Oklahoma 27
Nebraska 7

Nov. 23, 1985 • 2:30 p.m. Central
Owen Field • Norman, OK • ABC
1st 2nd 3rd 4th  T 
Nebraska 0 0 0 7 7
Oklahoma 14 3 10 0 27
1985 Nebraska-Oklahoma photo Keith JacksonKeith Jackson celebrates at the end of his 88-yard touchdown run. · Los Angeles Times · Newspapers.com
First Quarter
OU: Keith Jackson 88 run (Tim Lashar kick) 11:41
OU: Jamelle Holieway 43 run (Lashar kick) 5:52
Second Quarter 
OU: FG Lashar 36, 1:18
Third Quarter
OU: FG Lashar 33, 9:19
OU: Holieway 17 run (Lashar kick) 2:26
Fourth Quarter
NU: Chris Spachman 76 fumble return (Dale Klein kick) 0:26

                            NU        OU
First downs                 10        19
Rushes-yards            42-161    70-423
Passing yards               63        38
  Comp-Att-Int          4-15-4     1-4-0
Total offense           57-224    74-461
Return yards                76         9
Sacks by                  3-32       3-7
Punts                     8-39      7-34
Fumbles-lost               3-1       3-2
Penalties-yards           2-20      3-13
Time of possession       25:34     34:26

RUSHING
NU: Von Sheppard 2-65, Doug DuBose 16-46, Tom Rathman 8-29, Steve Taylor 5-12, McCathorn Clayton 9-9, Keith Jones 1-0, Team 1-0.

OU: Jackson 3-136, Holieway 25-110, Eric Mitchel 7-46, Spencer Tillman 6-38, Lydell Carr 13-34, Leon Perry 6-33, Patrick Collins 4-13, Anthony Stafford 4-10, Damon Stell 1-3, Don Maloney 1-0.

PASSING
NU: McCathorn Clayton 2-9-2-37, Steve Taylor 2-4-1-26, Travis Turner 0-2-0-0.

OU: Holieway 1-4-0-38.

RECEIVING
NU: Robb Schnitzler 3-47, Todd Frain 1-16.

OU: Jackson 1-38.

Missed field goals: NU, Klein 23.

ADDITIONAL STATS

Attendance: 75,004

Coverage

Recap

It’s all Sooners in showdown for Big Eight crown

Oklahoma’s outstanding defense stifled Nebraska’s offense for almost the entire game and turned away the Huskers’ only two offensive scoring threats inside the Sooner 10 as OU topped Nebraska, 27-7.

The Huskers’ own fine defense had not given up more than 157 rushing yards in 10 games, but yielded 423 to the Sooner wishbone, while Oklahoma held the Huskers to a season-low, by far, 224 total offense yards.

With an Orange Bowl bid and a likely shot at a national championship at stake, the Sooners set the tone early with an 88-yard touchdown run by tight end Keith Jackson with scarcely three minutes gone in the first quarter.

Only defensive tackle Chris Spachman kept the Huskers from being shut out for the first time in 147 games when he intercepted a fumble and returned it 76 yards to score with 26 seconds left. It was Spachman’s second interception return touchdown of the season.

 

1985 Nebraska-Oklahoma photo HoliewayJamelle Holieway eludes Bryan Siebler en route to a 43-yard touchdown in the first quarter. · San Bernardino County Sun · Newspapers.com

Omaha World-Herald*
More Neb. Sources
Lincoln Journal Star
Daily Nebraskan
More Sources
The Oklahoman
SoonerStats.com
Gannett News Service
Football Study Hall
Associated Press
Pregame & team info
Pregame press
1985 schedule
04/27 Reds 26, Whites 21
09/07 Florida St. L 13-17
09/21 Illinois W 52-25
09/28 Oregon W 63-0
10/05 New Mexico W 38-7
10/12 @ Oklahoma St. W 34-24
10/19 @ Missouri W 28-20
10/26 Colorado W 17-7
11/02 @ Kansas St. W 41-3
11/09 Iowa St. W 49-0
11/16 Kansas W 56-6
11/23 @ Oklahoma L 7-27
01/01 Michigan L 23-27

Commentary

Babcock

At times, it looked like the Cornhuskers had forgotten how to tackle, which, of course, wasn't the case. The problem was Oklahoma, and there was nothing Nebraska could do.

Mike Babcock
Lincoln Journal Star
Kelly

The better team won, but the Huskers couldn't get a break. This, as OU Coach Barry Switzer said, was just the Sooners' day.

Michael Kelly
Omaha World-Herald
Lassiter

The Sooners had only modest respect for the '85 Cornhuskers. And they certainly didn't fear them. Now, of course, we know why.

Jim Lassiter
The Oklahoman
* Article may require subscription