Texas @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2009 ) Texas 13, Nebraska 12

The fourth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-0) welcome the Texas Longhorns (3-2) to town this Saturday, in a rivalry that has grown bitter since the teams last met. Freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez and company greet the Longhorns in a game that has everything: a reversal of fortune, revenge and betrayal.

The fate of the Nebraska and Texas has seemingly flipped in 2010, with the Huskers entertaining national championship talk for the first time in 10 years, and the Longhorns finally falling off after a decade of excellence.

The Longhorns come to Lincoln at the worst possible time. Nebraska is flying high, and they have retribution on their minds. It’s been that way ever since the Huskers barely fell to Texas in last year’s Big 12 Championship. That game appeared to end in Nebraska’s favor, until officials put one second back on the clock, allowing the Longhorns to kick a field goal that launched Texas into the BCS National Championship game.

The offseason only made things worse between the two teams, as Nebraska elected to leave the Big 12 for the Big Ten. What ensued was a summer of intrigue and distrust. The Longhorns painted the Huskers as traitors. The Huskers pointed to the vice grip Texas had on the league as their reason for leaving. When the dust cleared Nebraska would be joining the Big Ten in 2011.

In the meantime, Nebraska has found a quarterback and rediscovered their running game. Martinez and running backs Roy Helu Jr. and Rex Burkhead lead the second best ground attack in the country, averaging 337 yards per game. But this is the first time Nebraska faces a team with top-tier talent. The Longhorns have more than enough speed to keep up with the Huskers.

The problem for Texas so far hasn’t been athleticism. It’s been execution. The Longhorns aren’t quite sure how they want to move the ball - and it shows. Texas is ranked 90th in total offense, in part because they aren't exceptional at anything. Sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert has disappointed thus far, and the Longhorn running game has been underwhelming. Texas enters the game on a two-game losing streak, but did have last week off.

The Longhorns need a win, and the Huskers need redemption. Nebraska has been wearing wristbands with “:01” on them throughout the offseason, as a reminder of the last time these teams shared the field. Final bragging rights and one team’s national championship hopes hang in the balance - appropriately high stakes for the final matchup of these conference heavyweights.