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Big 12 roundup
*Indicates bowl invitation has been accepted
Big 12 bowl breakdown
- Championship game: Nebraska (10-1) vs. Texas (9-3), Saturday
- Champion: Nebraska-Texas winner vs. probably Tennessee (9-2) in Fiesta
- Cotton: Kansas State (10-1) or Nebraska (10-1) vs. an SEC team
- Holiday: Texas (9-3) or Kansas State (10-1) vs. Washington (7-4)
- Alamo: Texas A&M (8-3) likely vs. *Penn State (9-3)
- Insight.com: Oklahoma (7-4) likely vs. Boston College (8-3)
- Independence: Colorado (6-5) likely vs. an SEC team
Big 12 Game of the Week
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No. 3 Nebraska 33, Colorado 30 OT |
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Nebraska's national title hopes are still alive. Barely. Dan Alexander ran for a career-high 180 yards, and Eric Crouch scored on a 1-yard run in overtime as the No. 3 Cornhuskers wasted a 24-point fourth-quarter lead before recovering for a 33-30 victory over Colorado. With their eighth straight win against Colorado, the Huskers (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) advanced to the Big 12 championship game Dec. 4 against seventh-ranked Texas -- the only team to beat Nebraska this year.
The Huskers still have an outside chance to overtake No. 2 Virginia Tech in the Bowl Championship Series and gain an invitation to the Sugar Bowl against top-ranked Florida State. Colorado (6-5, 5-3) came within a few feet of spoiling Nebraska's bid for its fourth national title in six seasons, but Jeremy Aldrich's 34-yard field goal attempt was wide-right as time expired. Aldrich converted from 33 yards in the overtime, but Alexander had an 11-yard run to set up Crouch's game-winning plunge off left tackle to give Nebraska its eighth straight win over Colorado. |
Other Big 12 action
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No. 24 Texas A&M 20, No. 7 Texas 16 |
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With flags at half-staff and "Amazing Grace" played at halftime, Texas A&M beat its biggest rival in a game played amid mourning for the 12 people who died building the traditional bonfire. The Aggies rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat the Big 12 South champions, with Ja'Mar Toombs running for 126 yards and two touchdowns and Matt Bumgardner catching a 14-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter.
Before the game, Texas A&M paid tribute to those who were killed last week when the timber stack for the pregame bonfire collapsed. Texas A&M players wore commemorative patches with an image of a burning bonfire on their helmets. Four F-16 fighter jets from the Air Force Reserve flew over the stadium in the missing man formation, usually reserved for military aviators killed in the line of duty.
Texas (9-3, 6-2) started freshman quarterback Chris Simms because Major Applewhite had a stomach virus. Simms, regarded as the best high school quarterback in the nation last year, led Texas to two first half touchdowns and finished 10 of 21 for 130 yards. But he was ineffective in the second half against a tough pass rush. Even after Applewhite entered the game, the Longhorns (9-3, 6-2) could not muster anything offensively in the second half against the Aggies (8-3, 5-3), who will probably play in the Alamo Bowl. |
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Oklahoma 44, Oklahoma St. 7 |
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Josh Heuple threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Oklahoma's defense controlled the Cowboys throughout, helping to solidify the Sooners' bowl position. Oklahoma (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) most likely will play in the Insight.com Bowl in Tucson, Ariz. … although the Alamo Bowl is still possible. It will be the Sooners' first bowl trip since 1994 -- four head coaches ago. The seven victories are their most since 1993, when they finished 9-3. Oklahoma went 5-0 at home, outscoring its opponents 222-23.
Oklahoma State (5-6, 3-5) had won two in a row and three out of four against Oklahoma. But the Cowboys lost the field position battle much of the day and failed to move the ball consistently.
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