They've played a couple dozen times on Thanksgiving weekend. They played a rematch game on Jan. 1, 1979.
But never have the Sooners and Cornhuskers met in the Big 12 title game, until 7 p.m. today at frigid Arrowhead Stadium.
In their storied histories, OU and NU have combined to win 12 national titles and tonight will mark the 27th time they've met with their regular-season conference title at stake.
Look, I'm with all of you. It's great these two prominent programs are in another title showdown. However, tonight's game has nowhere near the feel of those thrilling days of yesteryear.
No matter what happens, the Sooners and Huskers will play again on New Year's Day. But there are drawbacks to what lies ahead.
Tonight's winner gets Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, a game that will be a no-win situation for whoever wins the Big 12 crown.
Tonight's loser gets a 10:30 a.m. kickoff in the Cotton Bowl with no Texas State Fair.
There will be some talented players on the field tonight — OU's Rufus Alexander, Malcolm Kelly and Reggie Smith; NU's Adam Carricker, Bo Ruud and Zac Taylor.
But there is nowhere near the star power of past Big Red meetings.
With Sooners stud running back Adrian Peterson not playing, we'd settle for one star.
The two biggest names on hand will be former coaches Barry Switzer and Tom Osborne. Osborne has invited Switzer to a pregame reception. If the ABC folk have half a brain, they'll get these two legends together for an interview.
