1979 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1979 edition of the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers
, and the Oklahoma Sooners
.
This matchup was something of an anomaly, as it featured a rare rematch of two conference foes that had already played during the regular season. Nebraska had upset #1 ranked Oklahoma 17-14 on Nov. 11 in Lincoln, and appeared headed towards a national championship showdown with Penn State. But unranked Missouri
then stunned the #2 ranked Huskers 35-31 the following week, dropping the Huskers into a tie with Oklahoma for the Big Eight
championship and knocking them out of the national championship picture.
Penn State
instead faced Alabama
for the national title in the Sugar Bowl
, and the Orange Bowl found itself with a selection dilemma. Nebraska earned the Big Eight's automatic Orange Bowl berth by virtue of its victory over the Sooners, but, with Penn State and Notre Dame
(which accepted an invitation to the Cotton Bowl Classic) off the board, the Orange Bowl committee decided to set up a rematch with Oklahoma to create the best possible matchup.
Nebraska scored first on a 21 yard touchdown pass from Tom Sorley
to Tim Smith giving Nebraska a 7-0 lead. Oklahoma tied the score on a 3-yard scamper by Heisman Trophy
winner Billy Sims
, and then went ahead when Thomas Lott scored on a 3 yard touchdown run to take a 14-7 lead into the locker room.
The revenge-minded Sooners then took control. In the third quarter, Sims scored his second TD on an 11 yard touchdown run. Both sides traded field goals, before Lott scored on a 2 yard touchdown run which blew the score out to 31-10.
Nebraska rallied late, with Rick Berns scoring on a 1 yard touchdown run, and then Sorley threw a 2-yard strike to Junior Miller
, but by then the game had ticked down to its final seconds, as OU prevailed 31-24, to finish the season 11-1, avenging its only loss of the 1978 season. Nebraska finished 9-3.
This game could also be something of a precursor to the former Big 12 Championship Game, since the game also broke the tie in the Big 8 standings in a sense. If this game were counted in the 1978 Big 8 standings, Oklahoma would stand alone at the top with a 7-1 conference record. The two teams would meet in the 2006 edition of the game
.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
, and the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
.
This matchup was something of an anomaly, as it featured a rare rematch of two conference foes that had already played during the regular season. Nebraska had upset #1 ranked Oklahoma 17-14 on Nov. 11 in Lincoln, and appeared headed towards a national championship showdown with Penn State. But unranked Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
then stunned the #2 ranked Huskers 35-31 the following week, dropping the Huskers into a tie with Oklahoma for the Big Eight
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
championship and knocking them out of the national championship picture.
Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
instead faced Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
for the national title in the Sugar Bowl
1979 Sugar Bowl
The 1979 Sugar Bowl was the 45th edition of the Sugar Bowl, which was played on January 1, 1979 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Louisiana Superdome. The matchup featured the #1–ranked, 11–0 Penn State Nittany Lions and the #2–ranked, 10–1 Alabama Crimson Tide...
, and the Orange Bowl found itself with a selection dilemma. Nebraska earned the Big Eight's automatic Orange Bowl berth by virtue of its victory over the Sooners, but, with Penn State and Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
(which accepted an invitation to the Cotton Bowl Classic) off the board, the Orange Bowl committee decided to set up a rematch with Oklahoma to create the best possible matchup.
Nebraska scored first on a 21 yard touchdown pass from Tom Sorley
Tom Sorley
Tom K. Sorley of Big Spring, Texas is a former University of Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback. An All-State quarterback at Big Spring High School, Sorley quarterbacked the Huskers to a 27-9-1 record and wins in two bowl games.- College career :...
to Tim Smith giving Nebraska a 7-0 lead. Oklahoma tied the score on a 3-yard scamper by Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Billy Sims
Billy Sims
Billy Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
, and then went ahead when Thomas Lott scored on a 3 yard touchdown run to take a 14-7 lead into the locker room.
The revenge-minded Sooners then took control. In the third quarter, Sims scored his second TD on an 11 yard touchdown run. Both sides traded field goals, before Lott scored on a 2 yard touchdown run which blew the score out to 31-10.
Nebraska rallied late, with Rick Berns scoring on a 1 yard touchdown run, and then Sorley threw a 2-yard strike to Junior Miller
Junior Miller
Junior Miller is a former professional American football player. A 6'4", . tight end from the University of Nebraska, Miller played five seasons from 1980 to 1984 for the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, and was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1980 and 1981 seasons. Miller played...
, but by then the game had ticked down to its final seconds, as OU prevailed 31-24, to finish the season 11-1, avenging its only loss of the 1978 season. Nebraska finished 9-3.
This game could also be something of a precursor to the former Big 12 Championship Game, since the game also broke the tie in the Big 8 standings in a sense. If this game were counted in the 1978 Big 8 standings, Oklahoma would stand alone at the top with a 7-1 conference record. The two teams would meet in the 2006 edition of the game
2006 Big 12 Championship Game
The 2006 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game was held on December 2, 2006 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, and pit the divisional winners from the Big 12 Conference: the Nebraska Cornhuskers, winner of the North division against the Oklahoma Sooners, winner of the South division. The...
.
External links
- http://www.huskerpedia.com/games/1978/12oklahoma.html