Nebraska football went into the Oklahoma game at Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving Day 1993 ranked first nationally in rushing offense and 14h in total offense. So these numbers didn’t add up.
The Huskers rushed for 122 yards and finished with 179 total-offense yards. Coach Tom Osborne’s teams had never won when held to such low totals. But this frigid afternoon was different, ending with fans storming the field to pull down the goal posts, upsetting to Osborne.
Nebraska wasn’t upset, however. Final score: Huskers 21, Oklahoma 7.
The 8-2, 16th-ranked Sooners were a challenge. They scored on the game’s first possession, driving 74 yards on 13 plays for a touchdown, 5:16 into the game.
That was it for them offensively, however. Nebraska’s defense would soon take over, particularly in the second half to limit Oklahoma to 33 yards of offense.
It was a Husker defense without All-America outside linebacker Trev Alberts, who suffered a dislocated elbow on the ninth play of the game. The Blackshirts were already without linebacker Ernie Beler, sidelined by a knee injury. In any case, “all of us (on defense) are a little tired of have everything built around offense,” said Husker defensive coordinator Charlie McBride.
Nebraska managed only one first down in the first quarter and punted on its first three possessions into the second quarter. The Huskers’ fourth possession ended with a Tommie Frazier pass interception. Three plays later, however, Nebraska Rover Toby Wright returned the favor, intercepting a Cale Gundy pass and returning it 25 yards to the Oklahoma 15-yard line.
A penalty and three plays later, Frazier scored from 2 yards, leading to a tie at 7. To be tied at halftime, given the circumstances, “was kind of a major upset,” Osborne said. Until the middle of the second quarter, it looked as if “we were getting dominated on both sides of the ball.”
He wouldn’t have given a “plugged nickel” for Nebraska’s chances at that point.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Huskers took control. A nine-play, 38-yard drive, following an 11-yard punt return by Corey Dixon, culminated in Frazier’s 11-yard touchdown pass to wingback Abdul Muhammad, Nebraska’s leading receiver with one other reception for 12 yards.
Then, on the ensuing kickoff, Mike Minter forced a fumble, which David Seizys recovered at the Sooner 20-yard line. Calvin Jones ran 20 yards for a touchdown.
The two touchdowns came with only 13 seconds elapsed on the game clock.
Jones was the game’s leading rusher, with 82 yards on 25 carries. Frazier carried 15 times for 37 yards and the first touchdown. He completed only 5-of-17 passes for 57 yards.
Gundy completed 8-of-22 passes for 85 yards. Dwayne Harris, who stepped up when Alberts went down, sacked Gundy three times. Defensive tackle Kevin Raemakers also sacked Gundy.
Linebacker Mike Anderson led the Blackshirts with nine tackles. Wright had eight while Harris and cornerback John Reece finished with seven each.
Husker fans began storming the field with 18 seconds remaining. “Get off the field,” said Osborne. “What’s the matter with you people?”
They were celebrating Nebraska’s first undefeated regular season since the “Scoring Explosion” offense in 1983. Yes, offense, the Huskers’ signature — but not on this day.
Nebraska had moved to second in the AP rankings, behind Florida State, on the off-week, when then top-ranked Notre Dame lost to Boston College 41-39. One-loss Florida State had been second.
The Huskers were first in the coaches’ poll at least.
