With the field clear of the light Thanksgiving day snowfall, Oklahoma scored first, driving 74 yards on its first possession. The drive cost the Huskers more than seven points as NU's Butkus winner, All-American and team captain Trev Alberts dislocated his right elbow on the ninth play of the game.

Nebraska was forced to punt on its first three possessions, then gave up an interception on its fourth drive, before quarterback Tommie Frazier scored on a 2-yard run to tie the score 7-7. The 15-yard drive was set up by Toby Wright's 25-yard interception return, his third pickoff of the season.

The score remained deadlocked until the fourth quarter when the Huskers' nine-play drive culminated with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Frazier to Abdul Muhammad with 13:20 remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, native Oklahoman Mike Minter caused a fumble, which David Seizys recovered to give the Huskers the ball on the OU 20. Just 13 seconds later, I-back Calvin Jones scored on the first play from scrimmage to put NU up 21-7. Jones would finish as the game's leading rasher with 82 yards.

It was the Husker defense that not only caused four turnovers, but put the stop on the Sooners' offense in the second half. After Oklahoma missed on a 44-yard field goal on its first drive of the third quarter, the Sooners gained only seven total yards on their next four possessions, while the Husker offense scored twice.

The 179 yards total offense for Nebraska was the lowest output in a win during the Osborne era while the never-say-die Huskers put together its fifth come-from-behind victory. The win secured the Huskers' hunt for a national championship game and gave NU its first perfect regular season since 1983.