Nebraska can finally thank TCU in a big way for helping the Cornhuskers get into a BCS national championship game — by returning the favor eight years later.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS (AP) -- In an ironic twist, No. 21 Nebraska could help clear the way for fourth-ranked TCU to get a chance to play for the national title — that is, if the Cornhuskers can upset No. 3 Texas in the Big 12 championship game Saturday night.
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini says "we're not playing this game for them," referring to the Horned Frogs. But he says he'll gladly shake TCU coach Gary Patterson's hand if the Huskers can help him out.
Nebraska beat TCU 21-7 in the 2001 season opener that was Patterson's first regular season game with the Frogs.
TCU won only six games in 2001, but ended the regular season with wins over ranked Louisville and then at Southern Miss just days before the final BCS standings came out. Those late wins helped bolster Nebraska's strength of schedule — then a factor in the formula — enough to jump over Colorado for No. 2 in the final BCS standings.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
