1975 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1975 Nebraska Cornhuskers football Nebraska Cornhuskers logo.svg 100 Big Eight Conference Big 8 9 9 10–2 6–1 Tom Osborne 3rd I formation Monte Kiffin 7th 5–2 Memorial Stadium Big 8 co-champion Fiesta Bowl L 14–17 vs. Arizona State The 1975 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Schedule 1975 AP Central September 13 1:30 pm w y 6 LSU Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 10–7 76,259 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-beacon-cornhuskers-edge-lsu/134249617/ The Wichita Eagle & Beacon Cornhuskers edge LSU September 14, 1975 October 28, 2023 Newspapers.com September 20 1:30 pm w y 6 Indiana Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 45–0 76,022 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-cornhuskers-rout-hoosiers/181201090/ The Muncie Star Cornhuskers rout Hoosiers in lopsided match, 45–0 September 21, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 1:30 pm w y 4 TCU Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 56–14 75,931 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-no-4-huskers-ove/169104243/ The Sioux City Journal No. 4 Huskers overwhelm Frogs behind Luck, 56 to 14 September 28, 1975 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 1:30 pm w y 4 Miami (FL) Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 31–16 76,231 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-ferragamo-heroics-li/181127762/ The Daily Nonpareil Ferragamo heroics lifts Huskers 31–16 October 5, 1975 September 15, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 1:30 pm w y 4 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 16–0 76,285 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-chronicle-nebraska-raps-kans/181201212/ The Houston Chronicle Nebraska raps Kansas, 16–0 October 12, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 1:30 pm w y 4 Oklahoma State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 28–20 48,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-nebraska-ropes-cowb/181201317/ The Sunday Oregonian Nebraska ropes Cowboys, 28–20 October 19, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 1:30 pm w 4 Colorado 10 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 63–21 76,509 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wichita-falls-times-cornhuskers-romp/181201418/ Wichita Falls Times Cornhuskers romp... October 26, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 12:00 pm w y 3 Missouri 12 Faurot Field Columbia, MO rivalry ABC 30–7 68,195 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal-bummerooski-does-th/181201511/ The Salina Journal "Bummerooski" does the trick November 2, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 1:30 pm w y 3 Kansas State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS rivalry 12–0 41,300 https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune-huskers-top-k-state/181201605/ Casper Star-Tribune Huskers top K-State November 9, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 1:30 pm w 2 Iowa State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 52–0 76,131 https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-potent-cornhuskers-blank-io/181201691/ Argus-Leader Potent Cornhuskers blank Iowa State November 16, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 1:30 pm l y 2 Oklahoma 7 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK rivalry 10–35 70,286 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-1975-nebraska-oklah/53639693/ The Arizona Republic Sooners skin Huskers, 35–10 November 23, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com December 26, 1975 2:00 pm l y y 6 Arizona State 7 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ Fiesta Bowl CBS 14–17 51,396 https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal-asu-downs-nebraska/157326385/ Albuquerque Journal ASU downs Nebraska, 17–14 December 27, 1975 September 16, 2025 Newspapers.com Roster http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&SPID=22&SPSID=4 Nebraska 1975 Roster June 16, 2009 March 4, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090304053341/http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&SPID=22&SPSID=4 dead Nebraska 1975 Commitments http://www.huskermax.com/recruits/1975.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100107034343/http://huskerpedia.com/recruits/1975.html 2010-01-07 2009-06-16 live Andrews, George #96 (So.) DE Anthony, Monte #49 (So.) IB Avery, Scott #57 (Jr.) DT Belka, Jim #47 (Jr.) LB Block, King #55 (So.) LB Bonness, Bob (So.) DE Bonness, Rik #54 (Sr.) C Borg, Tim #19 (So.) DB Brock, Dan #94 (Jr.) DT Brown, Kenny (So.) WB Burns, Ed #17 (Jr.) QB Burrow, Jim #2 (Sr.) DB Butterfield, Dave #34 (Jr.) DB Cabell, Jake #24 (Jr.) DB Carpenter, Jeff #37 (So.) LB Clark, Kelvin #73 (So.) OT Clark, Mike (So.) OT Coccia, Tom #90 (Sr.) DE Cooley, Lawrence (So.) OG Costanzo, Rich #77 (Sr.) OT Coyle, Mike #42 (Sr.) PK Craig, Curtis #33 (So.) WB Davis, Tom #52 (So.) C Davis, Tony #25 (Sr.) FB Dervin, Joe (So.) LB Donnell, Dodie #45 (So.) FB Eichelberger, Percy #44 (Jr.) LB Eveland, Al #43 (Jr.) PK Everett, Earl #9 (Jr.) WB Ferragamo, Vince #15 (Jr.) QB Fischer, Tim #10 (So.) DB Folsom, Bob (Jr.) FB Fultz, Mike #72 (Jr.) DT Gade, Steve #56 (So.) C Galano, Bobby #59 (So.) OG Garcia, Randy #18 (So.) QB Gast, Reg #82 (So.) DE Gillespie, Dave #28 (Jr.) IB Gissler, Dean #97 (Sr.) DT Glenn, Steve #71 (So.) OT Hansen, Jeff #48 (So.) LB Harvey, Ted #31 (So.) DB Hayes, Bob #76 (So.) OT Heiser, Tom #27 (Sr.) WB Higgs, Gary (Jr.) FB Hunter, Ken #78 (Jr.) OT Jenkins, Brad #92 (Sr.) TE Jones, Chuck #35 (Sr.) DB Jorgensen, Greg #63 (So.) OG Justice, Jason #38 (So.) FB Kane, John (Unk) LB Kraft, Bill #83 (So.) SE Kroneberger, Jon #64 (So.) OT Lee, John #69 (Sr.) MG Lehigh, Pat #6 (So.) DB Lessman, Randy #39 (Jr.) P Lindquist, Steve #68 (So.) OG Lingenfelter, Bob #70 (Jr.) OT Loken, Rocke #16 (So.) SE Luck, Terry #11 (Sr.) QB Malito, Chuck #89 (Jr.) SE Markley, Paul (So.) DB Markus, Steve (So.) LB Martin, Bob #87 (Sr.) DE Miller, Dan #58 (So.) OG Mills, George #75 (Sr.) DT Monds, Wonder #26 (Sr.) DB Mushinskie, Larry #88 (Sr.) TE Nitzel, Ron #85 (Jr.) SE Ohrt, Tom #74 (So.) OT O'Leary, John #14 (Sr.) IB Panneton, Rick #95 (Sr.) TE Payne, Dennis #13 (So.) DB Phillips, Ray #80 (Jr.) DE Pillen, Clete #61 (Jr.) LB Pittman, Randy #1 (So.) WB Plucknett, John #50 (Jr.) MG Poeschl, Randy (So.) DT Porter, G.M. (Budge) (So.) DB Pruitt, Ron #91 (Sr.) DT Pullen, Jeff #36 (Jr.) MG Redding, Dave #84 (Sr.) DE Rick, Randy #22 (Jr.) DE Ridder, Tom (So.) DE Samuel, Tony #98 (So.) DE Schmidt, Dan #51 (Jr.) OG Schroeder, John (So.) OG Shamblin, Dave #81 (Jr.) SE Smith, Kent #23 (So.) DB Sorley, Tom #12 (So.) QB Spaeth, Ken #86 (So.) TE Stacey, Kurt #3 (So.) DB Stewart, Byron #30 (So.) IB Stovall, Rod #5 (So.) DB Talley, Chester #32 (Jr.) DE Thomas, Bobby #8 (Jr.) SE Thomas, Tom #53 (Sr.) C Thompson, Mike (So.) SE Thornton, Willie #65 (Sr.) MG Valasek, Larry #4 (So.) DB Vanous, Russ (So.) P Varner, Rich #67 (Jr.) OG Vernon, Kirby (So.) DB Waldemore, Stan #62 (So.) OG Walton, Darrell #7 (So.) WB Webb, Mitchell #99 (So.) MG Wied, Jerry #93 (Sr.) DT Wightman, Jim #46 (So.) LB Wilkins, Roger (So.) OT Williquette, Jim #41 (So.) DB Young, Larry #40 (So.) LB Zabrocki, Dale #21 (So.) IB Zanetich, Nick #66 (Jr.) OG       Depth chart I-Formation 5–2 Yes No Yes Vince Ferragamo Terry Luck Randy Garcia Monte Anthony John O'Leary Dave Gillespie Tony Davis Dodie Donnell Gary Higgs Bobby Thomas Chuck Malito Dave Shamblin SE Curtis Craig Tom Heiser Kenny Brown WB Brad Jenkins Larry Mushinskie Ken Spaeth Rick Panneton Bob Lingenfelter Bob Hayes Steve Glenn Dan Schmidt Greg Jorgensen Rich Varner Rik Bonness Tom Davis Tom Thomas Rich Costanzo Stan Waldemore Steve Lindquist Steve Hoins Tom Ohrt Bob Hayes Cletus Pillen Precy Eichelberger Jeff Carpenter INSDIE Jim Whightman Jeff Hansen Randy Lessman INSDIE Jim Burrow Larry Valasek Dennis Payne Wonder Monds Kent Smith Tim Borg MONSTER BACK Chuck Jones Kurt Stacey Rod Stovall Dave Butterfield Ted Harvey Jake Cabell Ray Phillips Dave Redding Georgie Andrews Jerry Wied Dean Gissler Randy Poeschl John Lee Jeff Pullen Willie Thornton Mike Fultz George Mills Dan Brock Bob Martin Tony Samuel Tom Coccia 110 90 No Coaching staff NameTitleFirst yearin this position Years at Nebraska Alma materTom OsborneHead CoachOffensive coordinator19731964–1997Hastings CollegeMonte KiffinDefensive Coordinator19731967–1976NebraskaCletus FischerOffensive Line 1960–1985NebraskaJim Ross 1962–1976John MeltonTight EndsWingbacks19731962–1988WyomingMike CorganRunning Backs19621962–1982Notre DameWarren PowersDefensive Backs 1969–1976NebraskaBoyd EpleyHead Strength Coach19691969–2003NebraskaBill MylesOffensive Line19721972–1976Drake UniversityJerry MooreWide Receivers19731973–1978BaylorGeorge Darlington Defensive Ends 19731973–2002RutgersMilt TenopirOffensive Line19741974–2002 Sterling Game summaries LSU LSU at #6 Nebraska [box score] LSU #6 Nebraska 0 0 7 0 0 7 3 0 1975-09-13 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,259 Vance Carlson For the first time ever, the Cornhuskers were not able to suit up all players due to a new NCAA rule limiting the number of suited players to 60. Also, four players were ruled ineligible by the NCAA, further limiting the resources available to Nebraska. Still, the Tigers were unable to score until after the half, and their only touchdown was not sufficient to overcome the 10 Cornhusker points already on the board, and Nebraska started the season with a win. Cornhusker safety Jim Burrow began his senior season against the team his son, Joe, would lead to the 2019 national championship. Indiana Indiana at #6 Nebraska [box score] Indiana #6 Nebraska 0 0 0 0 10 14 14 7 1975-09-20 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,022 Nebraska intercepted an Indiana pass on the first play to set the tone as the Cornhuskers rolled with ease over the Hoosiers in Lincoln. A total of twelve Nebraska runners added ground yards to their career totals in this game as the team collected 300 yards rushing, while the Blackshirts obtained a shutout. TCU TCU at #4 Nebraska [box score] TCU #4 Nebraska 0 7 0 7 14 14 14 14 1975-09-27 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,931 After Nebraska punched in two 1st-quarter touchdowns, TCU never got closer to the lead again, scoring only 14 of their own the entire game while the Cornhuskers put 14 more in each quarter. Another dominating performance was turned in by the Blackshirts, who allowed only one touchdown and held the Horned Frogs to just 16 yards on the ground. Miami Miami at #4 Nebraska [box score] Miami #4 Nebraska 6 3 0 7 0 7 10 14 1975-10-04 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,231 Someone forget to tell Miami to give up before the game started, and the Hurricanes came out intending to make it a game as they jump started the scoring with two field goals to lead 6–0 and another to lead 9–7 at the half, and Nebraska first 7 points were set up by a turnover instead of any serious offensive production. Halftime adjustments and superior conditioning took over for the rest of the game, however, as Nebraska ran off 24 unanswered points, making Miami's final touchdown with just over two minutes remaining too little, too late. Kansas Kansas at #4 Nebraska [box score] Kansas #4 Nebraska 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 7 1975-10-11 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,285 Nebraska prevented a 1st half Kansas field goal on their way to posting a second shutout, closing their long five-game opening home stand with a 5–0 record. Although the Cornhuskers did not score big nor often, it made no difference as the scoreless Jayhawks watched the game slip farther from their reach as time ticked away. Kansas completed only 2 of 10 passes, and obtained only 7 first downs, while the Cornhuskers had double the Jayhawks yards by both ground and air. Oklahoma State #4 Nebraska at Oklahoma State [box score] #4 Nebraska Oklahoma State 14 7 7 0 0 7 13 0 1975-10-18 Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma CST 48,500 Nebraska's first road game of 1975 was not an easy win, despite the strong 14–0 start. Oklahoma State pulled within 14 by the end of the half and within 7 in the 3rd quarter. After another set of touchdowns, the Cowboys were still down by just 8 in the 4th when they capitalized on a bad Cornhusker punt snap and took over inside the Nebraska 25. The Blackshirts made a stand when Oklahoma State got inside the Nebraska 5, and forced the Cowboys to go 3-and-out on three scoring attempts to preserve the win. Colorado Colorado at #4 Nebraska [box score] Colorado #4 Nebraska 7 0 14 0 21 21 21 0 1975-10-25 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,509 Source:Eugene Register-Guard. 1975 Oct 26. yes 1 COL Dave Williams 74-yard run (Mackenzie kick) COL 7–0 1 NEB Thomas 42-yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Coyle kick) Tied 7–7 1 NEB John O'Leary 10-yard run (Coyle kick) NEB 14–7 1 NEB Anthony 2-yard run (Coyle kick) NEB 21–7 2 NEB Davis 1-yard run (Coyle kick) NEB 28–7 2 NEB John O'Leary 1-yard run (Coyle kick) NEB 35–7 2 NEB Jenkins 5-yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Coyle kick) NEB 42–7 3 NEB Anthony 1-yard run (Coyle kick) NEB 49–7 3 NEB Higgs 2-yard run (Coyle kick) NEB 56–7 3 NEB Gillespie 14-yard run (Coyle kick) NEB 63–7 3 COL Dave Williams 6-yard run (Mackenzie kick) NEB 63–14 3 COL Kelleher 3-yard run (Mackenzie kick) NEB 63–21 yes Statistically, the game was close save for Nebraska's 350–268 rushing edge and 2–0 interception margin, but the scoreboard told another story. Even though Colorado scored first at the start of the game, the Cornhuskers unleashed a scoring onslaught that put the Buffaloes behind 42–7 at the half, putting the game far out of reach long before Nebraska backups entered the game in the 4th quarter. Missouri #3 Nebraska at #12 Missouri [box score] #3 Nebraska #12 Missouri 10 6 7 7 0 7 0 0 1975-11-01 Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri CST 68,195 Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne notched his first career win against 12th-ranked Missouri, in Columbia, with style and a little help from well-executed trickery. The 'Bummeroosky" play worked flawlessly, even fooling the TV cameras, as Nebraska lined up in punt formation and snapped to FB Tony Davis, who immediately passed the ball back through the legs of IB John O'Leary and then faked a pass to a bait receiver. As the entire Cornhusker unit moved to simulate the punt fake play, the Tigers chomped on the bait and took off to the right in pursuit while O'Leary remained motionless with the ball hidden until no one remained before jaunting 40 yards untouched for the touchdown. Kansas State #3 Nebraska at Kansas State [box score] #3 Nebraska Kansas State 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1975-11-08 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas CST 41,300 It was a battle of the defenses as the Blackshirts rang up their 3rd shutout on the season, while Kansas State managed to hold Nebraska to just 12 points. Iowa State Iowa State at #2 Nebraska [box score] Iowa State #2 Nebraska 0 0 0 0 14 17 7 14 1975-11-15 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,131 Iowa State probably knew they were going to have a bad day when they fumbled the opening kickoff, allowing Nebraska to convert that turnover into 7 points. Iowa State never saw the scoreboard as Nebraska put up yet another shutout for the season, their 4th, on the way to dismantling Iowa State 52–0. Oklahoma #2 Nebraska at #7 Oklahoma [box score] #2 Nebraska #7 Oklahoma 3 0 7 0 0 7 7 21 1975-11-22 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma CST 70,286 Nebraska scored first on a field goal, but scoring production fizzled as Oklahoma led 7–3 at the half. The Cornhuskers took advantage of a Sooner fumble in the 3rd quarter to go up 10–7, but Nebraska soon committed its own turnover to help Oklahoma get back up front, and it didn't stop there. Two more subsequent, painful Cornhusker turnovers sealed the game as Oklahoma converted each for points and handed Nebraska their first loss of the year and forced them to share the Big 8 title. Arizona State #6 Nebraska at #7 Arizona State [box score] #6 Nebraska #7 Arizona State 0 7 7 0 3 3 0 11 1975-12-26 Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona CST 51,396 Nebraska led the Sun Devils through the entire game until the 4th quarter, when a fierce Arizona State Rally brought the score to a 14–14 tie and then 17–14 on a Sun Devil field goal with 4:50 remaining in the game. The Cornhuskers were driving again and progressed to the Arizona State 21 with 2 minutes to go when the Cornhuskers lost an ill-timed fumble to end their hopes for the win. As it turned out, Nebraska's only two losses for the season ended up being to the teams ranked #1 and #2 in the season's final polls. Rankings 1975 NCAA Division I football rankings 14 AP 7 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 7 6 9 14 Coaches 9 Awards 1975 Husker Honors Award Name(s) All-America 1st team Rik Bonness, Bob Martin, Wonder Monds Big 8 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Vince Ferragamo All-Big 8 1st team Rik Bonness, Dave Butterfield, Mike Fultz, Bob Martin, Wonder Monds All-Big 8 2nd team Jimmy Burrow, Mike Coyle, Tony Davis, Steve Hoins, John Lee, Bob Lingenfelter, Clete Pillen, Dan Schmidt, Bobby Thomas NFL and Pro Players The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1975 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.All Time NFL Huskers http://nflhuskers.com/alltime.html https://web.archive.org/web/20090815013540/http://nflhuskers.com/alltime.html 2009-08-15 2009-06-16 live Name Team George Andrews Los Angeles Rams Monte Anthony Baltimore Colts Rik Bonness Oakland Raiders Ed Burns New Orleans Saints Jim Burrow Green Bay Packers Kelvin Clark Denver Broncos Tom Davis Toronto Argonauts Tony Davis Cincinnati Bengals Vince Ferragamo Los Angeles Rams Mike Fultz New Orleans Saints John Lee San Diego Chargers Bob Lingenfelter Cleveland Browns Terry Luck Cleveland Browns Bob Martin New York Jets Wonder Monds Ottawa Rough Riders John O'Leary Montreal Alouettes Ray Phillips Cincinnati Bengals Stan Waldemore New York Jets References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Category:Big Eight Conference football champion seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football