1966 Orange Bowl

Miami, Fla., Jan. 1, 1966--With the national championship riding on the outcome, Coach Bob Devaney's Huskers took on Alabama's Crimson Tide for the first time. Nebraska went into the game 10-0 and ranked third, Alabama was 8-1-1 and fourth. But earlier in the day, top-ranked Michigan State lost to UCLA in the Rose Bowl and LSU knocked off No. 2 Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl to set up a national title game in the Orange Bowl.

Playing in Nebraska's first night bowl game, 'Bama won the title 39-28. The Tide led 24-7 at the half and the game was never in serious doubt, but led by the passing of Bob Churchich, the Huskers fought back and made the final score respectable.

1966 Orange Bowl

Teams	1	2	3	4	Final
Alabama	7	17	8	7	39
Nebraska	0	7	6	15	28

 

Statistics	NU	UA
First Downs	17	29
Rushing, Net	145	222
Passes Att., Comp., Int.	19-12-1	29-20-2
Passing, Net	232	296
Total Offense	377	518

Scoring Summary
First Quarter
AU-Ray Perkins 32 pass from Steve Sloan (Dave Ray kick), 9:36

Second Quarter
NU-Tony Jeter 33 pass from Bob Churchich (Larry Wachholtz kick), 12:15
AU-Les Kelley 4 run (Ray kick), 7:11
AU-Perkins 11 pass from Sloan (Ray kick), 1:42
AU-FG Ray 18, 0:34

Third Quarter
NU-Ben Gregory 49 pass from Churchich (pass failed), 9:35
AU-Steve Bowman 1 run (Perkins pass from Sloan), 4:29

Fourth Quarter
NU-Churchich 1 run (Wachholtz kick), 14:58
AU-Bowman 3 run (Ray kick), 8:13
NU-Jeter 14 pass from Churchich (Gregory pass from Churchich), 2:50