1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 football 1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers Nebraska Cornhuskers logo, 1992–2003.svg 150 Big 12 Conference North Division Big 12 6 6 11–2 8–0 Tom Osborne 24th Charlie McBride 16th I formation 4–3 Memorial Stadium Big 12 North Division championOrange Bowl champion Orange Bowl W 41–21 vs. Virginia Tech Big 12 Championship Game L 27–37 vs. Texas The 1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. This was the first season for Nebraska in the Big 12 Conference, which took on that name after their previous conference, the Big Eight Conference added four schools from the disbanded Southwest Conference. Nebraska was placed in the new conference's North Division along with Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, and Colorado. The Cornhuskers entered the season as the two-time defending national champions, having won the first Bowl Alliance championship game at the Fiesta Bowl in January 1996, and were ranked #1 in the polls to start the season. Nebraska also entered the season with a winning streak of 25 games, having not lost since falling to Florida State in the 1994 Orange Bowl. Nebraska opened the season with a rout of Michigan State in their home opener and traveled to face Arizona State, a team they had defeated 77–28 the year before. This time, the results were different as Nebraska was shut out in a 19–0 defeat to snap their winning streak. They would not lose again during the regular season, winning the Big XII North and climbing back up to #3 in the polls. Their division win earned the Cornhuskers a place in the first Big 12 Championship Game against the winner of the South Division, unranked Texas. With a potential national championship game berth at stake, Nebraska lost for the second time in 1996 as Texas defeated them 37–27 to secure the automatic Bowl Alliance berth for the conference. Despite this, Nebraska managed to qualify for the Bowl Alliance as an at-large team and was invited to play in the Orange Bowl, where they beat Virginia Tech. Schedule 1996 AP Central September 7 11:00 am w y 1 Michigan State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 55–14 75,590 September 21 9:15 pm l y y 1 Arizona State 17 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ FSN 0–19 74,089 September 28 11:30 am w y 8 Colorado State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 65–9 75,575 October 5 11:30 am w y 7 Kansas State 16 KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS rivalry ABC 39–3 43,916 October 12 1:00 pm w y 5 Baylor Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 49–0 75,478 October 19 2:30 pm w y 5 Texas Tech Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX ABC 24–10 51,344 October 26 6:00 pm w 5 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry FSN 63–7 75,158 November 2 11:00 am w y 5 Oklahoma Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK rivalry ABC 73–21 75,004 November 9 1:00 pm w 5 Missouri Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 51–7 75,133 November 16 1:00 pm w y 5 Iowa State Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA rivalry 49–14 47,850 November 29, 1996 1:30 pm w 4 Colorado 5 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 17–12 75,695 December 7 12:00 pm l y 3 Texas Trans World Dome St. Louis, MO Big 12 Championship Game ABC 27–37 63,109 December 31, 1996 7:00 pm w y y 6 Virginia Tech 10 Pro Player Stadium Miami Gardens, FL CBS Orange Bowl 41–21 51,212 http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=3&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&Q_SEASON=1996 https://web.archive.org/web/20121022232524/http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=3&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&Q_SEASON=1996 dead October 22, 2012 Football – 1996 Schedule/Results May 21, 2009 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Athletics Department Rankings 1996 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 17 1 (50) 1 (50) 1 (49) 1 (57) 1 (58) 8 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 (1) 6 6 Coaches 0 17 1 (47) 1 (51) 1 (57) 1 (58) 7 6 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 6 6 Personnel Roster 1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers y Dan Alexander 36 FB F y Dan Alexander (Arena football) Eric Anderson 70 OT J Sean Applegate 17 WB F Rod Baker RB F Matt Baldwin 57 C F Sasho Becvarovski OL F Damon Benning 21 IB S Tom Beveridge SE F Lance Brown 14 WB SO Tim Carpenter 90 TE J Kenny Cheatham 6 SE SO Monte Christo 9 QB SO Jeff Clausen 68 OT F Josh Cobb 42 FB SO T.J. DeBates 85 TE F Chris Deitloff C F Billy Diekmann OL F Chris Dishman 75 OG S y Trenton Douglas OL F J.R. Edwards 3 SE F Chad Eicher 23 IB J DeAngelo Evans 4 IB F Justin Ferrell OL F Demond Finister 15 SE F Clint Finley 19 QB F Craig Fischer 87 SE F Tim Frame SE F Scott Frost 7 QB J y Lonnie Fulton 53 OT F Mike Gentile WB F Ben Gessford 72 OT SO John Gibson 27 WB F Ahman Green 30 IB SO y Billy Haafke 80 SE SO Chris Hastings TE F Aaron Havlovic 53 C F Ryan Held 82 SE J Kyle Henson 74 OT SO Josh Heskew 59 C J Russ Hochstein 55 OL F y Brendan Holbein 5 SE S Joe Horst 66 OG J Matt Hoskinson 62 OG J Sheldon Jackson 88 TE SO y Vershan Jackson 34 TE J Marcus Johnson 56 OG F Adam Julch 69 OT F Ben Kingston 22 FB SO Chad Kobus 83 TE F Jeff (Robert) Lake 89 SE J Billy Legate 40 FB SO Frankie London 1 QB F Joel Makovicka 45 FB SO y Jake McKee TE F Kory Mikos 78 OT S Andy Miller 21 WB SO Willie Miller 32 FB F Jason Olnes 37 IB F Jeff Perino 12 QB F Hank Piening RB F Fred Pollack 73 OT J Steve Raymond 24 IB F Dorrick Roy 86 TE SO Jay Runty QB F Chris Saalfeld OL F Matt Schoening FB F Brian Schuster 28 FB S Jason Schwab 65 OG F Doug Seaman 54 C J James Sherman 63 OG F James Sims 31 IB J Travis Soucie RB F Jeremy Stanislav FB F Jim Tansey 69 OT F Aaron Taylor 67 C J Arby Todd FB F Adam Treu 77 OT S y Matt Turman 11 QB S Mike Van Cleave 71 OG J Jon Vedral 25 WB S Matt Vrzal 51 C S Brandt Wade 61 OG SO Brian Walters OL F Brandon Wardyn TE F David Webber OL F Sean Wieting 33 WB J Shevin Wiggins 29 WB SO Chad Wiles QB F Aaron Wills 81 TE F Jon Zatechka 64 OG J Dave Alderman 48 CB S Derek Allen 90 DT F Luis Almanzar 94 DT F Josh Anderson DB F Travis Antholz 96 RE F Erick Arens 45 WLB F Larry Arnold 81 SLB S Chris Bassett 87 RE J Jason Benes 24 FS J Chad Blahak 17 RCB S Blaine Boellstorff LB F Michael Booker 20 LCB S y Mike Brown 21 DB F y Mike Brown (safety) Ralph Brown 22 DB F y Ralph Brown (cornerback) Ben Buettenback 36 MLB F Leslie Dennis 2 RCB J George Dittrick 13 ROV F Brandon Drum 74 DT SO Jason Dush DL F Terrell Farley 43 WLB S Eric Fischer DB F Jay Foreman 56 MLB SO y Jay Foreman (American football) Russell Froehlich 37 SLB SO Mike Fullman 12 RCB S Sean Gard 40 RE J Bobby Gill DL F George Guidry DE F Trent Gumm 86 SLB SO Brad Hamik DB F Jon Hesse 44 LB S y Quint Hogrefe 49 WLB SO Matt Hunting 53 WLB J Julius Jackson 50 MLB F Tom Jeffrey 1 RCB F Eric Johnson 1 WLB SO y Eric Johnson (defensive back, born 1976) Dave Jones RE SO Loran Kaiser 88 DE F Chad Kelsay 57 RE SO Josh Kohl 47 WLB F Curt Lenners 80 RE J Gregg List 29 ROV F Casey Macken 41 WLB SO Kalin Makaiwi 21 ROV SO Alex McClymont 20 RCB SO Octavious McFarlin 4 ROV J Greg McGraw 25 FS F Tom Milius 72 DT F Bryce Miller 83 RE S Mike Minter 10 ROV S y Brandon Mooberry RE F John Murphy RE F Jeff Ogard 97 DT S Tony Ortiz 37 SLB F Jason Peter 55 DT J y Jerome Peterson 26 RCB F Carlos Polk 42 LB F y Brandon Quindt DB F Khari Reynolds 2 CB F Mike Roberts 39 ROV S Laron Rooks DL F Mike Rucker 84 RE SO y Eric Ryan 86 RE F Scott Saltsman 74 DT S Matt Schwager RE F Kareem Sears 15 RE F Brian Shaw 46 SLB F Scott Siebenborn DL F Eric Stokes 16 FS S y Eric Stokes (American football executive) Ryan Terwilliger 91 WLB S Ross Tessendorf 79 DT SO Andy Thompson 14 LCB SO Travis Toline 92 RE SO Jared Tomich 93 RE S y Larry Townsend 94 DT S Theron Troxel 65 DT F Chad Tuttle LB F Noland Urban LB F Casey Vanderhoef DB F Eric Walther 32 FS SO Eric Warfield 3 FS J y Steve Warren 85 DT F y Troy Watchorn DB F Keely Watson 52 WLB J Jeff Wells 25 FS F Jamel Williams 28 SLB S y Jason Wiltz 99 DT SO Terry Winston DL F Grant Wistrom 98 RE J y Brendan Zahl 87 RE J Kris Brown 35 PK SO y Dan Hadenfeldt 17 P/PK F Jesse Kosch 19 P J Bill Lafleur 23 P SO y Chace Long PK F Brian Morro 8 P SO Ted Retzlaff 13 PK J http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=4&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&Q_SEASON=1996 January 17, 2011 Tom Osborne   24th season   33rd year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Hastings College Charlie McBride   16th season as DC/DL coach   20th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Colorado Turner Gill   5th season as QB coach   5th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Craig Bohl   2nd season as LB coach   5th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Ron Brown   10th season as WR/TE coach   10th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Brown Dan Young   14th season as OL/K coach   14th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Reed Milt Tenopir   23rd season as OL coach   23rd year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Sterling Tony Samuel   11th season as OLB coach   11th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska George Darlington   DB coach   24th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Rutgers Frank Solich   14th season as RB coach   18th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Boyd Epley   28th season as S&C coach   28th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Depth chart Pro-Set 4–3 Yes No Yes Scott Frost Matt Turman Monte Christo Ahman Green DeAngelo Evans Damon Benning James Sims Brian Schuster Joel Makovicka Billy Legate Jon Vedral Lance Brown Shevin Wiggins Brandon Holbein Kenny Cheatham Jeff Lake Tim Carpenter Vershan Jackson Sheldon Jackson Adam Treu Fred Pollack Adam Julch Chris Dishman James Shreman Brandt Wade Aaron Taylor Josh Heskew Matt Vrzal Jon Zatechka Matt Hoskinson Mike Van Cleave Eric Anderson Kory Mikos Jeff Clausen Terrell Farley Ryan Terwilliger Mike Minter Octavious McFarlin Eric Johnson WILL John Hesse Jay Foreman Julius Jackson MIKE Jamel Williams Brian Shaw Tony Ortiz SAM Eric Stokes Eric Warfield Eric Walther Mike Minter Octavious McFarlin Gregg List ROVER Michael Booker Jerome Peterson Mike Fullman Ralph Brown Mike Brown Leslie Dennis Grant Wistrom Chad Kelsay Kareem Sears Jason Peter Scott Saltsman Derek Allen Jeff Ogard Jason Wiltz Steve Warren Jared Tomich Mike Rucker Travis Toline Kris Brown Jesse Kosch 110 90 No Game summaries Michigan State Michigan State at Nebraska [box score] Michigan State Nebraska 0 0 7 7 7 20 21 7 September 7 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,590 Arizona State Nebraska at Arizona State [box score] Nebraska Arizona State 0 0 0 0 9 8 0 2 September 21 Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona CST 74,089 Colorado State Colorado State at Nebraska [box score] Colorado State Nebraska 0 6 0 3 7 17 20 21 September 28 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,575 Kansas State Nebraska at Kansas State [box score] Nebraska Kansas State 6 12 14 7 0 3 0 0 October 5 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas CST 43,916 Baylor Baylor at Nebraska [box score] Baylor Nebraska 0 0 0 0 7 21 14 7 October 12 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,478 Texas Tech Nebraska at Texas Tech [box score] Nebraska Texas Tech 7 3 7 7 7 3 0 0 October 19 Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium, Lubbock, Texas CST 51,344 Kansas Kansas at Nebraska [box score] Kansas Nebraska 0 7 0 0 7 35 14 7 October 26 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,158 Oklahoma Nebraska at Oklahoma [box score] Nebraska Oklahoma 0 17 28 28 0 0 0 21 November 2 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma CST 75,004 Missouri Missouri at Nebraska [box score] Missouri Nebraska 0 0 0 7 7 16 28 0 November 9 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,133 Iowa State Nebraska at Iowa State [box score] Nebraska Iowa State 20 8 14 7 0 0 7 7 November 16 Cyclone Stadium, Ames, Iowa CST 47,850 Colorado Colorado at Nebraska [box score] Colorado Nebraska 6 0 3 3 7 10 0 0 November 29 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,695 Texas Nebraska vs Texas [box score] Nebraska Texas 7 10 7 3 7 13 3 14 December 7 Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri CST 63,109 Virginia Tech Virginia Tech vs Nebraska [box score] Virginia Tech Nebraska 7 7 7 0 0 17 14 10 December 31 Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida CST 51,212 Rankings 1996 NCAA Division I-A football rankings 17 AP 1 1 1 1 1 8 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 6 6 17 Coaches 6 Awards 1996 Husker Honors Award Name(s) All-America 1st team Aaron Taylor, Jared Tomich, Grant Wistrom All-America 2nd team Chris Dishman Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Grant Wistrom All-America Freshman 1st team Ralph Brown All-Big 12 1st team Chris Dishman, Jon Hesse, Jared Tomich, Mike Minter, Jason Peter, Aaron Taylor, Grant Wistrom All-Big 12 2nd team Eric Anderson, Michael Booker, Kris Brown, Jeff Ogard, Jamel Williams All-Big 12 3rd team Scott Frost, Terrell Farley, Ahman Green All-Big 12 honorable mention Ralph Brown, DeAngelo Evans, Brendan Holbein, Vershan Jackson, Jesse Kosch, Brian Schuster, Eric Stokes, Jon Vedral, Jamel Williams Big 12 coach of the Year Tom Osborne NFL and pro players The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1996 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 August 15, 2009 live May 21, 2009 Name Team Dan Alexander Tennessee Titans Eric Anderson Amsterdam Admirals Michael Booker Atlanta Falcons Kris Brown Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Brown Chicago Bears Ralph Brown New York Giants Chris Dishman Arizona Cardinals Clint Finley Kansas City Chiefs Jay Foreman Buffalo Bills Ahman Green Seattle Seahawks Jon Hesse Green Bay Packers Russ Hochstein Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sheldon Jackson Buffalo Bills Vershan Jackson Kansas City Chiefs Eric Johnson Oakland Raiders Chad Kelsay Pittsburgh Steelers Bill Lafleur Barcelona Dragons Joel Makovicka Arizona Cardinals Mike Minter Carolina Panthers Tony Ortiz Scottish Claymores Jason Peter Carolina Panthers Carlos Polk San Diego Chargers Mike Rucker Carolina Panthers Eric Stokes Seattle Seahawks Jared Tomich New Orleans Saints Larry Townsend Berlin Thunder Adam Treu Oakland Raiders Eric Warfield Kansas City Chiefs Steve Warren Green Bay Packers Jamel Williams Washington Redskins Jason Wiltz New York Jets Grant Wistrom St. Louis Rams Jon Zatechka Berlin Thunder References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Category:Orange Bowl champion seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football