Nebraska 10, Oklahoma 3

Nebraska overcomes a lack of offense and compensates with a great defensive performance.  Although the Huskers only produced 180 yards of offense, they were able to produce 5 turnovers, including an interception return to the 1 yard line to set up the lone touchdown of the game.  Let's review the Keys of the Game:

Nebraska needs to...

*Produce some offense

I'm not saying the offense produced much of anything to praise.  However, Roy Helu, Jr. looked like himself out there and the Huskers scored inside the red zone (something they struggled with up to this point).  They produced enough.  The future needs more offense though.

*Stop Landry Jones

Check.  Jones looked uncomfortable out there from the 1st quarter on.  He wasn't able to produce any large plays and Nebraska forced Jones to throw 5 interceptions with 0 touchdowns.

*Get a Defensive Touchdown.

Technically, they didn't.  However, Nebraska's lone touchdown was set up with an interception return by Prince Amukamara to the 1 yard line.  In other words, they basically produced a defensive touchdown.

Nebraska needs to control...

*The clock.

They had a 31 to 28 advantage.  However, they controlled the ball well once they had the lead, keeping Oklahoma's offense of the field.  It shows they controlled the ball well if they were able to have a slight time advantage despite almost half the offensive yardage.

*The line of scrimmage.

Double check.  Both sides of the ball were controlled by the Huskers.  Landry Jones couldn't stay in the pocket because of the Nebraska D-Line, and Roy Helu, Jr. had 138 yards rushing vs. the stout OU defense.

*Their mistakes.

Again, check.  The Huskers had one mistake (botched option for turnover), but limited their other mistakes.  NU had great punts, great defensive control, and made few mistakes while managing an offensive game.

Watch out for...

*DeMarco Murray

They kept the Sooner's most explosive threat under 100 yards and no points.  It looked pretty obvious that the Huskers had keyed on him.

*Roy Helu, Jr.

I knew he'd break back into his original form soon.  Luckily it came with the Huskers needed him most.  He provided offensive explosiveness and gave the O-line some confidence for the rest of the year.

*Mike McNeill.

Who?  McNeill's name was rarely called Saturday night, something I disagree with.  The Cornhuskers set up a great running attack that can hopefully utilize McNeill in play action passes later on this year.

Prediction...

I was off on the score, but right on the outcome.  The Huskers pulled it together defensively to embarrass the Sooner offense.

Game Ball...

The game ball goes to Matt O'Hanlon.  It seems unfair to give it to one defensive player when it was obviously the entire unit that performed well.  Phillip Dillard, Ndamukong Suh, and Jared Crick had phenomenal games, as well as everyone else.  O'Hanlon had a career high in tackles and produced 3 interceptions, including the game clincher.