, via Twitter. The initial four frank words, “we are bitterly disappointed” conveys the message of the coaches, players, personnel and fans.

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Start Notre Dame/Florida State week the only way one should

That day in mid-November saw No. 1 Florida State travel to No. 2 Notre Dame for one of the most anticipated games in the history of college football.

Happy Monday and for the first time in a few weeks now we can say it’s welcome back to game week for No 5 Notre Dame (2-0) who returns to action this Saturday against un-ranked Florida State (1-2).

When you think Notre Dame and Florida State there are a handful of memories that come to mind but even before the ridiculous flag for a pick-play in 2014 or even Arnaz Battle’s touchdown and celebratory chop in 2012, there was the Game of the Century in 1993.

That day in mid-November saw No. 1 Florida State travel to No. 2 Notre Dame for one of the most anticipated games in the history of college football.

We’ll remember that game and a few other memories of the Notre Dame/Florida State series during the week but who remembers who NBC started the telecast for that Game of the Century?

If you don’t recall then take the next couple of minutes and relive it now as we get ready for No. 5 Notre Dame and Florida State this Saturday night in South Bend.

Even if it isn’t No.1 vs. No. 2 this weekend this “helmet game” between two of college football’s most recognizable brands is one you dream of when you’re playing a pickup game in your backyard as a kid.

And a fun fact – the high school that intro was filmed at is New Canaan, Connecticut, the same high school current Notre Dame freshman quarterback Drew Pyne attended.

Notre Dame Rewind Meant a Fun Saturday Night (1993 ND vs. FSU)

Watching Notre Dame vs Florida St was great still 27 years later. You can watch the rebroadcast here and read a few takeaways from the game.

Part of a very cool thing Notre Dame is doing with no other sports going on is replaying some of their classic games.  This Saturday was the second straight they did so, showing the classic “Game of the Century” from 1993 against Florida State.

Some of the stars from that day for Notre Dame helped re-watch the game Saturday evening as Lee Becton, Jeff Burris and Shawn Wooden along with writers Eric Hansen and Tom Noie who participated in commentary as well.  It was fun to watch parts of (five month old required much attention throughout, too) and it’s available if you’re looking for a way to kill a few hours in the coming days or weeks.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKtwjq3K0WE&w=560&h=315]

Anytime I’ve tried watching old games in the past it’s hard for me to get too into them.  You know the result and maybe the last drive or final play bring excitement but this one drew me in and I kept found myself walking back to the computer tonight to keep checking and watching a couple possessions instead of checking out Saturday night television.

Watching it again all these years later a few things stuck out so I’ll share them here.  We’ll see if you agree.

-If Notre Dame football ever has another throwback to the uniforms of that era can they go ahead and have NBC go to their throwback graphics, too?  Beautiful.  I also loved how big the out of town scoreboard used to be when they’d flip it in the telecast.

-No matter how many times I see OJ Simpson or hear his voice during that game it 100% will never not be weird.

-How big of a blowout would that have been if just one of five different things gone slightly different?

  1.  Ray Zellars drop on third down the first possession of the game.  He catches that Notre Dame scores to go ahead early?
  2. Lake Dawson’s drop while up 21-7 and playing on a short field before halftime.  If he doesn’t drop that second down pass then it’s another chance for more than a 21-7 lead at half.
  3. Jeff Burris was one of the best players on the field that day.  That said, he should have had at least three interceptions to go along with that pair of rushing touchdowns.  Oh well, things ended well that day.  I will say that Burris doesn’t get the love from Notre Dame’s fan base years later that he is absolutely worthy of.

It’s easy to let time do it’s thing and make you forget just how dominant that offensive line was.  Imagine being Bob Davie a few short years later and thinking firing Joe Moore was a good idea.

Florida State needed pretty much everything to go right just to get have a chance at the end.  That’s an ultimate final score being closer than the game played out and almost 27 years later leaves you wondering how any so-called “expert” could have watched that and voted Florida State number one after the bowl games.

Enjoyable night nonetheless watching, though.  If you get the time that’s a classic and Charlie Jones on the call only brings back warm memories.

Have a good night and stay safe.