Mizzou, Nebraska battle for top spot in Big 12 North

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Missouri-Nebraska game today is the epitome of the mess that is the Big 12 North.

Both teams are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the league -- one game ahead of the other four teams in the division -- and the winner gains the inside track to the conference championship game.

"It is surprising with our record that we're still tied for first in the Big 12 North, but we're not complaining about it," Nebraska linebacker Stewart Bradley said. "Not many teams in the country still are in control of their own destiny as far as their conference goes, and we are. We can win out, and we still have a lot of positive things that can happen with this season."

Since the Big 12 began playing football in 1996, no division champion has had more than two league losses. With Nebraska still having to visit second-ranked Oklahoma and Missouri yet to play an improving Kansas State, a three-loss champion could emerge in the North.

"If we win this game, it won't clinch it, but it will put us in the driver's seat to be happy, but not satisfied," Nebraska quarterback Joe Dailey said. "Right now we really just look forward to winning this game."

Nebraska is coming off a 45-21 loss at Kansas State while the Tigers have dropped two straight after a 4-1 start that propelled them to a No. 17 national ranking.

Missouri lost 20-17 at home to Oklahoma State last week after frittering away a 17-0 halftime lead.

"I think we've been playing pretty good," Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. "I feel like our kids have been ready to play and are playing with a lot of enthusiasm and emotion."

The Tigers are looking for more offensive consistency, though. In a 28-20 loss at Texas two weeks ago, the Longhorns converted two Brad Smith interceptions into touchdowns. Last week, Smith passed for a season-low 96 yards and the Tigers went scoreless in the second half against Oklahoma State.

While the Tigers' defense ranks first in the Big 12, they are no higher than fifth in any major offensive category.

Missouri, which hasn't won in Lincoln since 1978, ended a 24-game losing streak in the series last year with a 41-24 victory in Columbia, Mo.

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said he is challenging his team to play at a higher level. The Cornhuskers' seven-game record is their worst since the 1961 team opened 2-4-1.

Despite the struggles, Callahan said his team still has plenty of motivation because it remains in contention for a berth in the Big 12 title game.

"The vision is always there to win a championship," Callahan said. "We'll never come off that mark. We're always striving to get there, and sometimes we don't get there. We take a step back and we learn from those experiences and move on."