Huskers clash with Wildcats in BCS battle
By PEYTON BERG
Sports Writer
On the surface, Saturday's game between the Huskers and the Wildcats doesn't look like much. A closer analysis of the infamous Bowl Championship Series poll reveals that this game is critical to the national championship race. Most observers assume that Oklahoma will play a team from Florida in the Orange Bowl for all the marbles. No. 3 Miami's grievance with No. 2 Florida State is legitimate, given the Hurricanes' 27-24 victory last month. The problem will most likely work itself out when the Seminoles host No. 5 Florida over Thanksgiving weekend.
How quickly people have written off the Cornhuskers. With one loss to the No. 1 team in the country, Nebraska is far from elimination. Consider the following scenario: Nebraska beats Kansas State to claim the Big 12 North title. Nebraska then beats top-ranked Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. The Florida/Florida State loser will have two losses and drop from the national championship picture. Who's left? Nebraska.
Coach Bill Snyder hoped that Kansas State's 40-30 win over Nebraska in 1998 signaled a power shift in the Big 12. Unfortunately, the Wildcat's penchant to lose late season games has prevented them from winning it all.
This year, Oklahoma's surprising dominance gave Kansas State a rare mid-season defeat after reaching No. 2 in the polls. Characteristically, the demoralized Wildcats subsequently dropped their following game to Texas A&M and eliminated themselves from the BCS picture.
Nebraska is now playing with nothing to lose. Michael Vick's ankle injury means that Tim Crouch is currently the best option quarterback in the country.
Should they beat Kansas State, they'll get Oklahoma under pressure at a neutral site.
The last time Nebraska played with nothing to lose was in last year's Fiesta Bowl, when they disfigured defending national champ Tennessee.
If Nebraska's defense continues to improve, look for this game to be a tune-up for a rematch with the Sooners.
South Carolina at Florida
A year ago, who would have thought that South Carolina would be playing for an SEC divisional crown and a ticket to the SEC Championship game? The remarkable Gamecock revival sits at 7-2, but trouble is in the air. South Carolina's SEC schedule was built for early season success, which they've enjoyed. Now, things get tougher.
The Gamecocks' defense cracked last week, allowing Tennessee to drive down the field for the game-winning score. After Florida this week, they'll play in-state rival Clemson. Florida has struggled with teams that can run the football, and USC's Derek Watson comes into Saturday's contest with a 98 yards per game average. Coach Lou Holtz still loves a ground control, time of possession style offense that he employed at Notre Dame.
Florida also may be caught looking ahead to next week's annual Gators-Seminoles showdown. As usual, the stakes are high. The winner will most likely wait for Oklahoma, Nebraska or Miami to falter and earn a shot at the BCS Championship. Coach Steve Spurrier continues his maddening quarterback rotation, and sensational freshman receiver Jabar Gaffney is beginning to turn heads.
Oklahoma at Texas A&M
So long as strength of schedule is a BCS factor, Oklahoma will hold its No. 1 ranking. The latest stop on the Boomer Sooner express is College Station, entertaining their fourth ranked team in five weeks. Oklahoma's remarkable 2000 campaign is rivaled only by the resurrection of the South Carolina program. Consider that the Sooners defeated then No. 5 Texas, then No. 2 Kansas State, then No. 1 Nebraska, and now face current No. 24 Texas A&M. With apologies to the SEC, the Big 12 is this year's premier conference.
Kyle field is one of the most difficult road venues in college football. The 12th man mystique, the Corps Crazy Cadets, and coach R.C. Slocum's impressive 64-6-1 home record all add up to be what could be a thriller. The atmosphere will be loud and hostile when the Sooners put their No. 1 ranking and undefeated season on the line.
Both teams are still very much alive in the Big 12 championship picture. The Aggies beat Kansas State, and wins over both Oklahoma and hated rival Texas guarantees them a trip to the championship game against Northern division winner Nebraska. This game will hinge on the quarterbacks: junior college transfer turned Heisman frontrunner Josh Heupel and ex-minor leaguer Mark Farris. Given Oklahoma's confidence and lethal passing attack, the Aggies must play their best game of the season in order to win.
South Carolina at Florida: The remarkable Gamecock revival sits at 7-2, but trouble is in the air. South Carolina's SEC schedule was built for early season success, which they've enjoyed. Now, things get tougher.
The Gamecocks' defense cracked last week, allowing Tennessee to drive down the field for the game-winning score. After Florida this week, they'll play in-state rival Clemson.
Florida has struggled with teams that can run the football, and USC's Derek Watson comes into Saturday's contest with a 98 yards per game average. Coach Lou Holtz still loves a ground control, time of possession style offense that he employed at Notre Dame.
Florida also may be caught looking ahead to next week's annual Gators-Seminoles showdown. As usual, the stakes are high. Coach Steve Spurrier continues his maddening quarterback rotation, and sensational freshman receiver Jabar Gaffney is beginning to turn heads.
Oklahoma at Texas A&M: So long as strength of schedule is a BCS factor, Oklahoma will hold its No. 1 ranking. The latest stop on the Boomer Sooner express is College Station, entertaining their fourth ranked team in five weeks. Consider that the Sooners defeated then No. 5 Texas, then No. 2 Kansas State, then No. 1 Nebraska, and now face current No. 24 Texas A&M. With apologies to the SEC, the Big 12 is this year's premier conference. Kyle Field is one of the most difficult road venues in college football. The 12th man mystique, the Corps Crazy Cadets, and coach R.C. Slocum's impressive 64-6-1 home record all add up to be what could be a thriller.
This game will hinge on the quarterbacks: junior college transfer turned Heisman frontrunner Josh Heupel and ex-minor leaguer Mark Farris. Given Oklahoma's confidence and lethal passing attack, the Aggies must play their best game of the season in order to win.
All Sports Stories for Friday, November 10, 2000
