ARLINGTON, Texas — What would have happened on Nebraska's fake punt in the fourth quarter? Nobody will know after the play was blown dead as the Huskers snapped the ball.
With Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops noticing something fishy, he hurriedly called a timeout.
“Saw a different formation in there,” he said. “As soon as I saw the motion start, I called a timeout to be sure that we had our defense out there.”
Nebraska snapped the ball to tight end Ben Cotton, who was the protector for punter Alex Henery. Anthony West was coming across for a possible handoff or pitch as the whistles blew.
“I'm not talking about that,” NU coach Bo Pelini said. “Next question.”
Bowls unkind to champs
For what it's worth, the team winning the Big 12 championship game has been destined for trouble in the bowl season.
Each of the last four Big 12 champs has gone on to lose its bowl game, including Texas (2009) and Oklahoma (2008) in BCS championship games. Overall, the only exception in the last seven years was Texas in 2005, which beat Southern California in the Rose Bowl for the national championship.
Between 1996 and 2002, the Big 12 champ went 4-3 in bowl games.
Bucking halftime trend
Nebraska led 20-17 at halftime before losing 23-20 Saturday night. Previously, teams ahead at halftime were 11-1 in Big 12 championship games.
Also, Oklahoma erasing a 17-0 deficit will stand as the second-largest deficit overcome in a Big 12 final. In 2001, Colorado trailed Texas 36-17 in the third quarter before winning 39-37.
No excuses for sacks
Offensive line coach Barney Cotton said he and his unit won't make excuses for giving up a season-high seven sacks.
Cotton said the Sooners did nothing that surprised the NU offensive line, but didn't elaborate on the factors that led to the mistakes.
“That's a combination of a lot of things,” Cotton said. “We've got to do a better job in protection.”
Granted, it did appear that on a few of the sacks, redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez might have held on to the football too long as he surveyed the field from the pocket.
Hard to watch for Paul
It wasn't easy for Niles Paul to stand on the sideline and watch Saturday's Big 12 title game.
The senior receiver, who broke a bone in his foot before the Colorado game, wanted desperately to help. But he knew he couldn't.
“I wanted to help my family any way I can,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of that.”
Paul said the plan is to rehab beginning next week so he can return in time for Nebraska's bowl game.
Unfamiliar crew for NU
The officiating crew chosen to work the title game was a collection of the league's best. Only one had called a Nebraska game before Saturday.
The Huskers were called for a season-low three penalties, totaling 15 yards. Oklahoma was flagged six times for 47 yards.
Head linesman Chad Green worked two NU wins, at Oklahoma State Oct. 23 and against Kansas Nov. 13.
Referee Scott Novak, umpire Michael Cooper, line judge Walt Coleman and field judge J Taylor all worked together much of the season. Those four officiated Oklahoma's 33-19 loss to A&M; and its 53-24 win against Baylor.
Saturday's officiating crew, which was selected based on individual performance during the season, also included side judge Eugene Hall and back judge Scott Vaughn.
Henery nails another record
The 53-yard field goal by Alex Henery in the first quarter was both the longest in Big 12 championship game history and the longest by a Nebraska kicker away from Memorial Stadium.
Henery surpassed his own kicks in both regards.
The senior had held the Big 12 championship record with his 52-yarder last year against Texas. He also had a 52-yarder this season at Oklahoma State.
Heading into NU's bowl game, Henery is 18 of 19 this season and 68 of 76 for his career. He broke from a tie with Kris Brown for the school scoring record Saturday night, pushing his career total to 396 points.
— Rich Kaipust and Jon Nyatawa
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