The Nebraska football team's schedule was rated the toughest in the Big 12 Conference, and the 12th toughest in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season.[1] The team had predictions to win the Big 12 North division.[2]
After a tight competition with two-year backup Joe Ganz, former-Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Keller won the starting position; Keller had spent the previous season on the scout team as per NCAA transfer rules.[3]
Marlon Lucky was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week for his career-best 233 yards rushing against Nevada.[4]
As ESPN described the game, "Sam Keller nearly gave away the game during his first road start at Nebraska. Zack Bowman jumped up to take it back for the Cornhuskers. Three plays after Keller threw an interception deep in Nebraska territory, Bowman picked off a Wake Forest pass in the end zone and the 16th-ranked Cornhuskers held on to win 20–17 on Saturday."[5]
After a bye week, the Trojans visited the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Nebraska. In the pre-season, the game was named as one of the candidates for the 10most important games of 2007. For the Huskers, the game was especially critical to their hopes of showing progress under 4thyear head coach Bill Callahan.[6][7] The game marks the first time a No.1-ranked team has visited Lincoln since 1978.[8] Because of the game's significance, ESPNCollege GameDay chose it as the site of its weekly broadcast.[9]
ESPN College GameDay: Cornhusker fans react negatively to Lee Corso's decision to pick USC to win the game; as per tradition, he dons the gear of the team he picks.
Callahan had been criticized for his conservative play-calling during the 2006game in Los Angeles; instead of playing to win, it appeared the Huskers were playing to not get blown out by the then-favored Trojans. In that game the normally prolific West Coast offense of Nebraska, which had produced 541yards a game, was corralled on the ground and attempted only 17passes in a 28–10 Husker loss. For 2007, Callahan pledged to play more aggressively, using running back Marlon Lucky and quarterback Sam Keller.[10] Keller, the Huskers redshirt senior starting quarterback, was a 2006transfer from Arizona State; as a Sun Devil Keller started the first sevengames of his 2005junior season, throwing for 2,165yards, before a disastrous game against USC where, after leading ASU to a 21–3 halftime lead, he and the offense fell apart on the way to a 38–28 loss where he was sacked fivetimes and threw fiveinterceptions.[3] Due to NCAA transfer rules, Keller spent the 2006 season on the Huskers' scout team.
The Trojans stayed in nearby Omaha and practiced at a local high school; Carroll took the rare step of closing practice to outsiders after a local radio station announced the location.[11] The game marked the return of primary receiver Patrick Turner and running back Chauncey Washington from injury; linebacker Brian Cushing, who injured his ankle early against Idaho, had not fully recovered but was allowed to suit-up as a reserve.[12] Senior center Matt Spanos remained injured, and true freshman Kris O'Dowd was called to start again. Veteran secondary member Josh Pinkard was lost for the season after his sore knee gave out during a bye week practice, resulting in a torn ACL requiring surgery.[13]
Teams take the field as Nebraska hosted USC for its 284thconsecutive home sell out at Memorial Stadium.
Anticipation for the game was high in Lincoln, fueling strong demand for tickets and accommodations; the game brought celebrities including USC fans Will Ferrell (also an alumnus) and Keanu Reeves, Nebraska fans Larry the Cable Guy, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Rush Limbaugh, and Ward Connerly; past Husker Heisman-winner Mike Rozier, Trojans Heisman-winner Marcus Allen and star Trojans safety Ronnie Lott were also on hand for the game.[14][15][16] The game fell on Pete Carroll's 56thbirthday; as a surprise, Carroll was treated to a recorded message by actor Kiefer Sutherland, star of his favorite television show, 24.[17] The morning recording of College GameDay attracted 13,293fans, second to the all-time record of 15,808set by Nebraska in 2001.[18] With 84,959 in attendance, Nebraska recorded its NCAA-record 284thconsecutive home sellout dating back to 1962.[10]
USC dominated the game 49–31, in a game that was not as close as the final score indicated: the Trojans led 42–10 going into the fourthquarter; Nebraska scored twotouchdowns in the final fiveminutes during garbage time.[19] The Trojans dominated on the ground, as they out-gained Nebraska 313–31 in rushing yards and averaged 8.2yards per carry, the most ever against a Nebraska team.[20] Stafon Johnson led USC running backs with a career-best 144yards in 11carries with onetouchdown; other major contributors were C. J. Gable (69yards in fourcarries, including a 40-yard run), Washington (43yards in 12carries with twotouchdowns), and another versatile performance by fullback Stanley Havili (52rushing yards in tworushes with onetouchdown, and threepass receptions for 22yards with onetouchdown). The Trojans passing game again did not find a rhythm, with several dropped passes, but the defense was able to frustrate the Husker offense for most of the game and cause twopivotal 3rdquarter interceptions.[21][22][23]
The Trojans did not escape injuries, as linebacker Clay Matthews, substituting for the recovering Brian Cushing, broke his thumb, causing Cushing to enter the game as his replacement. The Trojans also suffered twoinjuries on kick returns: fullback Alfred Rowe suffered a mild concussion, and there was a moment of worry when returner Vincent Joseph, after being tackled and fumbling the ball, lay on the turf for over 10minutes before being removed by stretcher with a bruised larynx and a neck sprain, but no serious injuries.[23][24] Linebacker Rey Maualuga was flagged during a field goal attempt for the rarely called penalty of "disconcerting", which is given for "words or signals that disconcert opponents when they are preparing to put the ball in play".[25][26][27]
After losing firstplace votes in the polls during the bye week, USC's performance regained six after their performance against the Huskers in a hostile environment.[28] Receiving specific praise was the Trojans offensive line, as well as the continued poise and ability of freshman center O'Dowd.[29][30][31]
TV announcers(FSN PPV): Greg Sharpe (Play-by-play), Kellen Winslow (Color) & Joel Goldberg (Sideline)
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Athletic Director Steve Pederson was fired after this game. Former Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne was named as interim Athletic Director. He indicated that there would be no coaching changes during the season."[32]
Nebraska first played the Texas Longhorns in 1933 and the Longhorns hold a 7–4–0 record.[33] Nebraska won the first meeting by the lopsided score of 26–0. As with Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, Nebraska plays the Longhorns twoout of every fouryears as part of the Big 12 Conference schedule.[34] Since their first meeting, the series has included a number of upsets and close calls. In 1960 a #4ranked Longhorn squad was upset by an unranked Nebraska team, 14–13. In 1996 an unranked Texas team defeated #3ranked Nebraska (who were also the defending national champions) 37–27 to win the inaugural Big 12 Conference football championship and deprive the Cornhuskers a shot at repeating as national champions. In 1998 an unranked Texas team beat #7Nebraska 20–16.[33]
In 1999 the two teams met twice. In the regular season, #18Texas beat #3Nebraska by 24–20. However, #3Nebraska beat #12Texas in the Big 12 Championship game, 6–22. In 2002 the Longhorns were ranked No. 7 and they went to Lincoln, Nebraska to play an unranked Nebraska team.[33] In front of the largest crowd in Nebraska history (78,268) the 'Horns snapped the Huskers' national-best 26-game winning streak at Memorial Stadium by a score of 27–24.[35] Most recently, in the 2006 game, #5Texas faced #17Nebraska on a snowy day in Lincoln. The Longhorns were trailing and needed a field goal by walk-on kicker Ryan Bailey (with just 23seconds remaining in the game) to win 22–20.[33][36]
On the morning of the game, oddsmakers favored Texas to win by 21points.[37] The weather forecast called for a high of 76 degrees and plentiful sunshine with winds NNE at 10 to 15miles per hour.[38] Texas stuck with their passing game for threequarters and was trailed Nebraska most of the way; the Cornhuskers led 17–9 to start the fourth.[39] ESPN reported, "Once Texas figured out it should be running against one of the nation's worst run defenses, things turned out all right for the Longhorns."[40]
The Longhorns may have switched to running game almost by chance. McCoy took a hard hit as he scrambled outside the pocket and was shaken up badly enough to leave the game for a play. John Chiles came in at quarterback; his one play, a zone-read handoff to Jamaal Charles, produced 24yards. According to ESPN, "suddenly Texas had figured out how to beat a Cornhuskers' team that had been steamrolled on the ground in recent weeks. Texas only threw three passes in the fourth quarter."[40]
Once Texas switched to the zone read offense, they quickly started gaining yards and points. Charles ran for a career-high 290yards, including 216yards and threelong touchdown runs in the fourthquarter. His tally also set a new record for rushing against the Cornhuskers, surpassing the old record of 247yards by Oklahoma's Billy Simms. Charles explained "It was my time to show everyone what I can do. When I saw a hole, I blasted through it."[40] Texas finished with 181yards passing and 364yards rushing; Nebraska had 315yards passing and 132yards rushing.[41] The running back was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week.[42]
The game was a milestone for one coach and a millstone for another; it was the 100th win for Mack Brown at Texas; and it put more pressure on beleaguered Nebraska coach Bill Callahan. Brown remarked on his victory, "A hundred is nice. I knew the game was going to come down like it did. It didn't surprise me. They made sure that I'll remember it the rest of my life."[40] Callahan was fired fiveweeks later.[43]
The Nebraska-Kansas series is the longest uninterrupted series in college football at 102years.[44][45] In the 2007meeting, Kansas beat Nebraska 76–39.[44] The Jayhawks set an all-time record for most touchdowns and most points scored by a Nebraska opponent.[46] Their 48points in the first half was the most ever scored against Nebraska in the firsthalf.[46][47] With the win, Kansas took their record to 9–0 for the firsttime since 1908.[48]
Fox Sports reported, "It was only the second victory for Kansas in the last 39 games against Nebraska, which appears to be coming to pieces in the fourth season of embattled coach Bill Callahan."[48]
Getting just his second career start after taking over for the injured Sam Keller in the fourth quarter of the Texas game, Joe Ganz broke the school single-game records for passing yards and touchdowns.
TV announcers(ABC):Dave LaMont (Play-by-play), David Norrie (Color) & Vince Welch (Sideline)
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It was a must-win situation for both teams, as they had identical 5–6 records and each needed a win to get to a bowl. Although they trailed by 11 points at the half, Colorado went on to win 65–51, as the Husker defense simply could not find an answer for Colorado's offense. Husker Coach Bill Callahan, having had his second losing season in four years, both being decided by a loss to Colorado, was fired the day after the game. Athletic Director Tom Osborne went on to hire Mark "Bo" Pelini as head coach.
The team was coached by Bill Callahan, who returned for his fourth year with the Huskers, and expectations for the season were high, considering NU had reached the Big 12 title game the previous year. But the Huskers recorded only their second losing season since 1961, and the second in four years (the last one coming in 2004 on Callahan's watch). Following the conclusion of the season, Callahan was fired by interim athletic director Tom Osborne.[49]
On December 2, 2007, Bo Pelini was named as head coach for Nebraska by interim athletic director Tom Osborne.
Malcolmson, Ben (September 15, 2007). "A Surprise birthday Present". University of Southern California Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
NCAA Football Rule 7–1, Article 5(a)(3): "No player shall use words or signals that disconcert opponents when they are preparing to put the ball in play. No player may call defensive signals that simulate the sound or cadence of (or otherwise interfere with) offensive starting signals." 2008 NCAA FOOTBALL RULES AND INTERPRETATIONSArchived September 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Page 99, Retrieved August 4, 2008.
"No. 7 Texas 27, Nebraska 24". University of Texas at Austin Department of Athletics. November 2, 2002. Archived from the original on November 5, 2002. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
"Opponent Records"(PDF). University of Nebraska, Lincoln Department of Athletics. Archived from the original(PDF) on May 12, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
