Zac Taylor was hoping to play Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game. But not for the reason you might think.

The Norman, Okla., native is happy to play the Sooners not because they’re the team he grew up with, but because they’re the best opponent Nebraska could face.

The Sooners (10-2, 7-1) won the South Division when Texas (9-3, 6-2) lost its last two games. Texas defeated OU 28-10 in October.

“Seeing the way Texas kind of stumbled down the stretch, and Oklahoma’s been playing well, you want to play the best team,” Taylor said. “If you’re going to go to a BCS game, then you want to be able to say you beat the best team.”

The winner of Saturday night’s game in Kansas City, Mo., earns a spot in the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl, probably against Boise State.

As for facing his hometown team, Taylor voiced the same feelings he did last season, when Oklahoma played in Lincoln.

“It’s fun to talk about during the week, but just like last year, as soon as you step on the field, it’s just another team out there,” Taylor said. “I don’t really know any of those guys, so it’s just like playing against Colorado or Texas or somebody like that.”

Taylor’s father, Sherwood, played at Oklahoma, and Taylor grew up rooting for the Sooners. Oklahoma never seriously recruited Taylor, but Taylor said he has no bitter feeling whatsoever about that.

“Maybe 30 years down the road I’ll look back and it will be special,” he said. “But right now, it’s just another game.”

FAIR WARNING: Callahan said he visited with officials before the Colorado game and alerted them to one particular trick play, the one where Taylor began walking toward the sideline when the ball was snapped directly to Tierre Green. The fourth-down play netted seven yards and a first down. Callahan said he wanted to make sure the play was legal, and also be sure the officials wouldn’t blow the whistle when Taylor walked away. “They broke it down a little bit and had some questions,” Callahan said, “but overall, we were pleased with the way they officiated it.”

BLOCK ’EM: Callahan said it will be especially important for NU offensive linemen to sustain blocks against an athletic Oklahoma defensive front. The Sooners, he said, are fundamentally sound and have great gap integrity. “They’re never out of their gap,” Callahan said. “You see them separate, once they get off the block, they can run, chase and make plays. That’s the biggest difference. Their athleticism really shows up when they separate. They can really fly to the ball.”

HARD HITS: Taylor has been dinged, bruised, beaten, hit and sacked. It could be worse, he said. He could be a running back. “Those guys run to get hit every single play,” Taylor said. “I’d be done. I wouldn’t make it through a whole game if I had to play running back.” As for the hits Taylor does take? “I think sometimes it looks harder on film than it felt in real life,” he said. “There’s some hits that are worse than others. It’s part of the job. You’re going to take shots, and you’re going to be in vulnerable positions sometimes.” Sometimes, though, more vulnerable than necessary. “I really need to be smarter, because I’m taking some unnecessary shots that I can easily avoid,” Taylor said.

WHO’S HOME?: Oklahoma will wear the home jerseys and be the home team on the scoreboard. But when it comes to a real home-field advantage? Well, that edge figures to go to Nebraska. Some 50,000 to 60,000 Husker fans are expected to help fill the 78,000-seat Arrowhead Stadium. “That’s just great,” Taylor said. “It will be hopefully something like a home environment. That should give us a couple of advantages.” When linebacker Corey McKeon was asked if he was surprised at the estimated number of NU fans, he said no. “I’d like to see 70 (thousand), to be honest with you,” McKeon said. “I’d like to go in there calling that place Memorial Stadium.”

INJURY UPDATE: Offensive linemen Matt Slauson and Greg Austin practiced Tuesday. Slauson (ankle) missed the Colorado game and Austin (knee) hasn’t played since getting injured in the Oct. 28 game at Oklahoma State. “They’re doing all right,” NU offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. “They’re getting better and working it out. They’re not quite 100 percent, but they’re getting through it.” Also, Marlon Lucky (back) has been limited and is day by day, Norvell said. Cody Glenn (foot) said he’s “pretty sure” he’ll be able to play Saturday.

MOVING ON: Nebraska coach Bill Callahan may have expected the subject to come up. It’s Oklahoma week, after all. So, coach, about that comment about hillbillies you made after the 2004 game in Oklahoma? “I’ve made some errors, probably said some things I shouldn’t have said,” Callahan said. “I apologized for it. I’ve moved on from it.”