LINCOLN, NEB. ? It’s a curse. It has to be a curse. What else can it be?

Even on days or nights when Nebraska is beatable — and, boy, were the bumbling, stumbling Cornhuskers ever beatable Saturday night — Kansas University can’t seem to pull the trigger.

During the last 36 years when Kansas actually has had a real chance to steal one from the Huskers, Murphy’s Law always seems to go into effect. If something could go wrong, it did — a missed extra-point kick, a failed two-point conversion pass or a missed assignment on a late TD pass.

Still, you couldn’t blame Murphy’s Law following Nebraska’s sluggish 14-8 decision at Memorial Stadium. The finger had to be pointed at the Jayhawks’ ineffectual, predictable offense.

Right now, KU’s offense is as insipid as a pot of baked beans left on the stove overnight. Sure, Nebraska’s defense deserves some credit, but good grief … what’s so hard about defending a two-dimensional offense?

Here are the Jayhawks’ three offensive options:

1) Tailback John Randle carries the ball.

2) Quarterback Adam Barmann throws the ball.

3) See options one and two.

Kansas ran 82 plays Saturday night — 26 more than Nebraska — and all but two involved either Randle or Barmann. Barmann accounted for 57 plays (49 passes, eight runs) and Randle 23.

As I sat in the press box Saturday night, I tried to envision myself back in Lawrence, plunking down $29.95 and sitting in front of the TV set watching this one on pay-per-view.

Kansas University's John Randle (1) is tackled after a long run in the first half. Randle finished with 105 yards in the Jayhawks' 14-8 loss to Nebraska on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

Early on, I would have been excited with Kansas taking uncommon early leads of 5-0 and 8-7. Was this going to be the night? Was this the beginning of the end of Nebraska’s amazing 3 1/2-decade whammy on Kansas?

Yet after Nebraska grabbed a 14-8 lead and Kansas kept going to the same old wells — a Randle run or a Barmann pass — and finding them dry, I’m sure I would have found myself hollering: “Run something else. Run a trick play. Run a halfback pass. Run an end-around. Anything but another Randle run or another Barmann pass.”

Finally, with about three minutes remaining and the offense spinning its wheels, coach Mark Mangino finally reached into his thimble of tricks and tried a little hook-and-ladder play off a fake punt.

Up-back Nick Reid took the snap, headed around the right side and pitched to punter Kyle Tucker, who was trailing. Net gain: four yards. No first down. Nebraska took over.

Great. A trick play when everybody wearing a red uniform knew the Jayhawks were so desperate they HAD to try something unconventional.

Tucker’s run and a one-yard plunge by fullback Austine Nwabuisi in the first half were the ONLY Kansas plays that did not involve either Randle or Barmann.

Five games into the 2004 season and you have wonder how many people are saying: “Gee, if only we had this defense last year to go with that Bill Whittemore-led offense.”

Hear Mangino and players: Nebraska post-game Photo Gallery: KU vs. Nebraska How they scored

In the last two games, the rejuvenated Kansas defense has intercepted seven passes and recovered two fumbles. Two weeks ago, the defense allowed a 52-yard pass play to Northwestern in the fourth quarter of a 20-17 loss. Last week, the defense allowed a 70-yard TD run in the fourth quarter of a 31-30 loss to Texas Tech.

However, in the fourth quarter Saturday night, the Jayhawks did not surrender a single first down. That’s right. The Huskers did not make a first down in the fourth quarter.

Then again, the KU offense managed just one first down in the fourth quarter, and that was with just 34 ticks remaining.

It’s time to take the Kansas offense back to the drawing board. It has become too predictable, particularly now that opposing defensive coordinators know Barmann isn’t near the threat to run that Whittemore was.

KU’s offense has managed only two field goals in the last six quarters. After capturing its first two games in impressive fashion, the Jayhawks now have dropped three in a row by a total of just 10 points.

Kansas’ coaching staff must find at least a third dimension for the offense, or the Jayhawks are going to suffer a similar fate next week against Kansas State, another former Big 12 North power now ripe for the plucking.