Complex sentence: The Cornhuskers finished 2nd in the Big 8 Conference for the fifth time under Osbourne's tenure after losing to Oklahoma in their last game, but the Huskers were invited to their first Cotton Bowl Classic since 1974 and 7th straight bowl season.
Split into simpler sentences: The Cornhuskers finished second in the Big Eight Conference for the fifth time during Osbourne's tenure, after losing to Oklahoma in their last game of the regular season. The Huskers were invited to their first Cotton Bowl Classic since 1974 and seventh straight bowl season.