LINCOLN — Forget about 70-10 in 2004 and focus for a moment on Nebraska's more heartbreaking losses to Texas Tech in 2008 and 2005.

Last year's 37-31 defeat included the Huskers rallying from a 24-10 deficit in the fourth quarter, only to be stopped by a Joe Ganz second-down interception in overtime.

The 34-31 setback in 2005 was more bizarre. Nebraska appeared to have the Red Raiders beaten with Le Kevin Smith's interception but he fumbled it back with 1:11 to go, and Texas Tech scored on a last-second, fourth-down touchdown pass.

Those were part of a seven-year stretch in which Nebraska went 7-14 against Big 12 South opponents. Even worse? Both prevented the Huskers from going to Big 12 championship games.

The Huskers could have won the North Division outright last season with a 6-2 mark rather than be co-champs with Missouri at 5-3. They could have tied Colorado at 5-3 in 2005 but would have advanced to Houston because of a head-to-head win over the Buffaloes.

As No. 15- and No. 17-ranked NU prepares for three of its next four games against Big 12 South opponents, it backs up the fact that the Huskers need to do more than just beat North Division teams if they want to be in Dallas on Dec. 5.

“We've got to beat everybody,'' NU defensive tackle Jared Crick said. “It is what it is, really.''

After Texas Tech visits Memorial Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. game Saturday, Nebraska travels to Baylor on Oct. 31 and plays host to Oklahoma on Nov. 7. The trio of South teams is a combined 10-6 and only OU is ranked (below Nebraska at Nos. 18 and 20).

A year ago, in Bo Pelini's first season as head coach, NU beat Baylor at home but lost on the road to Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

“If you want to be a dominant force in the Big 12 like Nebraska was early on in the conference history — which is obviously the goal as a program — you've got to beat the South teams,'' NU center Jacob Hickman said. “We just haven't been doing that. It's definitely something we're looking at and something we want to do — and if we want to be the team we think we are, we've got to do that.''

In 13 seasons of Big 12 football, only Colorado in 2004 won the North Division with a 0-3 record against the South. Since then, Nebraska in 2006 and Missouri in 2008 have managed to make Big 12 finals by going 1-2 against their South opponents.

The Huskers don't want to take that chance in 2009.

“I think it's important to make your statement in the South as well as the North,'' NU safety Matt O'Hanlon said.

Nebraska was 14-4 against the Big 12 South between 1996 and 2001. The 7-14 stretch has coincided not only with the Huskers' problems but a switch of power in the league.

The North went 10-8 against the South in 2007, but that's its only winning mark in head-to-head play since being 10-8 in 2001.

Hickman said the criticism, then, is justified. Defeats such as the 70-10 debacle at Texas Tech in 2004 can't just be forgotten.

“We have had struggles against the South, so you can't argue with the statements,'' he said. “It's something you'd like to show that it's been changed and that we definitely deserve to be in the same discussions with the South teams. We've got to go earn that right, though.''

It starts Saturday with a game the Huskers need to maintain the momentum started by the 27-12 win at Missouri last week.

Whether it's going against the North or South, it doesn't matter to NU tight end Mike McNeill.

“I don't think the approach is different,'' McNeill said. “With Coach Bo it's always the same thing every week: It's all about us. Obviously the North hasn't done as well against the South, but we're not going to prepare differently because of that.''

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

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