Nebraska, and all of college football really, loves their rivalry games. Now Nebraska is getting a great one back, at least for two years. Do the words "Boomer Sooner" mean anything to you?
What allows college football to stand out as a sport is the existence of the regional rivalries that can grow out of years and years of taking the field against each other.
The Huskers have not really had their fair share of these as of late. Iowa on Black Friday maybe? There could be one with Wisconsin growing but we still are years away from that gaining that "rival" feel.
Part of the problem is, the Big 10 games are just too far away for Huskers faithful to travel. Who wants to drive (fly?!?) all the way to Maryland for an away game. Sure there will be some diehards who make the trip but we don't see the "sea of red" that we used to. Take for example this past year as the Huskers finished out a two year home and home against Colorado. CU's stadium looked more like a Husker home game than where the Buffs play!
To their credit, Nebraska has tried to add these type of games back into the schedule, the aforementioned Colorado Home and Home (which they will do again in the late 2020's).
But to Husker fans, the Colorado games were just a little rivalry. It was like going to visit your snotty little brother and putting him in his place.
Here comes Boomer Sooner.
Nebraska and Oklahoma just recently announced they would play a home and home. Best part, you don't even have to wait!
Nebraska will visit Norman on Sept. 18, 2021, and the Sooners will take the trip to Lincoln on Sept. 17, 2022.
If that 2021 date sounds familiar it should. It's the 50th anniversary of the 1971 "Game of the Century" where Nebraska won 35-31.
Sooners AD Joe Castiglione said it best:
"Classic rivalries like Oklahoma-Nebraska are part of college football's historic fabric, The ability to rekindle a fabled series between two tradition-rich programs and two extremely loyal and passionate fan bases was very important to both universities."
Rivalries ARE college football. The fans love them, the teams love them, and College football loves them.
Colorado - Check
Oklahoma - Check
Texas - ...... Your move, Nebraska is waiting