The novel “1984,” written by George Orwell in 1949, looked ahead 35 years.
This column, “1984 All Over Again,” by Kevin Horn, looks back 40 years.
It was a cold, grey November 17 afternoon when number one Nebraska hosted the sixth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The game was offered on national television.
I watched this classic Big 8 battle on a small color TV in the basement of a friend in Cozad, NE.
Oklahoma led 10-7 with 5:32 left in the game.
Nebraska had the ball just inches from the Oklahoma goal line.
But it was fourth down.
Inches from taking the lead and Nebraska, possibly, claiming its fourth consecutive Big 8 title.
Nebraska was traveling south. Oklahoma’s defense lined up facing north.
76,323 fans stood.
A pitch Husker I-Back Jeff Smith found Smith running east, trying to turn south.
Coming in from the west were two Oklahoma defenders.
A touchdown wasn’t to be.
Smith was swarmed under and Oklahoma, with a late touchdown, secured a 17-7 victory.
Fast forward 40 years to October 26, 2024.
Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
4:55 left in the third quarter.
Nebraska with the ball just outside the Ohio State one-yard-line.
The Huskers trailed the Buckeyes, 14-9.
NU running back Dante Dowdell takes the ball and dives over the pile.
He’s stopped just short of the goal line.
Ohio State football.
Later in the game, 19-year-old Dylan Riola misses a wide open Jacory Barney for what would have been a 32-yard TD pass.
If Nebraska scores on this play, or on Dowdell’s attempted dive, the Cornhuskers woulda, coulda, shoulda, won the game, 24-21.
It simply added up to another loss to a top-ten ranked foe.
The twenty-sixth time that NU has lost to a top-ten team this century.
Here is the history:
2000 – #3 Oklahoma 31, NU 14
2001 – Nebraska 20, #2 Oklahoma 10
#1 Miami 37, Nebraska 14
2004 — #2 Oklahoma 30, Nebraska 3
2007 — #1 USC, 49, Nebraska 31
2008 — #4 Missouri 52, Nebraska 17
#7 Texas Teach 37, Nebraska 31 (OT)
#4 Oklahoma 62, Nebraska 28
2009 — #3 Texas 13, Nebraska 12
2010 – Nebraska 31, #7 Missouri 17
2011 — #7 Wisconsin 48, Nebraska 17
Nebraska 24, #9 Michigan State 3
#10 South Carolina 30, Nebraska 13
2012 — #6 Georgia 45, Nebraska 31
2014 — #10 Michigan State 27, Nebraska 22
2015 – Nebraska 39, #6 Michigan State 38
#3 Iowa 28, Nebraska 20
2016 — #6 Ohio State 62, Nebraska 3
2017 — #9 Wisconsin 38, Nebraska 17
#9 Ohio State 56, Nebraska 14
2018 — #8 Ohio State 36, Nebraska 31
2019 — #5 Ohio State 48, Nebraska 7
2020 — #5 Ohio State 52, Nebraska 17
2021 – #3 Oklahoma 23, Nebraska 16
#9 Michigan 32, Nebraska 29
#6 Ohio State 26, Nebraska 17
2022 — #6 Oklahoma 49, Nebraska 14
#3 Michigan 34, Nebraska 3
2023 — #2 Michigan 45, Nebraska 7
2024 — #4 Ohio State 21, Nebraska 17
Will the 2024 season end the same as it did in 2023?
One year ago, Nebraska entered November with a record of five wins and three loses.
Big Red would lose its next four games by a total of 16 points. Three of the losses by three points each.
Nebraska now enters November with a record of five wins and three losses.
Four games remain on the schedule.
This past Saturday, I saw a repeat of November 17, 1984.
Now, I hope I do not see a repeat of November 2023.