LINCOLN, Neb. -- A landmark day for Tom Osborne was also a big day for Grant Wistrom.

The

Correll Buckhalter (36) toed the sideline for this first quarter touchdown -- about the only hard work Nebraska had to do against the Sooners. (AP)

Nebraska coach reached 250 victories faster than any coach in college football history on Saturday and the top-ranked Cornhuskers said goodbye to long-time archrival Oklahoma with a record-setting 69-7 victory.

Wistrom forced three fumbles, recovered one and had two sacks for Nebraska (8-0, 5-0 Big 12).

OSBORNE, IN HIS 25TH SEASON, got No. 250 in his 302nd game, 18 fewer than Penn State's Joe Paterno needed to reach that plateau. Osborne is 250-49-3.

The Nebraska-Oklahoma series has been played annually since 1928 and almost every year produced the champion of the Big Eight. When the Big 12 was formed, Nebraska and Oklahoma went into different divisions and aren't scheduled to play again until 2000.

Osborne said he would miss the Sooners.

"It's kind of sad not to play them for a couple of years because of the history, but life goes on and we have to play Missouri next week," he said.

The 62-point margin was the worst in Oklahoma history, exceeding the 52-point deficit in last year's 73-21 loss to the Huskers. Oklahoma had its lead in the series reduced to 39-36-3.

After the game, fireworks exploded above the stadium and Nebraska's captains presented Osborne with the game ball, drawing thunderous cheers from the scattered faithful who endured a fourth-quarter rainstorm.

OSBORNE TOOK A MICROPHONE AT MIDFIELD and, in typical fashion, downplayed the accomplishment by giving credit to others.

"I would like to thank the players and the coaches," Osborne said. "You've given us great dedication over the years. In particular, I would also like to thank the fans, who have been very faithful over the years."

Wistrom said the team was inspired by the possibility of helping Osborne make history.

"Nobody wanted to be the one who let coach Osborne down," Wistrom said. "He will downplay this win, but we all really wanted to make this game special for him."

Other than Ahman Green's fumble on the first possession, the Cornhuskers faced few difficulties against the Sooners (3-6, 1-4).

Oklahoma looked hapless against a defense that recorded a 29-0 win over Texas Tech on Oct. 18 and a 35-0 victory last week at Kansas.

THE SOONERS HAVE STRUGGLED UNDER second-year coach John Blake, who last week said Oklahoma would return to variations of the option offense that made the Sooners a national power before the 1990s.

Mixing the option with the multiple set used earlier in the season, Oklahoma produced only 85 rushing yards and 154 overall. Brandon Daniels, a high school option quarterback who started the year as a defensive back, had three of the Sooners' seven first-half fumbles.

"You can't cause yourself to make mistakes and turnovers and expect to have any chance," Blake said. "We hurt ourselves.''

Nebraska struck for 20 points in the first quarter, turning three Oklahoma fumbles into two field goals by Kris Brown and a 15-yard touchdown run by Correll Buckhalter.

Wistrom, who forced two first-period fumbles with hits on Daniels and Oklahoma starter Justin Fuente, struck again early in the second quarter.

THE THIRD OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK, Eric Moore, was back to throw near midfield when Wistrom sacked him. The ball came loose and Wistrom climbed across Moore to recover.

"He's such a great player," Moore said of Wistrom. "He plays with emotion. He's really the leader of that defense. I really believe he's the best player we've faced."

On the next play, Huskers quarterback Scott Frost connected with freshman Bobby Newcombe on a 40-yard TD pass to give Nebraska a 27-0 lead. Frost added a 12-yard run and the Cornhuskers led 34-0 at halftime.

The beating continued in the second half. Fullback Joel Makovicka, who had a 5-yard TD run in the first quarter, added his second and third scores of the day as Nebraska extended its lead to 55-0.

Osborne sent in the defensive reserves near the 5-minute mark of the third quarter, about the same time rain began to soak the playing field.

WITH WISTROM AND THE FIRST TEAM on the sidelines, Nebraska surrendered a 40-yard pass from Moore to Stephen Alexander. On the next play, Seth Littrell scored on a 2-yard plunge to end the shutout.

Green carried 18 times for 108 yards, his seventh straight 100-yard rushing game. Makovicka added 101 yards and his three TDs set a school record for TDs by a fullback.

Wistrom was credited with 10 tackles, including nine solo. He had four tackles for losses and he hurried the Oklahoma quarterbacks three times.