OSU prepares for Longhorn offense

By: Mason Herring

Posted: 10/27/05

No. 2 Texas at Oklahoma State

The bright side for the 'Horns: Matt Nordgren and the second, third and fourth string units will probably see a good deal of playing time this weekend. The downside for Mack Brown's squad: The first team offense will face tougher defensive schemes in practice this week than they will on Saturday, and how are they supposed to prepare for a potential rosy date in Pasadena when they don't face anyone nearly as vaunted as USC? The usually respectable Oklahoma State Cowboys haven't shown up to play this year, ranking dead last in turnover margin at -12. If you're an Aggie fan, you kind of have to root for Texas this weekend. I know it seems wrong, kind of like rooting for your cousin at a wet T-shirt contest, but imagine if Reggie McNeal beat the No. 1 ranked BCS team in his last game at Kyle Field just like he did during one of his first games here.

Oklahoma at Nebraska

Two teams that previously dominated the college football scene in back-to-back eras will face off in Lincoln, Neb. this Saturday. While Nebraska is looking to rebound from a stomping courtesy of Brad Smith and the rest of the Mizzou squad, Oklahoma is looking to build upon an overtime win against the Baylor Bears. That sounds odd, but give this year's Oklahoma team credit for playing with no quit and a ton of hustle every play of every game. Nebraska's defense is ranked No. 2 in the conference and should have Rhett Bomar and the No. 9 Sooner offense wishing that they were husking corn in the midday heat instead of seeing that black shirt D all up in their grill during every play. Even though the Nebraska Cornhusker offense is struggling mightily this season, falling in at No. 10 in the Big 12, it should fair well against an Oklahoma Sooners defense that is giving up more than 300 yards a game. This contest was obviously a preseason television selection, being that it's broadcasting on ABC at noon, which was a smart choice because viewers haven't seen this much offensive fire power out of two teams since Super Bowl Sunday...during the Lingerie Bowl on Pay Per View. I mean we're talking nine and ten rankings here, on the offense scale not the hotness meter.