Oklahoma was 6-4 when it played host to Nebraska football for a Black Friday game, Nov. 25, 1994.
As usual, however, Tom Osborne took nothing for granted, even though Nebraska was 11-0 and top-ranked in both major polls — with a chance to win the Big Eight title outright.
Colorado’s lone loss was to Nebraska. The Buffaloes were second.
“In light of what has gone on here this week, I predicted Oklahoma would play very well,” Osborne said following the Huskers’ 13-3 victory. “And I don’t believe we missed on our prediction.”
What had gone on was the forced resignation of Sooner Coach Gary Gibbs, after six seasons.
Oklahoma State’s Pat Jones and Iowa State’s Jim Walden also were forced to resign that week, while Colorado’s Bill McCartney announced his resignation, citing personal reasons.
Half of the conference coaches would be replaced in 1995.
In any case, Nebraska hadn’t looked past Oklahoma, critical given the final score.
“I was real proud of our defense; I thought they carried the day,” Osborne said. “I felt the strongest part of Oklahoma’s football team was their defense and that concerned me coming into the game. We were concerned about moving the ball on the ground because their tackles are outstanding and their linebackers really close on the football.”
The Huskers rushed for a far-and-away season-low 137 yards on 50 attempts, with I-back Lawrence Phillips managing only 50 yards on 21 carries — the first time he hadn’t rushed for more than 100 yards. Colorado limited him to 103 yards on 24 carries, his previous low.
Nebraska’s 302 yards of total offense were the third-lowest of the season.
Never mind. The Blackshirts took over, allowing Oklahoma only 179 yards of offense, including 43 in the second half. In fact, the Sooners’ final gain was a 3-yard pass on a third-and-22 late in the third quarter. From that point on, they punted three times and quarterback Garrick McGee threw six incomplete passes and one interception, to Barron Miles on Oklahoma’s final play.
McGee also threw an interception, to Kareem Moss, earlier, finishing 6-for-17 for 71 yards. He took three sacks, once each by Christian Peter, Terry Connealy and Donta Jones.
Troy Dumas was Nebraska’s leading tackler with 12.
The Huskers scored first, a 46-yard field goal by Darin Erstad, 49 seconds into the second quarter. Oklahoma tied the score with a 25-yard Scott Blanton field goal with 2:19 remaining in the half.
Earlier in the second quarter, Miles blocked a Blanton field goal attempt.
Nebraska opened the second half with an 11-play, 76-yard drive capped by Tom Sieler’s 26-yard field goal—Sieler kicked short field goals and extra points, Erstad long field goals.
Erstad also punted, five times for a 47-yard average against the Sooners.
Quarterback Brook Berringer, who was 13-of-23 passing for 166 yards with one interception, scored the game’s lone touchdown from 1 yard with 13:25 remaining. The key play on the 82-yard drive was a 44-yard Berringer pass to wingback Abdul Muhammad to the Oklahoma 13 on a third-and-10.
“The story of the game was the two defenses and our kicking game,” Osborne said. “I felt going in that we had an edge in our kicking game. We had a really long field goal and a couple of real long punts, and we are pleased with that part of it.”
The key, however, was the play of the Blackshirts.
“I thought they carried the day,” said Osborne.
