1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Schedule

Roster

Coaching staff

Game summaries

Stats

Rankings

Awards

1970 team players in the NFL

References

Wake Forest

at No. 3 USC

Army

at Minnesota

Missouri

at Kansas

Oklahoma State

at Colorado

at Iowa State

No. 20 Kansas State

Oklahoma

No. 5 LSU (Orange Bowl)

NFL and pro players

(Redirected from 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football) American college football season

1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
AP Poll national champion FWAA national champion Big Eight champion Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 17–12 vs. LSU
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 3
AP	No. 1
Record	11–0–1 (7–0 Big Eight)
Head coach	Bob Devaney (9th season)
Offensive coordinator	Tom Osborne (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	I formation
Defensive coordinator	Monte Kiffin (2nd season)
Base defense	5–2
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons← 1969 1971 →

1970 Big Eight Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 1 Nebraska $	7	–	0	–	0	11	–	0	–	1
No. 20 Oklahoma	5	–	2	–	0	7	–	4	–	1
Kansas State	5	–	2	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Missouri	3	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Colorado	3	–	4	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Kansas	2	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Oklahoma State	2	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Iowa State	1	–	6	–	0	5	–	6	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

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 the first of two consecutive national championships.

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 AP national championship.

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 throughout the season.

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.

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 12	1:30 pm	Wake Forest*	No. 9	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 36–12	66,103
September 19	10:00 pm	at No. 3 USC*	No. 9	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA		T 21–21	73,768
September 26	1:30 pm	Army*	No. 8	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 28–0	66,928
October 3	1:30 pm	at Minnesota*	No. 6	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)		W 35–10	52,287
October 10	1:30 pm	No. 16 Missouri	No. 6	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 21–7	67,538
October 17	1:30 pm	at Kansas	No. 5	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS (rivalry)		W 41–20	46,500–50,200
October 24	1:30 pm	Oklahoma State	No. 4	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 65–31	67,822
October 31	1:50 pm	at Colorado	No. 4	Folsom Field Boulder, CO (rivalry)	ABC	W 29–13	50,881
November 7	1:30 pm	at Iowa State	No. 4	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA		W 54–29	34,007
November 14	1:30 pm	No. 20 Kansas State	No. 4	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 51–13	67,894
November 21	1:30 pm	Oklahoma	No. 3	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 28–21	67,392
January 1, 1971	7:35 pm	vs. No. 5 LSU*	No. 3	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)	NBC	W 17–12	80,699
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Defense

FS
Bill Kosch
Tom McClelland
Henry Jennings

INSDIE	INSDIE
Bob Terrio	Jerry Murtaugh
Pat Morell	Bruce Hauge
Jim Branch	Steve Yanda

MONSTER BACK
David Morock
Garry Hollstein
Dave Mason

CB
Joe Blahak
John Decker
Wes Mabin

DE	DT	NT	DT	DE
Willie Harper	Dave Walline	Ed Periard	Larry Jacobson	John Adkins
John Pitts	Rich Glover	Bob Pabis	Monte Johnson	John Hyland
Bill Pogge	John Dutton.	Monte Johnson	Dan Malone	Doug Johnson

CB
Jim Anderson
Paul Rogers
Bob McFarland

Offense

Wingback
Johnny Rodgers
Jeff Hughes
Dave Goeller

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Wally Winter	Donnie McGhee	Doug Dumler	Dick Rupert	Bob Newton
Carl Johnson	Bruce Weber	Doug Jamail	Keith Wortman	Bob Grenfell
Daryl White	Joe Duffy	John Kinsel	Mike Beran	Al Austin

TE
Jerry List
Phil Harvey
Bob Wolfe

Splitend
Guy Ingles
Woody Cox
Dale Didur

QB
Jerry Tagge
Van Brownson
Bob Jones

RB
Joe Orduna
Jeff Kinney
Frank Vactor

FB
Dan Schneiss
Bill Olds
Jim Carstens

Special teams

Name	Title	First year in this position	Years at Nebraska	Alma mater
Bob Devaney	Head Coach	1962	1962-72	Alma
Tom Osborne	Offensive coordinator	1969	1964-97	Hastings
Cletus Fischer	Offensive line		1960-85	Nebraska
Carl Selmer	Offensive line		1962-72
Jim Ross			1962-76
John Melton	Tight Ends, Wingbacks	1973	1962-88	Wyoming
Mike Corgan	Running backs	1962	1962-82	Notre Dame
Monte Kiffin	Defensive coordinator	1969	1967-76	Nebraska
Warren Powers	Defensive backs		1969-76	Nebraska
Boyd Epley	Head Strength Coach	1969	1969-2003	Nebraska
Bill Thornton	Assistant Freshman Coach	1970	1969-72	Nebraska

See also: 1970 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team Wake Forest Demon Deacons at No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Demon Deacons	3	2	0	7	12
No. 9 Cornhuskers	14	14	8	0	36

at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

Date: September 12, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 66,103

Statistics	WAKE	NEB
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Wake Forest	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Wake Forest	Nebraska
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							12	36

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.

See also: 1970 USC Trojans football team No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 3 USC Trojans – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 9 Cornhuskers	0	14	7	0	21
No. 3 Trojans	0	7	7	7	21

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, California

Date: September 19, 1970
Game time: 10:00 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 73,768

Statistics	NEB	USC
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
USC	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Nebraska	USC
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							21	21

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.

See also: 1970 Army Cadets football team Army Cadets at No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cadets	0	0	0	0	0
No. 8 Cornhuskers	0	7	14	7	28

at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

Date: September 26, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 66,928

Statistics	ARMY	NEB
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Army	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Army	Nebraska
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							0	28

Nebraska owned the day, shutting out Army 28-0 in an otherwise unremarkable game.

See also: 1970 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Minnesota Golden Gophers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 6 Cornhuskers	21	7	0	7	35
Golden Gophers	7	3	0	0	10

at Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: October 3, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 52,287

Statistics	NEB	MINN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Minnesota	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Nebraska	Minnesota
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							35	10

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.

See also: 1970 Missouri Tigers football team and Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry No. 16 Missouri Tigers at No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 16 Tigers	0	7	0	0	7
No. 6 Cornhuskers	7	0	0	14	21

at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

Date: October 10, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 67,538

Statistics	MIZ	NEB
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Missouri	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Missouri	Nebraska
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							7	21

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.

See also: 1970 Kansas Jayhawks football team and Kansas–Nebraska football rivalry No. 5 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Kansas Jayhawks – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 5 Cornhuskers	10	14	7	10	41
Jayhawks	6	14	0	0	20

at Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, Kansas

Date: October 17, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 50,000

Statistics	NEB	KU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kansas	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Nebraska	Kansas
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							41	20

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.

See also: 1970 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team Oklahoma State Cowboys at No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cowboys	7	0	6	18	31
No. 8 Cornhuskers	14	27	10	14	65

at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

Date: October 24, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 67,822

Statistics	OK ST	NEB
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Oklahoma State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Oklahoma State	Nebraska
1	8:39				Nebraska	Orduna 3-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick no good	0	6
1	8:26	–	–	–	Oklahoma State	Graham 98-yard punt return for a touchdown, Pruss kick good	7	6
1	4:56	–	–	–	Nebraska	Interception returned 37 yards for touchdown by Adkins, 2-point pass by Brownson good	7	14
2	12:22				Nebraska	42-yard field goal by Rogers	7	17
2	10:22				Nebraska	Ingles 40-yard touchdown reception from Brownson, Rogers kick good	7	24
2	5:34				Nebraska	Orduna 2-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	7	31
2	4:03	–	–	–	Nebraska	Rodgers 66-yard punt return for a touchdown, Rogers kick good	7	38
2	0:00				Nebraska	41-yard field goal by Rogers	7	41
3	12:23				Oklahoma State	Eben 10-yard touchdown reception from Pounds, 2-point run by pounds failed	13	41
3	6:15				Nebraska	38-yard field goal by Rogers	13	44
3	0:11				Nebraska	Kinney 2-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	13	51
4	12:52				Oklahoma State	Eben 35-yard touchdown reception from Pounds, 2-point run by Pounds failed	19	51
4	9:07				Nebraska	Cox 26-yard touchdown reception from Tagge, Rogers kick good	19	58
4	8:16	–	–	–	Nebraska	Interception returned 73 yards for touchdown by Decker, Rogers kick good	19	65
4	4:31				Nebraska	Graham 13-yard touchdown reception from Pounds, 2-point pass by Pounds failed	25	65
4	0:00				Oklahoma State	Graham 84-yard touchdown reception from Pounds, 2-point run by Pounds failed	31	65
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							31	65

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.

See also: 1970 Colorado Buffaloes football team and Colorado–Nebraska football rivalry No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Colorado Buffaloes – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Cornhuskers	12	0	3	14	29
Buffaloes	0	7	0	6	13

at Folsom Field • Boulder, Colorado

Date: October 31, 1970
Game time: 1:50 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 50,881
TV: ABC

Statistics	NEB	COL
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Colorado	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Nebraska	Colorado
1	11:17				Nebraska	Ingles 35-yard touchdown reception from Brownson, Rogers kick no good	6	0
1	2:53				Nebraska	Ingles 39-yard touchdown reception from Brownson, 2-point run by Orduna failed	12	0
2	2:14				Colorado	Branch 7-yard touchdown run, Haney kick good	15	7
3	2:17				Nebraska	46-yard field goal by Rogers	15	7
4	11:22				Colorado	Bratten 5-yard touchdown run, 2-point run by Branch failed	15	13
4	9:27				Nebraska	Brownson 1-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	22	13
4	5:34				Nebraska	Kinney 7-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	29	13
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							29	13

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.

See also: 1970 Iowa State Cyclones football team No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Iowa State Cyclones – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Cornhuskers	12	14	21	7	54
Cyclones	0	11	6	12	29

at Clyde Williams Field • Ames, Iowa

Date: November 7, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 34,007

Statistics	NEB	IOWA ST
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Iowa State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Nebraska	Iowa State
1	7:52				Nebraska	Orduna 3-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick no good (blocked)	6	0
1	1:53				Nebraska	Orduna 8-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass by Tagge failed	12	0
2	9:33				Iowa State	39-yard field goal by Shoemaker	12	3
2	6:01				Nebraska	Tagge 1-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	19	3
2	1:52				Nebraska	Schneiss 7-yard touchdown reception from Tagge, Rogers kick good	26	3
2	0:47				Iowa State	Stowe 33-yard touchdown reception from Carlson, 2-point run by Stowe good	26	11
3	4:33				Nebraska	Rodgers 14-yard touchdown reception from Tagge, Rogers kick good	33	11
3	4:01				Iowa State	Johnson 20-yard touchdown reception from Carlson, 2-point pass by Carlson failed	33	17
3	3:07				Nebraska	Orduna 6-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	40	17
3	0:31				Nebraska	Schneiss 23-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	47	17
4	5:43				Nebraska	Vactor 2-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	54	17
4	1:53				Iowa State	Stowe 10-yard touchdown reception from Amundson, 2-point run by Stowe failed	54	23
4	0:42				Iowa State	McCurry 54-yard touchdown reception from Amundson, 2-point pass by Amundson failed	54	29
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							54	17

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.

See also: 1970 Kansas State Wildcats football team No. 20 Kansas State Wildcats at No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 20 Wildcats	0	7	0	6	13
No. 4 Cornhuskers	14	7	16	14	51

at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

Date: November 14, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 67,894

Statistics	K STATE	NEB
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kansas State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Kansas State	Nebraska
1	12:48				Nebraska	Rogers 30-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	0	7
1	0:22				Nebraska	Orduna 3-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	0	14
2	11:17				Kansas State	Montgomery 8-yard touchdown reception from Dickey, Arregui kick good	7	14
2	6:42				Nebraska	Orduna 16-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	7	21
3	8:17				Nebraska	23-yard field goal by Rogers	7	24
3					Nebraska	Orduna 1-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick no good	7	30
3	0:58				Nebraska	Schneiss 12-yard touchdown reception from Tagge, Rogers kick good	7	37
4	13:15				Nebraska	Orduna 2-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	7	44
4	12:59	–	–	–	Nebraska	Interception returned 43 yards for touchdown by Morock, Rogers kick good	7	51
4	5:07				Kansas State	Chapin 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass by Dickey failed	13	51
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							13	51

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.

See also: 1970 Oklahoma Sooners football team and Nebraska–Oklahoma football rivalry Oklahoma Sooners at No. 3 Nebraska Cornhuskers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Sooners	0	14	0	7	21
No. 3 Cornhuskers	0	14	7	7	28

at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

Date: November 21, 1970
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 67,392

Statistics	OU	NEB
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Oklahoma	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Oklahoma	Nebraska
2	10:02				Oklahoma	Mildren 6-yard touchdown run, Derr kick good	7	0
2	8:30				Nebraska	Rodgers 53-yard touchdown reception from Tagge, Rogers kick good	7	7
2	6:30				Oklahoma	Wylie 37-yard touchdown run, Derr kick good	14	7
2	1:35				Nebraska	Orduna 3-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	14	14
3	5:54				Nebraska	Ingles 13-yard touchdown reception from Tagge, Rogers kick good	14	21
4	14:48				Oklahoma	Franklin 10-yard touchdown reception from Wylie, Derr kick good	21	21
4	7:42				Nebraska	Tagge 1-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	21	28
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							21	28

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.

See also: 1971 Orange Bowl and 1970 LSU Tigers football team 1971 Orange Bowl: No. 5 LSU Tigers vs. No. 3 Nebraska Cornhuskers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 5 Tigers	0	3	9	0	12
No. 3 Cornhuskers	10	0	0	7	17

at Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida

Date: January 1, 1971
Game time: 7:35 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 80,699
Referee: Vance Carlson
TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson (play-by-play) and Al DeRogatis (color commentator)

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	Statistics
LSU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	LSU	Nebraska
1	2:40				Nebraska	26-yard field goal by Rogers	0	3
1	2:06				Nebraska	Orduna 3-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	0	10
2	0:49				LSU	36-yard field goal by Lumpkin	3	10
3	11:49				LSU	25-yard field goal by Lumpkin	6	10
3	0:00				LSU	Chaffee 31-yard touchdown reception from Lee, Lumpkin kick no good	12	10
4	8:50				Nebraska	Tagge 1-yard touchdown run, Rogers kick good	12	17
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							12	17

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.

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

Scoring
		Touchdowns								Kicking
Player	G	Rush	Rec	Int	FR	PR	KR	Oth	Tot	XPM	FGM	2PM	Sfty	Pts
Orduna	12	15							15			1		92
Rodgers	12	2	7						9					54
Ingles	12		8						8					48
Kinney	12	4	1						5					30
Tagge	12	5							5					30
Schneiss	12	2	2						4					24
Brownson	12	4							4					24
Cox	12		2						2					12
Vactor	12	1							1					6

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
AP	9	9	8	6	6	5	4	4	4	4	3	3	3	3	1
Coaches	—	—	8	6	5	4	4	4	4	4	3	3	3	3	3

Award	Name(s)
National Coach of the Year	Bob Devaney
All-America 1st team	Jerry Murtaugh, Bob Newton
All-America 2nd team	Joe Orduna
All-America honorable mention	Joe Blahak, Van Brownson, Willie Harper, Guy Ingles, Donnie McGhee, Joe Orduna, Johnny Rodgers, Jerry Tagge, Dave Walline
All-America Sophomores	Joe Blahak, Doug Dumler, Willie Harper, Johnny Rodgers
Big Eight Player of the Year	Jerry Murtaugh
Big Eight Sophomore Lineman of the Year	Willie Harper
All-Big Eight 1st team	Bill Kosch, Donnie McGhee, Jerry Murtaugh, Bob Newton, Joe Orduna, Ed Periard, Johnny Rodgers, Paul Rogers, Dave Walline
All-Big Eight honorable mention	Van Brownson, Guy Ingles, Jerry Tagge, Wally Winter

The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1971 NFL draft:

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Joe Orduna	RB	2	49	San Francisco 49ers
Bob Newton	T	3	71	Chicago Bears
Paul Rogers	K-DB	8	190	Pittsburgh Steelers
Dan Schneiss	TE	11	261	Boston Patriots

The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers juniors selected in the following year's 1972 NFL draft:

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Jerry Tagge	QB	1	11	Green Bay Packers
Jeff Kinney	RB	1	23	Kansas City Chiefs
Larry Jacobson	DT	1	24	New York Giants
Carl Johnson	T	5	112	New Orleans Saints
Van Brownson	QB	8	204	Baltimore Colts
Keith Wortman	G	10	242	Green Bay Packers

The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers sophomores selected in the 1973 NFL draft:

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Johnny Rodgers	WR	1	25	San Diego Chargers
Willie Harper	LB	2	41	San Francisco 49ers
Monte Johnson	LB	2	49	Oakland Raiders
Bill Olds	RB	3	61	Baltimore Colts
Rich Glover	DT	3	69	New York Giants
Doug Dumler	C	5	108	New England Patriots
Joe Blahak	DB	8	183	Houston Oilers
Bill Janssen	T	8	206	Pittsburgh Steelers
Dave Mason	DB	10	246	Minnesota Vikings
Jerry List	TE	11	283	Oakland Raiders

The following 1970 Nebraska players joined a professional team as draftees or free agents.

Name	Team
Joe Blahak	Houston Oilers
Doug Dumler	New England Patriots
John Dutton	Baltimore Colts
Rich Glover	New York Giants
Willie Harper	San Francisco 49ers
Larry Jacobson	New York Giants
Bill Janssen	Charlotte Hornets
Carl Johnson	New Orleans Saints
Monte Johnson	Oakland Raiders
Jeff Kinney	Kansas City Chiefs
Brent Longwell	Memphis Southmen
Dave Mason	New England Patriots
Jerry Murtaugh	New England Patriots
Bob Newton	Chicago Bears
Bill Olds	Baltimore Colts
Joe Orduna	New York Giants
Johnny Rodgers	Montreal Alouettes
Bob Schmit	Portland Storm
Jerry Tagge	Green Bay Packers
Frank Vactor	Washington Redskins
Daryl White	Detroit Lions
Bob Wolfe	Birmingham Americans
Keith Wortman	Green Bay Packers

Adkins, John #57 (Jr.) DE
Anderson, Frosty #89 (So.) SE
Anderson, Jim #18 (Jr.) RCB
Austin, Al #78 (So.) OT
Beran, Mike #62 (So.) OG
Blahak, Joe #27 (So.) LCB
Bomberger, Bill #46 (Sr.) FB
Branch, Jim #51 (So.) LB
Brownson, Van #12 (Jr.) QB
Butts, Randy #36 (So.) HB
Carstens, Jim #47 (So.) FB
Cox, Woody #83 (Jr.) SE
Decker, John #21 (Sr.) LCB
Deyke, Tom #92 (So.) DE
Didur, Dale #84 (Sr.) SE
Duffy, Joe #52 (So.) MG
Dumler, Doug #54 (So.) C
Dutton, John #90 (So.) DT
Glover, Rich #79 (So.) DT
Goeller, Dave #28 (So.) HB
Grenfell, Bob #59 (Sr.) OG
Harper, Willie #81 (So.) DE
Harvey, Phil #82 (Jr.) TE
Hauge, Bruce #48 (So.) LB
Henderson, Joe #73 (So.) OT
Hollstein, Gary #29 (Jr.) S
Hughes, Dennis #63 (So.) OG
Hughes, Jeff #26 (Jr.) HB
Hyland, John #58 (So.) DE

Ingles, Guy #88 (Sr.) SE
Jacobson, Larry #75 (Jr.) DT
Jamail, Doug #50 (So.) C
Janssen, Bill #55 (Jr.) C
Jennings, Henry #38 (Jr.) MON
Johnson, Carl #71 (Jr.) OT
Johnson, Doug #64 (So.) DE
Johnson, Monte #37 (So.) DE
Jones, Bob #15 (So.) QB
Kinney, Jeff #35 (Jr.) HB
Kinsel, John #54 (So.) C
Kosch, Bill #24 (Jr.) S
Linder, Max #11 (So.) QB
List, Jerry #85 (So.) TE
Longwell, Brent #91 (So.) P
Lowe, Rex #83 (Sr.) SE
Malone, Dan (Unk) DT
Mason, Dave #25 (Jr.) MON
McClelland, Tom #16 (Jr.) S
McFarland, Bob #10 (So.) LCB
McGhee, Donnie #70 (Sr.) OT
Miller, Jim (Unk) DE
Morell, Pat #40 (Jr.) LB
Morock, David #43 (Sr.) MON
Murtaugh, Jerry #42 (Sr.) LB
Newton, Bob #74 (Sr.) OT
Newton, Clint #13 (Jr.) RCB
Norberg, Bill #32 (So.) HB
O'Connell, John #34 (So.) S

Olds, Bill #44 (So.) FB
Orduna, Joe #31 (Sr.) HB
Pabis, Bob #66 (So.) MG
Peetz, Mike #33 (So.) MON
Periard, Ed #56 (Sr.) MG
Pitts, John #80 (So.) DE
Pogge, Bill #17 (So.) DE
Powell, Ralph #41 (So.) FB
Robinson, Tom #68 (So.) DT
Rodgers, Johnny #20 (So.) HB
Rogers, Paul #30 (Sr.) CB
Rupert, Dick #77 (Jr.) OT
Schloff, Merle #69 (So.) DT
Schmit, Bob #23 (So.) HB
Schneiss, Dan #22 (Sr.) FB
Schultz, Kelly #87 (So.) TE
Strong, Jon #49 (So.) LB
Tagge, Jerry #14 (Jr.) QB
Terrio, Bob #45 (Jr.) FB
Vactor, Frank #19 (Sr.) HB
Walline, Dave #76 (Sr.) DT
Weber, Bruce #61 (Jr.) OG
White, Daryl #72 (So.) OT
Winter, Wally #67 (Sr.) OT
Wolfe, Bob #86 (So.) TE
Wortman, Keith #65 (Jr.) OG
Yanda, Steve #39 (So.) LB

"Famous quarterback rotations". August 20, 2005.
"Van Brownson College Stats".
"Jerry Tagge College Stats".
Nixon visit honored the Huskers
"Huskers toy with Wake". The Sioux City Sunday Journal. September 13, 1970. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
"Tagge leads Nebraska Number 1 crown claim". The Austin American-Statesman. January 2, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
"1970 Football Roster". www.huskers.com. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
Bob Devaney's assistants, 1970 Nebraska football - HuskerMax
1970 Husker Honors
Pro Football Reference.com Archived 2010-09-24 at the Wayback Machine - 1971 NFL Draft
Pro Football Reference.com Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine - 1972 NFL Draft
Pro Football Reference.com Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine - 1973 NFL Draft
All Time NFL Huskers
Huskerpedia.com - Jerry Murtaugh interview - 2004-07-27

1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football—AP national champions

Head coach: Bob Devaney

v t e Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Venues	Lincoln Park (1891–1893) Antelope Field (1894–1908) Nebraska Field (1909–1922) Memorial Stadium (1923–present)
Bowls and rivalries	Bowl games Colorado (Buffalo Head) Iowa (Heroes Trophy) Kansas Kansas State Miami (FL) Minnesota ($5 Bits of Broken Chair) Missouri (Victory Bell) Oklahoma Wisconsin (Freedom Trophy)
Culture and lore	History Herbie Husker Lil' Red "Dear Old Nebraska U" "Hail Varsity" Cornhusker Marching Band Blackshirts Origin of "Cornhuskers" nickname 1939 Kansas State game Game of the Century (1971 Oklahoma game) Fumblerooski 1982 Penn State game Flea Kicker Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass 2009 Big 12 Championship Game Yes Man
People	Head coaches All-Americans NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold

v t e College football national champions (poll era)
1936–1949	1936: Minnesota (AP) 1937: Pittsburgh 1938: TCU 1939: Texas A&M 1940: Minnesota 1941: Minnesota 1942: Ohio State 1943: Notre Dame 1944: Army 1945: Army (AP) / Oklahoma A&M (AFCA) 1946: Notre Dame 1947: Notre Dame 1948: Michigan 1949: Notre Dame
1950s	1950: Oklahoma (AP, Coaches) 1951: Tennessee 1952: Michigan State 1953: Maryland 1954: Ohio State (AP) / UCLA (FWAA, Coaches) 1955: Oklahoma 1956: Oklahoma 1957: Auburn (AP) / Ohio State (Coaches, FWAA) 1958: LSU (AP, Coaches) / Iowa (FWAA) 1959: Syracuse (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
1960s	1960: Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ole Miss (FWAA) 1961: Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA) 1962: USC 1963: Texas 1964: Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF) 1965: Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF) 1966: Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF) 1967: USC 1968: Ohio State 1969: Texas
1970s	1970: Nebraska (AP, FWAA) / Texas (NFF, Coaches) / Ohio State (NFF) 1971: Nebraska 1972: USC 1973: Notre Dame (AP, FWAA, NFF) / Alabama (Coaches) 1974: Oklahoma (AP) / USC (FWAA, NFF, Coaches) 1975: Oklahoma 1976: Pittsburgh 1977: Notre Dame 1978: Alabama (AP, FWAA, NFF) / USC (Coaches) 1979: Alabama
1980–1991	1980: Georgia 1981: Clemson 1982: Penn State 1983: Miami (FL) 1984: BYU 1985: Oklahoma 1986: Penn State 1987: Miami (FL) 1988: Notre Dame 1989: Miami (FL) 1990: Colorado (AP, FWAA, NFF, USAT/CNN) / Georgia Tech (Coaches) 1991: Miami (FL) (AP) / Washington (Coaches, FWAA, UPI/NFF)

v t e Big Eight Conference football champions
MVIAA	Iowa & Nebraska (1907) Kansas (1908) Missouri (1909) Nebraska (1910) Iowa State & Nebraska (1911) Iowa State & Nebraska (1912) Missouri & Nebraska (1913) Nebraska (1914) Nebraska (1915) Nebraska (1916) Nebraska (1917) Missouri (1919) Oklahoma (1920) Nebraska (1921) Drake & Nebraska (1922) Kansas & Nebraska (1923) Missouri (1924) Missouri (1925) Oklahoma A&M (1926) Missouri (1927)
Big Six	Nebraska (1928) Nebraska (1929) Kansas (1930) Nebraska (1931) Nebraska (1932) Nebraska (1933) Kansas State (1934) Nebraska (1935) Nebraska (1936) Nebraska (1937) Oklahoma (1938) Missouri (1939) Nebraska (1940) Missouri (1941) Missouri (1942) Oklahoma (1943) Oklahoma (1944) Missouri (1945) Kansas & Oklahoma (1946) Kansas & Oklahoma (1947)
Big Seven	Oklahoma (1948) Oklahoma (1949) Oklahoma (1950) Oklahoma (1951) Oklahoma (1952) Oklahoma (1953) Oklahoma (1954) Oklahoma (1955) Oklahoma (1956) Oklahoma (1957) Oklahoma (1958) Oklahoma (1959)
Big Eight	Missouri (1960) Colorado (1961) Oklahoma (1962) Nebraska (1963) Nebraska (1964) Nebraska (1965) Nebraska (1966) Oklahoma (1967) Kansas & Oklahoma (1968) Missouri & Nebraska (1969) Nebraska (1970) Nebraska (1971) Nebraska (1972) Oklahoma (1973) Oklahoma (1974) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1975) Colorado, Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State (1976) Oklahoma (1977) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1978) Oklahoma (1979) Oklahoma (1980) Nebraska (1981) Nebraska (1982) Nebraska (1983) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1984) Oklahoma (1985) Oklahoma (1986) Oklahoma (1987) Nebraska (1988) Colorado (1989) Colorado (1990) Colorado & Nebraska (1991) Nebraska (1992) Nebraska (1993) Nebraska (1994) Nebraska (1995)
National championships in bold

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