Harry Good was hired as head coach in 1946 and after two losing seasons, turned Nebraska's fortunes around. In 1948–49, Good's Huskers went 16–10, tied Oklahoma for the Big Seven championship and defeated the Sooners in a conference playoff to qualify for an NCAA berth. The Cornhuskers lost to MVC champion Oklahoma A&M 52–35 in Kansas City. The Aggies would finish second to Adolph Rupp's Kentucky Wildcats in the tournament. It would be as close as the Huskers would get to the postseason in their first 69 years of play.