Norman, Oklahoma - The University of Oklahoma Sooners held on at home to beat their former conference rivals, the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The third-ranked Sooners won on Saturday afternoon, 23-16 over the Cornhuskers to pull to 3-0 this season.

Oklahoma had to withstand a fourth-quarter push from the Huskers but prevailed as the defense held firm in the final seconds of the game to seal the win.

Sooners sophomore quarterback Spencer Rattler (20) led the Oklahoma offense with 24-for-34 passing, 214 yards, and a touchdown. He also ran for 35 yards with another touchdown on the ground.

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Nebraska’s junior quarterback, Adrian Martinez was also a threat on the football field as he went 19-for-25 passing, 289 yards, one touchdown, and one pick.

Both teams were locked in a tight battle in the first half, with Oklahoma up by only 7-3 by halftime.

They stayed in the lead throughout the third quarter, despite the Huskers finally getting into the end zone thanks to Martinez’s four yard touchdown run.

The Sooners stayed in command, enjoying a 14-point lead a few minutes into the fourth quarter after junior running back Kennedy Brooks scored his only touchdown of the game to put Oklahoma up 23-9. Brooks’ score was part of a 14 carry, 75-yard outing.

But Nebraska just wouldn’t back down quietly. Junior wide receiver Omar Manning caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Martinez with over five minutes left to play.

Oklahoma’s defense answered the call with under a minute remaining in regulation to stop one last drive by the Huskers, sealing the win.

Senior tight end Jeremiah Hall had three catches for just one yard, but did catch a touchdown for the Sooners.

Next weekend, the Sooners will play host to the West Virginia Mountaineers, while the Cornhuskers will visit the Michigan State Spartans.