The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The Huskers went 11–0–1 to win their first national championship in school history.
The Huskers started the season at No. 9 and tied No. 3 USC in Los Angeles in the second game of the season. After winning their next nine games, including all seven in the Big Eight, Nebraska was ranked No. 3 in the nation entering the Orange Bowl against No. 5 LSU of the SEC. Top-ranked Texas and No. 2 Ohio State both lost their bowl games earlier in the day and a 17–12 Nebraska victory that night in Miami gave the Cornhuskers their first national championship in school history.
Through the 1973 season, the final UPI Coaches' Poll was released in early December, before the bowl games. In 1970 it picked Texas as national champion on December 8, before the Longhorns' 24–11 loss to Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on New Year's Day. Notre Dame (10–1) finished second to Nebraska in the final AP Poll, released after the bowls in early January.
The 1970 Cornhuskers championship season was notable for Devaney's rotation of two quarterbacks – Van Brownson and Jerry Tagge – in every game.
President Richard Nixon honored Nebraska's 1970 national championship team and head coach Bob Devaney with the presentation of a presidential plaque (noting the team's No. 1 ranking in the final AP Poll and Orange Bowl victory) during a January 14, 1971, celebration at the Nebraska Coliseum.Nixon visit honored the Huskers
Schedule
Roster
Adkins, John #57 DE Anderson, Frosty #89 SE Anderson, Jim #18 RCB Austin, Al #78 OT Beran, Mike #62 OG Blahak, Joe #27 LCB Bomberger, Bill #46 FB Branch, Jim #51 LB Brownson, Van #12 QB Butts, Randy #36 HB Carstens, Jim #47 FB Cox, Woody #83 SE Decker, John #21 LCB Deyke, Tom #92 DE Didur, Dale #84 SE Duffy, Joe #52 MG Dumler, Doug #54 C Dutton, John #90 DT Glover, Rich #79 DT Goeller, Dave #28 HB Grenfell, Bob #59 OG Harper, Willie #81 DE Harvey, Phil #82 TE Hauge, Bruce #48 LB Henderson, Joe #73 OT Hollstein, Gary #29 S Hughes, Dennis #63 OG Hughes, Jeff #26 HB Hyland, John #58 DE Ingles, Guy #88 SE Jacobson, Larry #75 DT Jamail, Doug #50 C Janssen, Bill #55 C Jennings, Henry #38 MON Johnson, Carl #71 OT Johnson, Doug #64 DE Johnson, Monte #37 DE Jones, Bob #15 QB Kinney, Jeff #35 HB Kinsel, John #54 C Kosch, Bill #24 S Linder, Max #11 QB List, Jerry #85 TE Longwell, Brent #91 P Lowe, Rex #83 SE Malone, Dan DT Mason, Dave #25 MON McClelland, Tom #16 S McFarland, Bob #10 LCB McGhee, Donnie #70 OT Miller, Jim DE Morell, Pat #40 LB Morock, David #43 MON Murtaugh, Jerry #42 LB Newton, Bob #74 OT Newton, Clint #13 RCB Norberg, Bill #32 HB O'Connell, John #34 S Olds, Bill #44 FB Orduna, Joe #31 HB Pabis, Bob #66 MG Peetz, Mike #33 MON Periard, Ed #56 MG Pitts, John #80 DE Pogge, Bill #17 DE Powell, Ralph #41 FB Robinson, Tom #68 DT Rodgers, Johnny #20 HB Rogers, Paul #30 CB Rupert, Dick #77 OT Schloff, Merle #69 DT Schmit, Bob #23 HB Schneiss, Dan #22 FB Schultz, Kelly #87 TE Strong, Jon #49 LB Tagge, Jerry #14 QB Terrio, Bob #45 FB Vactor, Frank #19 HB Walline, Dave #76 DT Weber, Bruce #61 OG White, Daryl #72 OT Winter, Wally #67 OT Wolfe, Bob #86 TE Wortman, Keith #65 OG Yanda, Steve #39 LB
Coaching staff Name Title First yearin this position Years atNebraska Alma materBob DevaneyHead Coach19621962–72AlmaBob Devaney's assistants, 1970 Nebraska football – HuskerMaxTom OsborneOffensive coordinator19691964–97HastingsCletus Fischer Offensive line 1960–85NebraskaCarl Selmer Offensive line 1962–72Jim Ross 1962–76John MeltonTight Ends, Wingbacks19731962–88WyomingMike Corgan Running backs 19621962–82Notre DameMonte KiffinDefensive coordinator1969 1967–76NebraskaWarren Powers Defensive backs 1969–76NebraskaBoyd EpleyHead Strength Coach19691969–2003NebraskaBill ThorntonAssistant Freshman Coach19701969–72Nebraska
Game summaries
Wake Forest
Statistics WAKE NEB First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Rushing Receiving Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving
Wake Forest hit first with a field goal thanks to a Nebraska fumble, but by the half it was the Cornhuskers 28–5. The Demon Deacons would go on to win the ACC title, their last until 2006.
at No. 3 USC
Statistics NEB USC First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Rushing Receiving USC Passing Rushing Receiving
Nebraska entered the game as a two-touchdown underdog to a USC squad fresh off a 42–21 whipping of Alabama in Birmingham, but never trailed the Trojans during the course of the game. Each team traded touchdowns, and each team missed opportunities for the win, right up to USC's incomplete 50-yard pass on the last play of the game.
Ironically, USC aided Nebraska's national championship push by defeating then-No. 2 Notre Dame 38–28 at Los Angeles in the regular season finale. The Trojans came into the rivalry just 5–4–1, while the Fighting Irish was 9–0.
Army
Statistics ARMY NEB First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsArmy Passing Rushing Receiving Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving
Nebraska owned the day, shutting out Army 28–0 in an otherwise unremarkable game.
at Minnesota
Statistics NEB MINN First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Rushing Receiving Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving
Bob Devaney's record against the Big 10 was extended to 9–0 as the Cornhuskers had little trouble with Minnesota after running ahead 28–10 before the half.
Missouri
Statistics MIZ NEB First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri Passing Rushing Receiving Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving
Nebraska scored only 7 points in the first half, and Missouri matched it before the half. The subsequent defensive battle continued through into the 4th quarter before the Cornhuskers broke away with an additional 14 points, one from a 48-yard punt return touchdown.
at Kansas
Statistics NEB KU First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Rushing Receiving Kansas Passing Rushing Receiving
Nebraska was surprised to find themselves behind 10–20 with 10 minutes left in the 1st half, but battled back to take the lead with two more touchdowns before the break, and never let Kansas score again as they cruised to a 41–20 final.
Oklahoma State
Statistics OK ST NEB First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma State Passing Rushing Receiving Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving
Nebraska piled up 65 points, its highest total since 1922, and held Oklahoma State to just 64 ground yards as the Cornhuskers made short work of the Cowboys.
at Colorado
Statistics NEB COL First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Rushing Receiving Colorado Passing Rushing Receiving
Nebraska pulled out in front right away with a 12–0 1st quarter lead, but stubborn Colorado fought back and trailed the Cornhuskers by only 13–15 in the 4th quarter – after missing a 2-point conversion that would have tied the game – before Nebraska decided to stop the uprising with two touchdowns in the last 10 minutes to pull away.
at Iowa State
Statistics NEB IOWA ST First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Rushing Receiving Iowa State Passing Rushing Receiving
The game was not as close as the score indicates, as Iowa State put up two late touchdowns against Nebraska reserves in the 4th quarter after the Cornhuskers had run up a 54–17 lead with 5 minutes remaining to play.
No. 20 Kansas State
Statistics K STATE NEB First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Rushing Receiving Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving
Kansas State came to Lincoln with hopes of a Big Eight title opportunity, but they were not prepared for the domination that Nebraska would show them in a convincing defeat. The Wildcats managed only two touchdowns, one of which came with 5 minutes remaining in the 4th against the Nebraska reserves. At one point in the game, the Cornhuskers exploded for 27 points in less than 4 minutes, pushing their lead out to 51–7.
Oklahoma
Statistics OU NEB First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving
Nebraska locked up their first unbeaten regular season since 1965 by coming from behind twice to get the win over stubborn Oklahoma. It wasn't until 7:42 remained in the 4th quarter that Nebraska pulled ahead by a touchdown to settle the final score.
No. 5 LSU (Orange Bowl)
Statistics LSU NEB First downs 20 18 Total yards 278 293 Rushes/yards 45–51 48–132 Passing yards 227 161 Return yards 3 3 Fumbles/lost 4–3 4–3 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–32–1 14–28–2 Punts/average 8–32.5 6–37.7 Penalties/yards 4–27 8–67 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Rushing Receiving Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving
Third-ranked Nebraska jumped to a 10–0 lead in the first quarter and lead 10–3 at halftime, but #5 LSU fought back to make a game of it, pulling ahead on a field goal at the end of the 3rd quarter to get to 12–10. With over eight minutes remaining, Jerry Tagge jumped over the pile from the 1-yard line for the game's final points, and the Blackshirts held on the rest of the way to preserve the win. Top-ranked Texas and #2 Ohio State both lost their bowl games earlier in the day, which allowed the Huskers to claim their first national championship.
Stats Team Stats Team Passing Rushing Split G Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Att Yds Avg TD Offense 12 14.0 22.9 61.1 186.8 1.7 57.1 223.8 3.9 2.8 Defense 12 12.8 26.8 47.5 163.6 1.0 42.2 140.2 3.3 1.0 Difference +1.2 +3.9 +13.6 +23.2 +0.7 +14.9 +83.6 +0.6 +1.8
Passing Passing Player G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate Tagge 12 116 190 61.1 1536 8.1 7.5 12 8 141.4 Brownson 12 49 75 65.3 667 8.9 8.7 6 3 158.4 Jones 12 1 5 20.0 7 1.4 1.4 0 0 31.8 Schneiss 12 1 3 33.3 17 5.7 −2.7 1 1 124.3 Orduna 12 1 1 100.0 14 14.0 34.0 1 0 547.6 Rodgers 12 0 1 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0.0
Rushing & Receiving Rushing & Receiving Rushing Receiving Scrimmage Player G Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD Plays Yds Avg TD Orduna 12 200 897 4.5 15 11 85 7.7 0 211 982 4.7 15 Kinney 12 159 694 4.4 4 20 206 10.3 1 179 900 5.0 5 Tagge 12 85 153 1.8 5 85 153 1.8 5 Schneiss 12 70 327 4.7 2 20 156 7.8 2 90 483 5.4 4 Brownson 12 50 112 2.2 4 50 112 2.2 4 Vactor 12 43 128 3.0 1 3 16 5.3 0 46 144 3.1 1 Rodgers 12 39 219 5.6 2 39 710 18.2 7 78 929 11.9 9 Olds 12 13 80 6.2 0 1 19 19.0 0 14 99 7.1 0 Carstens 12 7 23 3.3 0 2 11 5.5 0 9 34 3.8 0 Hughes 12 7 2 0.3 0 3 35 11,7 0 10 37 3,7 0 Jones 12 6 −9 −1.5 0 6 −9 −1.5 0 Ingles 12 4 34 8.5 0 36 625 17.4 8 40 659 16.5 8 List 12 2 26 13.0 0 23 278 12.1 0 25 304 12.2 0 Cox 12 8 83 10.4 2 8 83 10.4 2 Harvey 12 2 17 8.5 0 2 17 8.5 0
Scoring