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LINCOLN — They're almost mirror images physically — Ndamukong Suh at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds and Gerald McCoy at 6-4, 297.

A pair of defensive tackles rarely take center stage.

It's not exactly Bradford vs. Tebow. But Suh vs. McCoy might be just as impactful and fun to watch as Nebraska and Oklahoma meet at 7 Saturday night.

Arguably the top two players at their position nationally, both figure to land among the first handful of picks in the NFL draft next spring if McCoy elects to leave OU after his junior season. They've never met, though that figures to change soon — if not this weekend at Memorial Stadium, then on the banquet circuit in December.

Of relevance as the Huskers and Sooners prepare to play for the 83rd time in this storied series, Suh and McCoy anchor two of the best defensive lines in college football.

With freshmen set to start at quarterback for both teams, the defensive linemen are under the spotlight and no doubt, are licking their chops a bit.

“Well, shoot,” McCoy said with a laugh, “it's about time we get some credit.”

Turning serious, McCoy said he expects the D-line play to loom large in the rematch of Oklahoma's 62-28 victory last year in Norman.

“The battle's going to be won up front,” he said, “regardless of which team it is. Whoever is the most physical on both sides of the ball is going to win this game.

“That's football. You want the game to be physical. You want people to come at you downhill, where you've got to hit them hard and they hit you hard. It's a hard game. You want to be sore after the game.”

From the sounds of it, Suh and McCoy might hit it off if they got talking about football.

“Two great teams,” the Nebraska senior said. “It's a battle of the best. We want to go out there and prove that we're the best team and continue to prove that with the games that we have left.”

The first lineman last year to lead Nebraska in tackles since 1973, Suh is on track to do it again this fall.

He's been more disruptive, in fact, totaling 49 stops in eight games, five sacks, 13 for losses and one interception. His 14 quarterback hurries lead NU, as do Suh's seven pass breakups and two blocked kicks.

Suh regularly fights the double team, making him partly responsible for fellow tackle Jared Crick's monster season. Crick's 49 tackles match Suh, and the sophomore leads NU with 8½ sacks, including a single-game, school-record five last week at Baylor.

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson has noticed.

“That's unique in that one guy is as good as there is in the game, and the other guy is playing as hard, making as many plays,” Wilson said. “So (offensively), your inside guys are going to have their hands full. They are two really, really strong defensive tackles.”

The Sooners have their own impressive tandem. It's a foursome, actually.

McCoy, a second-team All-American last year as a sophomore, has made 68 percent of his tackles (13 of 19) behind the line of scrimmage. OU credits him with 3½ sacks and a team-best eight hurries.

“He's playing his best football,” Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables said of McCoy, who came to OU from Oklahoma City as the nation's No. 1-rated high school defender by USA Today. “He's very mature. He competes extremely hard.

“He's got a lot of pride. He's got a high motor. He prepares himself well throughout the week. It means a lot to him, playing for Oklahoma and upholding the standard.”

Interior mate Adrian Taylor has made 18 tackles and 2½ sacks. Defensive ends Jeremy Beal and Auston English combine for 12½ sacks and 20 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

At Nebraska, defensive ends Barry Turner and Pierre Allen are nearly as active.

NU ranks ninth nationally in total defense, allowing 267.6 yards per game and on track to rank as the best mark at the school since 1999. The Sooners are 11th.

“It's just going to come down to who plays the hardest,” McCoy said.

Said Nebraska's Crick: “We pride ourselves on working harder than any defensive line in the nation.”

Suh and McCoy, at the core of everything, power these defensive units.

Both wear No. 93 — a special jersey at Oklahoma, worn from 1972 to 1975 by former Outland Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon.

Suh has made it special at Nebraska.

But until after the game, at least, he doesn't sound especially interested in a meeting with his Oklahoma counterpart.

“I won't see him,” Suh said, “so I don't really have anything to say bad or good about him, other than he's a great player.”

Contact the writer:

402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com