FanHouse Blaine Gabbert

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- If Nebraska had been looking for a defining moment, that one where lip service and projections give way to real proof the program is back, perhaps the Cornhuskers found it Thursday night.

Their backs were up against the wall in a major way against Missouri at Faurot Field when something miraculous happened.

In a hostile environment where they hadn't won since 2001, in the midst of a driving Midwestern rainstorm, after three quarters in which they couldn't couldn't have played any worse on offense and special teams, the Huskers found a way. In a span of a little more than three minutes in the fourth quarter, the 21st-ranked Cornhuskers swung a 12-point deficit into an eight-point lead on the way to stunning 27-12 win over the 24th-ranked Tigers that left most of the drenched 65,826 in attendance in disbelief.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The rain is coming down hard here at Faurot Field and the Missouri Tigers and their spread attack, this can't be in good.

It's the exact opposite for Nebraska and running back Roy Helu, Jr., who should benefit from the soggy conditions. The 21st-ranked Cornhuskers are much more adept at running the football and playing solid defense, two attributes that swing tonight's Big 12 North matchup with No.24 Missouri heavily in their favor.

Mizzou sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency after throwing 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in the Tigers first four games this season. But it will be hard to put the ball in the air with a lot of effectiveness with the rain coming down hard.

Follow Terrance Harris' liveblog after the jump.

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COLUMBIA, Mo. -- In terms of rivalries, Missouri-Nebraska still doesn't quite measure up to Ohio State-Michigan, Texas-Oklahoma or USC-Notre Dame.

That isn't to suggest this rivalry hasn't had its moments during the 102 previous meetings that date back to 1892.

But in recent years, especially since the Gary Pinkel-era began at Missouri nine years ago, this Big 12 North matchup has produced quite a few fireworks. There was last year's 52-17 spanking the Cornhuskers took from Missouri in their own Memorial Stadium, marking the first time since 1978 that Mizzou had won in Lincoln. In 1997, an unranked Missouri team came within a miracle catch of upsetting the No.1 Cornhuskers in a co-national championship year.

Maybe it's premature to start trumpeting the return of the Big 12 North, but if the non-conference success of the big-three North teams is any indication this could be an interesting season.

Nebraska and Kansas were expected to dominate the weaker of the league's two divisions, but it appears they will have company. Missouri, which is supposed to be in a rebuilding mode after back-to-back North titles, is off to a surprising 4-0 start that catapulted the program into the Top 25 this week at No. 24.

Every Thursday, Pickin' On the Big Ten previews the upcoming weekend's action in The Conference Everybody Loves to Hate.

Oh, it's here. It's finally, finally, finally here. No more depth-chart speculation, no more arguing about who is the best SAM in the conference, and only one more week until the game that will either restore the Big Ten's swagger or send it sobbing into the bathroom. The teams are ready, the stadiums are ready (well, except for Minnesota's), the cheerleaders and bands are ready, the vast charcoal forests of northern Michigan have been shaved to the ground, the beer cows of Wisconsin have been "milked" into millions of brown glass bottles ... it's time for some football, y'all.

So, grab a beverage, throw some cheddarwurst on the grill, and let's take a look at this weekend's action-packed slate of games, shall we?