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20 'The Huskers Get a Deuce' Jan. 1, 1995 Nebraska 24, Miami-Fla. 17 |
Trailing 17-7 in the third quarter against the third-ranked Hurricanes, the Huskers back up the 'Canes against their own goal line. Rush end Dwayne Harris knifes through the UM line and nails quarterback Frank Costa for a game-turning safety. |
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19 Redwine's Revenge Run Nov. 22, 1980 Oklahoma 21, Nebraska 17 |
In yet another end-of-the-world showdown against Oklahoma, NU speedster Jarvis Redwine breaks free on an 80-yard touchdown gallop. As he reaches the 20-yard line, Redwine turns toward a pursuing OU safety and, in a Billy Sims-like, un-Cornhusker gesture, points his finger at him. The score sets the tone, but Sooner Magic will provide the last laugh. |
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18 That's the Way the Ball Bounces Nov. 26, 1982 Nebraska 28, Oklahoma 24 |
After the Sooners had taken a 10-7 lead in the second quarter, NU quarterback Turner Gill throws a "lateral" pass to wingback Irving Fryar toward the sideline. The pass bounces to Fryar, positioned slightly behind Gill. As the Sooner defense stops, believing it is an incomplete pass, Fryar fields the ball, pauses, and throws a 37-yard strike to tight end Mitch Krenk. The Huskers score two plays later and never trail again. |
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17 Great Scott, A Sea of Red Nov. 26, 1982 Nebraska 28, Oklahoma 24 |
Clinging to a 28-24 lead late in the fourth, an unlikely hero steps up. Sophomore Scott Strasburger, a third-team defensive end playing as a linebacker in a special scheme, steps in front of a Kelly Phelps screen pass, intercepts it and runs to the OU 1-yard-line with :26 left. The play touches off a spontaneous fan celebration -- hundreds of Red Clad Loons storm the field, swarming Strasburger and his teammates in a red sea -- that hasn't been matched since. |
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16 You Said a Smashmouthful Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 14 Nov. 11, 1978 |
After Billy Todd puts NU ahead with 12 minutes to go, Nebraska thinks they've gotten the break of the game when OU's Kelly Phelps returns the kickoff and Husker linebacker John Ruud lays out Phelps -- and the ball -- with a hit so violent it should have an "R" rating. Phelps swallows his mouthpiece. The officials, however, rule that Phelps had been down, though replays showed otherwise. But not to worry: This is Nebraska's day. |
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15 Peterbilt For Speed Nebraska 62, Florida 24 -- Fiesta Bowl Jan. 2, 1996 |
Top-ranked Nebraska has all but wrapped up the National Championship when a late kick return gives Florida a meaningless touchdown. On the ensuing two-point try, defensive tackle Christian Peter picks up a fumble by UF's Eric Kresser and rumbles 90 yards -- the last eight of it in high-stepping, swivel-hipped fashion -- for an apparent two points. Unfortunately, Kresser is ruled down by contact. |
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Unveiled for the first time late in NU's loss to Oklahoma, offensive guard Randy Schleusener scoops up an intentional fumble, set on the turf by the Huskers' quarterback, and lumbers 15 yards into the endzone. The play, used by Osborne twice more before it is finally outlawed in 1994, becomes known as the "Fumbleroosky." |
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Corey Schlesinger has just rumbled for his first touchdown to cut the 'Cane lead to 17-15 in this National Championship game. Tom Osborne calls for a two-point pass play in the same end zone where Turner Gill threw NU's final, fatal pass 11 seasons earlier. In a nice piece of exorcism, quarterback Tommie Frazier avoids the rush and fires a strike to tight end Eric Alford in the back of the end zone. The game is tied, but the best is yet to come. |
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12 Trick is a Treat Nebraska 30, Missouri 7 Nov. 1, 1975 |
The play that gets the Missouri monkey off Tom Osborne's back. With 1:46 left in the half in Columbia, NU lines up to punt. Nebraska fullback Tony Davis hands the ball between John O'Leary's legs. The Cornhusker offense runs to the right while O'Leary meanders to the left ... 40 yards for a touchdown. The "Bummeroosky" keys Osborne's first win over the Tigers in three tries. |
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After 59 minutes and 37 seconds of scoreless play at Faurot Field, Nebraska fullback Phil Bates follows center Dave Rimington into the Tiger end zone for the game's only score. The spinning, tumbing last second score gives the 15th-ranked Huskers a 3-0 conference mark on its way toward an Orange Bowl berth. |
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10 Ouch -- there goes Crouch Nebraska 36, Missouri 3 Sept. 29, 2001 |
Leading 16-3 and backed up to its own 5-yard-line, Nebraska puts the ball in its quarterback's hands. Eric Crouch drops into his own endzone to throw, but is nearly pulled down for a safety. Tucking the ball away, No. 7 jukes a defensive back, cuts to his left, jukes another safety, and turns on the jets. It's the longest run in the history of a school known for producing big runs -- and one of the greatest plays ever. |
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9 A Monster of a Recovery Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 14 Nov. 11, 1978 |
With NU holding a three-point lead late in the game, Oklahoma's Billy Sims is en route to the end zone when safety Jeff Hansen delivers a ball-jarring hit on OU's prolific runner. No. 29, Jim Pillen, the Huskers' monsterback, pounces on the ball like it's turkey dinner with 3:27 left and seals Dr. Tom's first win over Barry Switzer. |
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8 The Score of the Century Nebraska 35, Oklahoma 31 Nov. 25, 1971 |
Capping a monumental, historic 74-yard fourth-quarter drive, Nebraska's Jeff Kinney -- white jersey in tatters -- bulls across the goal line and into history. Kinney's fourth touchdown and 174th yard come on his 29th carry, completing a career day for the legendary NU I-back. After Kinney's score wins the Game of the Century, the Cornhuskers go on to claim their second straight National Championship. |
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Eventual Heisman winner Mike Rozier gives Coach Tom Osborne a great present for his 100th career victory: A winding, reverse-field, 2-yard touchdown run that actually covers more than 60 yards. Rozier takes a pitch from Turner Gill, starts to his left, but sees his lane sealed up. Reversing his field, he retreats to the 18-yard-line and loops around a host of Bruin defenders before finding the right corner of the endzone. |
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6 Tagge, You're It Nebraska 17, LSU 12 -- Orange Bowl Jan. 1, 1971
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Trailing 12-10, No. 3-with-a-bullet Nebraska has driven 66 yards to the LSU 1 with just 8:50 left to play. With a famous second effort, Quarterback Jerry Tagge sneaks through the Tigers' gold-and-white wall, stretching the ball over the goal line for one of the biggest touchdowns in Husker history. Following the classic win, NU is awarded its first National Championship. |
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5 Gone in a Flash Nebraska 20, Oklahoma 10 Oct. 27, 2001 |
Clinging to a 13-10 fourth-quarter lead, Nebraska coach Frank Solich dips into his bag of tricks. He calls "41 Flash Reverse Pass," and watches as Eric Crouch hands off to Thunder Collins on a reverse. Collins flips the ball to freshman quarterback Mike Stuntz, who rolls left and rifles a strike to a wide-open Crouch down the east sideline. Crouch hits fifth gear, and 63 yards later, ices a 20-10 Cornhusker triumph. |
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4 The Flea-Kicker Nebraska 45, Missouri 38 OT Nov. 8, 1997 |
No. 1 NU is down to its final play and Tiger fans are huddled at the back of the endzone preparing to topple the goal posts. With :07 left, Scott Frost flings a pass to Shevin Wiggins, who drops the ball while being hit. But Wiggins flips the ball into the air with his foot as he falls. Matt Davison dives for the loose ball and barely sneaks his hands above the Faurot Field turf for the game-tying touchdown. Its drive for the National Championship suddenly resurrected, NU triumphs in overtime. |
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3 Ghost Buster Nebraska 24, Miami 17 -- Orange Bowl Jan. 1, 1995 |
Tied at 17 with less than three minutes left in the Orange Bowl, Nebraska's title hopes are on the line against Miami's fleet-footed defense. After a key-third down conversion, the Cornhuskers turn to the most Nebraska-like play in their arsenal: The fullback trap. Corey Schlesinger's second touchdown of the night caps a frenetic, frenzied, furious final quarter and powers Nebraska to the 1994 National Championship. |
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2 (Touch)Down Goes Frazier! Nebraska 62, Florida 24 -- Fiesta Bowl Jan. 2, 1996 |
The play that defined a career: In this showdown for the national title, Florida had just struck on a lightning-quick drive to pull within 42-18. On second-and-five from the NU 25, Cornhusker quarterback Tommie Frazier runs an option to the right side and is met by a host of Gator defenders. Shaking off tackle after tackle, seven of them in all, No. 15 shakes away UF tacklers and races 75 yards down the sideline for a score, sending the Big Red crowd into delirium. |
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In what has become known as "The Game of The Century" between No. 1 Nebraska and No. 2 Oklahoma, NU's Johnny Rodgers runs to immortality. Johnny R. Superstar's 72-yard twisting, turning, stopping, jetting punt return for a TD, with 11:28 left in the first quarter, leaves the Sooners, the Owen Field crowd, and the entire nation out of breath. NU goes on to win 35-31, and stakes its claim as the best to ever play the game. |
