Huskers Place Two Teams among College Football Greats

Lincoln - Nebaska placed two of the top 10 teams in college football history according to a recent television program "Dell Presents: College Football's 10 Greatest Teams" that recently aired nationally on CBS. The Cornhuskers were the only college football program represented by more than one team, as the 1995 national championship team was rated sixth and the 1971 team was second on the list, which covered over 100 years of college football history.

The 1971 team coached by Bob Devaney went 13-0 with three victories over top 10-teams, a 31-7 win over a No. 9 Colorado team that finished third in the final polls, a 35-31 victory over second-ranked Oklahoma in "The Game of the Century" and a 38-6 pasting of No. 2 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Although Nebraska averaged what was then a school-record 437.7 yards on offense, including a Big Eight-leading 179.3 yards passing, and ranked third nationally in scoring, averaging 39.1 per game, it was defense that set apart the Cornhuskers, as Nebraska ranked second in the nation in rushing defense (85.9), third in scoring defense (8.2) and fifth in total defense (202.9). The Blackshirts included seven first-team All-Big Eight selections, four players who would earn consensus All-America recognition during their careers and two Outland Trophy winners: Rich Glover and tackle Larry Jacobson. Only three opponents scored more than one touchdown against the Cornhuskers. Oklahoma State and Kansas State each managed two touchdowns, and Oklahoma scored four. The only time all season that Nebraska even trailed during a game was against the Sooners.

Nebraska National Titles

1970 | 1971 | 1994 | 1995 | 1997

The 1995 team under Coach Tom Osborne capped a 12-0 season with a 62-24 rout of second-ranked Florida in the Fiesta Bowl, one of four victories over top-10 teams that season. Nebraska also posted wins over No. 8 Kansas State (49-25), No. 7 Colorado (44-21) and No. 10 Kansas (41-3), while scoring at least 35 points in all 12 contests. The Huskers, led by Heisman trophy runner-up and Unitas Award winner Tommie Frazier, ranked No. 1 in the nation in both rushing (399.8) and scoring (52.4) and No. 2 in total offense (556.3). In addition to Frazier, center Aaron Graham and outside linebacker Jared Tomich also earned first-team All-America honors, as Nebraska won every game by at least two touchdowns. The 1995 team capped a run of three undefeated and untied regular season after completing a 13-0 national championship season in 1994

All-time Top 10 List of Greatest College Football Teams

No.

Year

Team

10.

2001

Miami

9.

1956

Oklahoma

8.

1979

Alabama

7.

1969

Texas

6.

1995

Nebraska

5.

1947

Michigan

4.

1945

Army

3.

1924

Notre Dame

2.

1971

Nebraska

1.

1972

USC