Dec. 5, 2009

Ndamukong Suh did everything in his power to give Nebraska the Big 12 title in the league championship game against Texas.

But game officials had other ideas, putting an additional second on the clock at game’s end. That allowed Hunter Lawrence to come on and kick a 46-yard field goal, and Texas pulled out a 13-12 victory.

The Huskers sacked Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy nine times, with Suh accounting for 4½ of them. But it was the last play (well, not really the last play), when McCoy heaved a pass out of bounds as the clock expired, that is still talked about.

The Huskers thought they had won their first league title since 1999. But officials ruled the ball hit a railing with one second left, giving the Longhorns life and sending the Huskers from exhilaration to the depths of despair.

“I’m not going to answer any more questions about officiating or about that call,” NU coach Bo Pelini said. “Ask me about the football game. It was a hell of a football game.”

— Julie Koch