1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football Big Eight Conference Big 8 4 5 10–2 5–2 Tom Osborne 14th I formation Charlie McBride 6th 5–2 Memorial Stadium Sugar Bowl champion Sugar Bowl W 30–15 vs. LSU The 1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Schedule 1986 AP Central September 6 7:00 pm w y 8 Florida State 11 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 34–17 75,865 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-big-second-half-lif/170681097/ The Kansas City Star Big second half lifts No. 8 Nebraska September 7, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com September 20 6:00 pm w y y 6 Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL WTBS 59–14 75,869 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-huskers-take-fight/170802144/ Lincoln Journal Star Huskers take fight out of Illini September 21, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 1:30 pm w y 4 Oregon Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 48–14 76,185 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-huskers-not/170802316/ The Grand Island Independent Huskers not awesome but whip Oregon September 28, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 12:30 pm w y y 3 South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 27–24 73,109 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-nebrasks-keeps-second/139998950/ Omaha World-Herald Nebraska keeps second-half cool, fouls up Gamecocks' upset plans October 5, 1986 January 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 11 6:45 pm w y 3 Oklahoma State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ESPN 30–10 76,041 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-cornhuskers-tip-c/170801544/ The South Bend Tribune Cornhuskers tip Cowboys, stay perfect October 12, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 1:30 pm w 3 Missouri Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 48–17 76,005 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-third-rankes-cor/170799881/ The Des Moines Register Third-ranked Cornhuskers overwhelm Missouri, 48–17 October 19, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 2:30 pm l y 3 Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO rivalry 10–20 52,440 https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-colorado-springs/170802480/ Green Bay Press-Gazette Colorado springs upset, defeats Nebraska October 26, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 1:30 pm w 9 Kansas State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 38–0 75,893 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-snow-proves-bigger-p/170799068/ The Daily Nonpareil Snow proves bigger problem for NU than Wildcats, 38–0 November 2, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 11:30 am w y 7 Iowa State Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA rivalry Raycom 35–14 48,007 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-huskers-shatter-isus-dream/170801107/ The Courier Huskers shatter ISU's dream, 35–14 November 9, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 1:30 pm w y 6 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS rivalry 70–0 48,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-nebraska-rolls-700-ov/170798370/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Nebraska rolls 70–0 over Kansas November 16, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 2:30 pm l 5 Oklahoma 3 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 17–20 76,198 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-it-comes-to-pass-for/170802665/ The Daily Oklahoman It comes to pass for Sooners November 23, 1986 April 21, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1987, 1987 2:30 pm w y y 6 LSU 5 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 30–15 76,234 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-huskers-take-all-th/135002044/ Lincoln Journal Star Huskers take all the growl out of Tigers January 2, 1987 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com Roster and coaching staff 1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers y Dan Bailey 68 OG J Tom Banderas 87 TE J Vance Behrens 18 WB J Richard Bell 21 WB SO Clete Blakeman 12 QB J y Dana Brinson 33 WB SO y Dan Casterline 24 FB S Mark Cooper 54 C S Doug Dalton FB J Mark Diaz 81 TE S Doug DuBose 22 IB S y Jim Ernest 77 OT SO Ron Galois 67 OG S Jason Gamble 86 SE SO Pernell Gatson 8 WB S Derrick Green 73 OT J Mike Hall 84 TE J Hendley Hawkins 82 SE J Micah Heibel 48 FB J Mike Hoefler 75 OG S Jim Holscher 27 WB J Corey Bill Hudson 70 OT J Brad Johnson 64 OT S Keith Jones y Keith "End Zone" Jones 6 IB J Ken Kaelin 49 FB S Andy Keeler 65 OG SO Jon Kelley 40 IB J Tyreese Knox 34 IB SO Tom Lenneman 41 FB J Keven Lightner 57 OT J Rob Maggard 72 OT S John McCormick 61 OG J Todd Millikan 43 TE SO Jerry Mlinar 16 QB S Ray Nelson 4 WB S John Nichols 63 C J Stan Parker 74 OT S Terry Rodgers 20 IB F Robb Schnitzler 85 SE S Jeff Sellentin 53 C S Von Sheppard 2 WB J Bob Sledge 62 OT SO Rod Smith 88 SE J Steve Taylor 9 QB SO y Steve Taylor (quarterback) Tom Welter 69 OT S Jeff Wheeler 25 IB SO Wendell Wooten 15 QB SO Jake Young 68 C F Mark Blazek 23 S J Dave Bryan 58 MG S Mike Carl 42 CB S Chris Carr 45 S S Gene Chealey 31 CB J McCathorn Clayton 7 CB J John Custard 28 CB SO Brian Davis 32 CB S y Brian Davis (American football) LeRoy Etienne 47 LB SO y Steve Forch 38 LB S Charles Fryar 10 CB SO Willie Griffin 84 DT SO Danny Groskurth 52 DT J Blake Henning 39 LB J Lorenzo Hicks 8 CB SO Tony Holloway 91 DE S Jeff Jamrog 80 DE J Randall Jobman 55 DE SO Lee Jones 98 DT J Jon Marco 93 DE SO Cleo Miller 17 CB S Marc Munford 41 LB S Danny Noonan 95 MG S y Danny Noonan (American football) Bump Novacek 94 DE SO Harlan Opie 90 DE J Tony Palmer 97 DT J Kevin Parsons 35 LB S Lawrence Pete 96 MG SO y Sean Putnam 92 MG SO Tim Rother 78 DT J Marvin Sanders 26 CB SO y Gary Schneider 3 MON S Pat Shaw 51 LB S Bryan Siebler 19 S S Kurt Skradis 66 DT SO Neil Smith 99 DT J y Neil Smith (American football) Chris Spachman 76 DT S Dan Thayer 29 S S Jeff Tomjack 11 MON J Broderick Thomas 89 DE SO y Brad Tyrer 83 DE S Doug Welniak 37 LB J Dante Wiley 24 LB SO Brian Washington 5 MON J y Gregg Barrios 44 PK F Chris Drennan 44 PK SO Dale Klein 1 PK S John Kroeker 45 P SO Craig Schnitzler 13 P/PK J Jim Toner 14 P SO http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=4&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&Q_SEASON=1986 2011-01-17 Tom Osborne   14th season   23rd year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Charlie McBride   6th season as DC/DL coach   10th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Colorado John Melton   14th season as LB coach   25th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Wyoming Boyd Epley   18th season as S&C coach   18th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska George Darlington   DB coach   14th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Rutgers Milt Tenopir   13th season as OL coach   13th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Sterling Gene Huey   10th season as WR coach   10th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Wyoming Frank Solich   4th season as RB coach   8th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Jack Pierce   8th year at Nebraska Dan Young   4th season as OL/K coach   4th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Reed Tony Samuel   1st season as OLB coach   1st year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Depth chart Pro-Set 5–2 Yes No Yes Steve Taylor Clete Blakeman McCathorn Clayton Keith Jones Tyreese Knox Terry Rodgers Ken Kaelin Micah Heibel Doug Dalton Robb Schnitzler Rod Smith Jason Gamble SE Dana Brinson Von Sheppard Pernell Gatson WB Todd Millikan Tom Banderas Willie Griffin Mark Diaz Rob Maggard Keven Lightner Bob Sledge Stan Parker Mike Hoefler Jake Young Mark Cooper Jeff Sellentin John Nichols John McCormick Ron Galois Andy Keeler Tom Welter Brad Johnson Corey B Hudson Marc Munford LeRoy Etienne Doug Welniak INSDIE Kevin Parsons Blake Henning Dante Wiley INSDIE Bryan Siebler Mark Blazek Chris Carr Jeff Tomjack Brian Washington Gary Schneider MONSTER BACK Charles Fryar Cleo Miller Jon Custard Brian Davis Lorenzo Hicks Marvin Sanders Tony Holloway Jeff Jamrog Jon Marco Chris Spachman Tim Rother Danny Groskurth Danny Noonan Lawrence Pete Sean Putnam Neil Smith Lee Jones Broderick Thomas Brad Tyrer Steve Stanard Dale Klein John Kroeker 110 90 No Game summaries Florida State Florida State at Nebraska [box score] Florida State Nebraska 7 7 3 0 0 10 14 10 1986-09-06 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,865 This was the first ever night game at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's loss to FSU in Lincoln the previous year was avenged when the Cornhuskers came back from a halftime deficit, outscoring FSU 24–3 and holding the Seminoles to −2 yards in the second half. Illinois Nebraska at Illinois [box score] Nebraska Illinois 28 10 14 7 0 7 0 7 1986-09-20 Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois CST 75,865 The outcome of this game was more or less sealed from the very first play, as Illinois QB Chris Lamb threw an interception that Cornhusker CB Brian Davis returned for a touchdown, and Nebraska never looked back. Oregon Oregon at Nebraska [box score] Oregon Nebraska 7 0 0 7 14 21 13 0 1986-09-27 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,185 Oregon made the first strike, but Nebraska then ran away from the Ducks, scoring 48 unanswered points, though the Cornhuskers suffered the loss of WB Von Sheppard to injury and saw PK Dale Klein's consecutive PATs streak ended at 60. South Carolina Nebraska at South Carolina [box score] Nebraska South Carolina 10 3 0 14 0 7 3 14 1986-10-04 Williams–Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina CST 73,109 Nebraska survived a scare in Columbia, escaping with a victory due to recovering a Gamecock fumble with two minutes left to play to set up the go-ahead touchdown, and then intercepting a throw by South Carolina QB Todd Ellis at NU's 10 yard line with just 10 seconds remaining. Oklahoma State Oklahoma State at Nebraska [box score] Oklahoma State Nebraska 0 10 0 0 14 7 9 0 1986-10-11 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,041 Nebraska continued their string of domination over Oklahoma State in the second ever night game at Memorial Stadium, extending their win streak over the Cowboys to 25. Missouri Missouri at Nebraska [box score] Missouri Nebraska 3 0 0 14 0 20 21 7 1986-10-18 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,005 Missouri scored first on a 29-yard field goal, but Nebraska owned the show for the rest of the game, scoring six straight touchdowns on their way to the win. Nebraska PK Dave Klein beat the Cornhusker career FG record of 22 when he extended his total to 24 in this game. Colorado Nebraska at Colorado [box score] Nebraska Colorado 0 0 7 3 7 3 0 10 1986-10-25 Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado CST 52,440 Unranked Colorado stunned the #3 Cornhuskers, holding Nebraska to its lowest rushing yard total in eight years and ending Nebraska's 18-year winning streak against the Buffaloes. Kansas State Kansas State at Nebraska [box score] Kansas State Nebraska 0 0 0 0 17 0 14 7 1986-11-01 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,893 The hapless Wildcats suffered Nebraska's wrath following their loss to unranked Colorado the week prior, as the Cornhuskers romped in the snow at Memorial Stadium and shut out Kansas State while allowing them just 106 total yards of offense. Iowa State Nebraska at Iowa State [box score] Nebraska Iowa State 7 0 14 14 0 14 0 0 1986-11-08 Cyclone Stadium, Ames, Iowa CST 48,007 Nebraska struck first but then seemed to flame out, as Iowa State sent the Cornhuskers to the locker room behind 14–7 at halftime. After a rousing pep talk from Coach Osborne, the Cornhuskers stormed back in the 2nd half for the win. Kansas Nebraska at Kansas [box score] Nebraska Kansas 21 14 21 14 0 0 0 0 1986-11-15 Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas CST 48,800 Nebraska absolutely crushed Kansas in Lawrence, handing the Jayhawks their worst-ever loss and posting the biggest Cornhusker shutout since a 100–0 smashing of 1986 Nebraska Wesleyan University Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves Nebraska Wesleyan in 1917. Oklahoma Oklahoma at Nebraska [box score] Oklahoma Nebraska 7 0 0 13 7 3 7 0 1986-11-22 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,198 The #5 Cornhuskers, flying high after their 70–0 shutout against Kansas the previous week, looked ready to upset the #3 Sooners, but it was not to be. Oklahoma found the end zone twice in the 4th quarter to tie the game, and forced a Nebraska punt with 1:22 remaining. After grinding back down the field, and with just 9 seconds remaining, Oklahoma PK Tim Lashar made a 31-yard kick to split the uprights for the win, handing the Sooners their 2nd consecutive Big 8 Championship title. LSU Nebraska vs LSU [box score] Nebraska LSU 0 10 7 13 7 0 0 8 1987-01-01 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana 2:40 p.m. CST 76,234 1987 Sugar Bowl Nebraska's 25th bowl appearance saw the Blackshirts setting two new bowl-game records by holding LSU to just 32 net rushing yards and 10 first downs as the #6 Cornhuskers rolled up the win over the #5 Tigers. Rankings 1986 NCAA Division I-A football rankings 14 AP 8 6 6 4 3 3 3 3 9 7 6 5 6 6 5 14 Coaches 4 Awards 1986 Husker Honors Award Name(s) All-America 1st team Danny Noonan All-America 3rd team Tom Welter All-America honorable mention Broderick Thomas, Keith Jones, Rob Maggard, John McCormick, Marc Munford, Stan Parker, Chris Spachman Sophomore All-America 1st team Broderick Thomas Sophomore All-America honorable mention LeRoy Etienne Big 8 Athlete of the Year Danny Noonan All-Big 8 1st team Keith Jones, Danny Noonan, Broderick Thomas, Tom Welter, Marc Munford All-Big 8 2nd team John McCormick, Brian Davis, Rob Maggard, Todd Millikan, Stan Parker, Rod Smith NFL and pro players The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1986 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 live 2009-05-30 Name Team Richard Bell Pittsburgh Steelers Dana Brinson San Diego Chargers Brian Davis Washington Redskins Doug DuBose San Francisco 49ers LeRoy Etienne San Francisco 49ers Keith Jones Cleveland Browns Marc Munford Denver Broncos Danny Noonan Dallas Cowboys Lawrence Pete Detroit Lions Tim Rother Los Angeles Raiders Von Sheppard Coventry Jets Neil Smith Kansas City Chiefs Steve Taylor Edmonton Eskimos Broderick Thomas Tampa Bay Buccaneers Brian Washington Cleveland Browns Tom Welter St. Louis Cardinals References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football