APOne of the disappointing results of Nebraska’s move to the Big Ten was the end of its series with Oklahoma for the foreseeable future. The two sides played every year from 1928 to 1997, but when the Big 12 conference formed, the rivalry was only played some years.
There’s some good news for those who enjoyed that game: it looks like it’s coming back for at least two years. Per the Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska and Oklahoma have agreed “in principle” to play a home-and-home — but it won’t be until 2021.
Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne said on Monday that NU has agreed “in principle” to play Oklahoma in a home-and-home series. The contracts aren’t signed, but that’s expected to be a formality, as both sides want it to happen, Osborne said.
Sources at NU say the first game likely will be played in Norman, Okla., in 2021 — the 50th anniversary of the 1971 “Game of the Century,” also played at Owen Field. Then it’s back to Lincoln in 2022.
Sure, there’s a lot of time between now and then for one side to back out, but renewing this game has been in discussions since 2010 when it was announced that Nebraska would be leaving the Big 12.
And on the 50th anniversary of the “Game of the Century”? Count me as a supporter.
Rivalries like this are what most of us love about college football. I hope they can find a way to schedule even more Nebraska-Oklahoma games, among other rivalries that need to come back.
Tru dat fcmlefty1.
Are we sure the current conference structure will survive that long? Playoffs and a more reliable method to determine a national champion may change everything.
I love tradition as much as the next guy, but lets be honest.
This has nothing to do with tradition and everything to do with $$$$$. I really don’t care about this game… Sell it as a Big 10 Big 12 game and I’ll bite, but tradition went out the window a long time ago. Tradition no longer exists in college football. Only $$$.
While they are at it they should schedule a game every year for the next 50. Everyone in Nebraska and Oklahoma wants it.
The fact of the matter is OK decided that their true rival (for recruits, bragging rights, etc.) was TX, not NE. OK did not want the series to continue and stopped playing them each year.
@chumthumper….exactly what rock have you been living under? Nebraska left the conference they shared with OU. Re-doing schedules, which are made years in advance, takes a little time. You need to cut back on “grandpa’s” cough syrup.
@gorilladunk … That is not exactly correct. When the Big 12 was formed the Sooners put a higher value on their rivalry game with Texas than Nebraska. Although we were unhappy about it, the move was a logical decision given recruiting realities. Hence the yearly series was ended.
When we left for the Big 10, also a logical decision given the Academic and financial realities of the opportunity, one of the causalities was our home and home date with Oklahoma every two years.
Oklahoma is a great program with great fans and I hope we can set up a nonconference rivalry with OU.