Just in case you needed a break from the developing Cam Newton story (not that you wanted one) ...
When Nebraska and Oklahoma face off in this Saturday’s Big 12 championship game, it was thought that it would be the last time the two schools would play in the foreseeable future as the Cornhuskers depart for the Big Ten next season. But thankfully, as of today, the opposite appears to be the case.
Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne stated that the two universities have been working to create a home-and-home series for the better part of four months, which would have the game played at Oklahoma in 2020 and at Nebraska the following year.
However, depending on future Big Ten schedules, Osborne is not willing to commit to those specifications just yet. “If we have five Big Ten home games in 2020,” Osborne said, “we can afford to go to Norman.” The Big Ten currently has eight conference games, but could add a ninth conference game starting in 2015. With the added conference game, Nebraska would only have 4 of those at home on alternating years.
As the Big 12 moves to a true round-robin schedule starting in 2011, Oklahoma’s conference schedule will consist of 4 home games, 4 away games and the neutral site game in Dallas against Texas. Playing Nebraska on the road will mean the Sooners will have to schedule their two other non-conference games in Norman to keep the number of home games at 6, but in the spirit of keeping one of college football’s better rivalries alive, they’ll probably oblige.
Nebraska’s divorce from the Big 12 has been a little awkward to say the least, but the fact of the matter is that college football is better when these two schools are playing each other.