BIG EIGHT ROUNDUP : Nebraska’s Osborne Gets an Eyeful

Even Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne tuned in to watch the showdown between Florida State and Miami.

“I saw about five minutes of it and it looked like Miami was getting the best of it because they were the better defensive team,” said Osborne, who then went out to guide No. 11 Nebraska to a 38-13 victory over Iowa State at Lincoln, Neb.

The victory kept the Cornhuskers on track for a share of the Big Eight title and a berth in the Orange Bowl.

As things stand now, Nebraska needs only to beat No. 18 Oklahoma on Nov. 29 at Lincoln to earn the host’s berth in the Orange Bowl. The bowl has said it would take the higher ranked team if Nebraska and No. 16 Colorado tie for the league title.

Waiting in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s night would be Miami, which beat top-ranked Florida State, 17-16, Saturday.

“If we beat Oklahoma, we have Miami in Miami,” Osborne said. “It would be a little better to have Florida State in Miami, but you take what’s handed to you.”

The Cornhuskers improved to 8-1-1 overall and matched Colorado’s 5-0-1 mark in the Big Eight.

Nebraska scored on its first four possessions against Iowa State (3-6-1, 1-4-1), including on a one-yard run by Keithen McCant and a 55-yard pass play from McCant to Jon Bostick. Bostick caught a pass in his 16th consecutive game for the Cornhuskers, who had 328 yards in offense by halftime.

No. 18 Oklahoma 21, Oklahoma 6--With quarterback Cale Gundy sidelined, Mike Gaddis carried the load and the ball for the Sooners at Norman, Okla.

Gaddis had 203 yards in 35 carries Oklahoma to beat Oklahoma State for the 15th consecutive time and set up an important season finale against Nebraska.

If the Sooners beat Nebraska on Nov. 29, they apparently will play in the Blockbuster Bowl, provided Colorado beats Iowa State next week. A Nebraska victory probably would send the Cornhuskers to the Orange Bowl.

The Nebraska-Oklahoma loser will play in the Gator Bowl, provided Colorado doesn’t stumble.

Gaddis, who missed last season with a knee injury, became the first Oklahoma player since Billy Sims in 1979 to have consecutive 200-yard games.

With 1,177 yards, he is the first Sooner since Spencer Tillman in 1983 to have a 1,000-yard season.

Oklahoma, 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Eight, got touchdown runs of three, five, and 10 yards from fullback Kenyon Rasheed.

Oklahoma State (0-9-1, 0-5-1) scored on Kenny Ford’s 24-yard pass to Robert Kirksey with six minutes left.

Kansas State 32, Missouri 0--Paul Watson ran for two touchdowns and passed for a third to lead the Wildcats past the Tigers in the rain at Manhattan, Kan.

The victory ensured Kansas State (6-4, 3-3) of its first winning season since 1982.

The Wildcats took advantage of a temporary lull in the cold, driving rain to score four touchdowns in the second quarter as the Tigers (3-6-1, 1-5) broke a 50-year-old school record with 11 fumbles.