ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -Nebraska is leaving the Big 12 a runner-up. And the Cornhuskers have only themselves to blame.
The 13th-ranked Cornhuskers had four turnovers, failed to score after halftime for the first time all season and lost 23-20 to No. 10 Oklahoma on Saturday night in the conference’s last scheduled championship game.
All after Nebraska built an early 17-0 lead and was seemingly ready to grab the league’s automatic BCS berth and take a Big 12 championship trophy with them to the Big Ten – the league the Cornhuskers are headed to next season.
After falling behind for the first time midway through the fourth quarter, Nebraska (10-3) snapped the ball on what was going to be a fake punt from its own 37. But Oklahoma called timeout, leaving coach Bo Pelini visibly upset on the sideline. The Huskers then punted, but had another chance.
The Cornhuskers had fourth-and-4 from their 47 with about a minute to go while trying to get in position to at least try a game-tying field goal – Alex Henery already had a 53-yard field goal.
They were stopped short, but that play didn’t count because one of the Nebraska coaches had called timeout from the sideline. Freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez then threw an incompletion and the Sooners ran out the final 63 seconds.
There were no false celebrations for the Huskers this time. Only bitter disappointment in themselves.
In last year’s Big 12 championship game at Cowboys Stadium, Nebraska had already stormed the field in celebration, having appeared to pull off a BCS-changing upset over Texas.
The clock showed no time left after Texas quarterback Colt McCoy scrambled and threw the ball out of bounds. But while Nebraska players celebrated and ran onto the field, officials waved their arms trying to gain control of what proved to be a premature celebration.
A second was put on the clock after the play was reviewed, and the Longhorns made a 46-yard field goal for a 13-12 victory that sent them to the BCS national championship game.
With Nebraska headed to the Big Ten and Colorado going to expanded Pac-12, the Big 12 is moving forward as a 10-team league without a championship game.
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