The Thursday, November 25, 1971, Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game was yet another that was labeled as a "Game of the Century." And for this one, they might have it right! The Big Eight Conference match-up was quite the game as the Sooners were ranked second in the nation while the visiting Huskers held the post at number one and had not lost in 29 games. It was even more intriguing when Nebraska's Blackshirt defense faced the potent Wishbone offense of Oklahoma. The Husker Blackshirts included seven members voted as first-team All-Big Eight selections, four eventual consensus All-Americans, and two Outland Trophy winners: tackle Larry Jacobson and middle guard Rich Glover. Glover won both the Outland and Lombardi awards in 1972 which all but guaranteed him induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The Sooners' record-setting wishbone attack was led by All-American QB Jack Mildren, who rushed for over 1,000 yards as well as being an accurate passer. This Thanksgiving Day contest sported 829 yards of total offense, four lead changes, and only one penalty in the whole game. The Sooners scored on five drives of drives 69 yards or more against a stingy defense that didn't allow more than 17 points all season. Johnny Rodgers sparked the scoring early on with a 72-yard punt return. However, it was the methodical pounding and the last of Husker's fullback Jeff Kinney's four short touchdown runs with 1:38 to play that finally tilted the score to the visitors. Nebraska held on to win it 35-31. In 2019, ESPN ranked it as the top game ever and the 1st Greatest College Game ever.
