The Greatest Moments In Nebraska Cornhuskers History

Down seven points with 1:02 left and with its national title hopes waning, Nebraska drove to the Missouri 12-yard line. On the last play of regulation, Scott Frost tossed a pass into the end zone that glanced first off the hands and then off the feet of Shelvin Wiggins. As the ball floated toward the turf, Matt Davison caught it, forcing overtime. The Cornhuskers prevailed, 45-38, and went on to claim a share of the national crown.

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Tom Osborne had lost his first five games in a row to Oklahoma, and many in Lincoln were wondering whether he had been the right choice to succeed Bob Devaney when the top-ranked Sooners came to Lincoln to face the fourth-rated Cornhuskers. But Nebraska forced nine fumbles and recovered six en route to a stirring, 17-14 win fueled by the nasty Black Shirts defense and 113 yards rushing and a touchdown from Rick Berns.

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After having lost the last seven bowl games they played against teams from Florida, number-one Nebraska took on third-rated Miami in the Orange Bowl and secured coach Tom Osborne’s first national title with a 24-17 win. The Cornhuskers spotted Miami a 17-7 lead but stormed back and clinched the win when fullback Cory Schlessinger rumbled 14 yards for a touchdown.

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Number two Oklahoma invaded Lincoln for “The Game of theCentury” with the top-ranked Cornhuskers, and the contest lived up to its name. Johnny Rodgers’ 72-yard punt return opened the scoring, but Jeff Kinney’s two-yard run with 1:38 left was the decisive play in a 35-31 Nebraska triumph.

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