Game Essentials:

What: No. 20 OU (5-3, 3-1 Big 12) at Nebraska (5-3, 2-2 Big 12)

When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.

Location: Lincoln, Neb.

Venue: Memorial Stadium

TV: ABC

Quick Facts:

• OU leads the all-time series, 44-37-3, including an 18-21-2 mark at Lincoln. The Sooners have won the last four meetings.

• Bob Stoops and Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini both attended Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio.

• Pelini was the co-defensive coordinator at OU in 2004 when the Sooners lost to LSU in the BCS Championship game.

Keys to the Game:

1) Protect Landry Jones.

This may be easier said than done. Nebraska’s highly ranked defense is led by two outstanding defensive tackles, senior Ndamukong Suh and sophomore Jared Crick, who have combined for 98 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hurries on the season.

The offensive line has come a long way from where it was at the beginning of the season, but this is the best defensive line the Sooners have faced all season. OU will likely find itself in trouble quickly if the offensive line can’t adequately hold off the Cornhuskers’ defensive tackles and ends.

2) Keep the offense going.

This is an extension of the previous paragraph. Both OU and Nebraska enter tomorrow’s game with defenses ranked among the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, rush defense and sacks per game. However, the Sooners clearly have the superior offense.

If the game does in fact turn into a defensive struggle, OU needs to be able to take advantage of its scoring opportunities. As long as Landry Jones and Co. can muster enough points against the Cornhuskers’ defense, the Sooners’ defense should take care of the rest by shutting down a Nebraska offense led by freshman quarterback Cody Green, who only became the starter last week against Baylor.

They said it:

• Bob Stoops on Nebraska’s tradition:

“I have played Nebraska here for a long time. I have always had a great respect for them. There’s a lot of amazing tradition and history. I always wonder if our freshmen, sophomores and guys who haven’t been around very long have a true understanding of the tradition and history and pride of that program. I’ve always felt that playing them is tough.”

• Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson on facing Nebraska’s defense:

“The strength of that team is their front. Our line is still rolling and gaining, but it’s still a long way away from where it needs to be. There’s still some talent that needs to keep coming through. If our guys think they have it all figured out for just a second, then they’re a long way off and we’re definitely doomed.”

• Junior defensive back Dominique Franks on the OU-Nebraska rivalry:

“It’s a big one. The battle of the Big Reds. You don’t have to say too much after you say Oklahoma versus Nebraska.”

• Junior defensive end Jeremy Beal on the offense’s success giving the team confidence:

“It gives us a lot of confidence. We always knew defensively coming into the season that we had a good offense…It took them awhile to get stuff together, but now it gives us a lot of confidence that we can depend on the offense to win the game.”

OU will win if:

The offensive line can protect Landry Jones and give him enough time to get the ball to the steadily-improving wideouts.

Nebraska will win if:

Its defense can shut down OU’s offense enough to give the offense the opportunity for a last-minute go-ahead score.