1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

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.

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 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.^[1][2][3]

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.^[4]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	1:30 pm	Wake Forest*	No. 9	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 36–12	66,103	[5]
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 (rivalry)		W 54–29	34,007–36,000	[6]
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	[7]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Roster

^[8]

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

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

Coaching staff

Name	Title	First year in this position	Years at Nebraska	Alma mater
Bob Devaney	Head Coach	1962	1962-72	Alma[9]
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

Game summaries

Wake Forest

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

at No. 3 USC

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

Army

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

at Minnesota

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

Missouri

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

at Kansas

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

Oklahoma State

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

at Colorado

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

at Iowa State

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

No. 20 Kansas State

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

Oklahoma

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

No. 5 LSU (Orange Bowl)

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 Plays Yards TOP 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.

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

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

Rankings

See also: 1970 NCAA University Division football rankings

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

Awards

^[10]

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

1970 team players in the NFL

The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1971 NFL draft: ^[11]

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:^[12]

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:^[13]

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

NFL and pro players

The following 1970 Nebraska players joined a professional team as draftees or free agents.^[14]

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[15]	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