1978 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1978 Nebraska Cornhuskers football Nebraska Cornhuskers logo.svg 100 Big Eight Conference Big 8 8 8 9–3 6–1 Tom Osborne 6th Jerry Moore 1st I formation Lance Van Zandt 2nd 5–2 Memorial Stadium Big 8 co-champion Orange Bowl L 24–31 vs. Oklahoma The 1978 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1978 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 1978 AP Central September 2 8:05 pm l y y 10 Alabama 1 Legion Field Birmingham, AL ABC 3–20 77,023 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-huskers-drop-203-bat/134307523/ The Sioux City Sunday Journal Huskers drop 20–3 battle September 3, 1978 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com September 9 1:30 pm w y 10 California Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 36–26 75,780 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-sorley-sparks-husker/157523467/ The Daily Nonpareil Sorley sparks Huskers 36–26 September 10, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com September 16 1:30 pm w y 12 Hawaii Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 56–10 75,615 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-injuries-dim-the-afte/157523581/ Omaha World-Herald Injuries dim the afterglow of Huskers' impressive win September 17, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 12:50 pm w y y 12 Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN ABC 69–17 42,738 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-hipp-helps-nebrask/157523661/ The Rock Island Argus Hipp helps Nebraska break Hoosier record October 1, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 1:30 pm w y 10 Iowa State 15 Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA rivalry 23–0 51,450 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-everything-works/157523773/ The Sioux City Journal 'Everything works' as Huskers rock ISU October 8, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 1:30 pm w y 8 Kansas State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 48–14 75,818 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-nebraskas-surge/157523870/ Wisconsin State Journal Nebraska's surge buries Kansas St. October 15, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 2:30 pm w 5 Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO rivalry 52–14 53,262 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-nebraska-annihilates/157523972/ The Daily Sentinel Nebraska annihilates Buffs 52–14 October 22, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 1:30 pm w 4 Oklahoma State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 22–14 75,786 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-fourth-rank/157524100/ Springfield News and Leader Fourth-ranked Nebraska survives scare by Cowboys October 29, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 1:30 pm w y 4 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS rivalry 63–21 50,463 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-1978-nebraska-kansa/100887138/ Lincoln Journal Star NU in a waltz, but next dance may have a faster beat October 29, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 11:30 am w 4 Oklahoma 1 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 17–14 74,657 https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal-sooners-fumble-away-n/157522918/ Rapid City Journal Sooners fumble away No. 1 November 12, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 1:30 pm l 2 Missouri Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 31–35 75,850 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-missouri-humbles-nebr/157524369/ The Times Recorder Missouri humbles Nebraska November 19, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1979, 1979 7:00 pm l y 6 Oklahoma 4 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Bowl) (rivalry NBC 24–31 66,365 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-sooners-turn-on-hu/157523095/ The Indianapolis Star Sooners turn on Huskers January 2, 1979 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com1978 Nebraska Cornhuskers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 20, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/nebraska/1978-schedule.html Roster http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&SPID=22&SPSID=4 Nebraska 1978 Roster June 10, 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 1978 Commitments http://www.huskermax.com/recruits/1978.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100107034421/http://huskerpedia.com/recruits/1978.html 2010-01-07 live 2009-06-10 Adams, Joe #2 (So.) LB Andrews, George #96 (Sr.) DE Baker, Kim #41 (So.) LB Barnett, Bill #97 (Jr.) DT Bergkamp, Tim #36 (So.) PK Berns, Richard #35 (Sr.) IB Bloom, Jeff #50 (Jr.) C Branch, Anthony #4 (So.) WB Brown, Kenny #22 (Sr.) WB Bruce, Mike #76 (So.) OT Bryant, Bill #95 (Sr.) DT Carlstrom, Tom #78 (So.) OG Clark, David #63 (So.) DT Clark, Kelvin #73 (Sr.) OT Cole, Andy #56 (So.) MG Cole, Lawrence #81 (Jr.) DE Cooley, Lawrence #67 (Sr.) OG Cotton, Barney #54 (Sr.) C Davies, Steve #82 (So.) TE DeLoach, Trey #52 (So.) C Dunning, Bruce #40 (Jr.) LB England, Gary #70 (Jr.) LB Finn, Jeff #63 (So.) OG Fischer, Tim #16 (Sr.) DB Franklin, Andra #39 (So.) FB Gary, Russell #9 (So.) DB Gemar, Scott #1 (So.) PK Glenn, Steve #71 (Sr.) OT Goodspeed, Mark #72 (Jr.) OT Hager, Gary #87 (So.) SE Hager, Tim #10 (Jr.) QB Hansen, Jeff #48 (Sr.) DB Havekost, John #69 (Jr.) OG Hedrick, Brian #43 (So.) DT Hineline, Curt #59 (So.) MG Hipp, I.M. #32 (Jr.) IB Holmes, Daryl #94 (So.) DE Horn, Rod #55 (Jr.) DT Johnson, Craig #30 (So.) IB Juehring, Chris #45 (So.) FB Keith, Percy #21 (So.) IB Kelly, Jim #49 (So.) FB Kotera, Jim #44 (So.) FB Krejci, Jeff #2 (So.) LB Kunz, Lee #38 (Sr.) LB LaFever, Dan #37 (So.) LB Lee, Jeff #26 (Sr.) SE Lee, Oudious #65 (Jr.) MG LeRoy, Mark #23 (Jr.) DB Letcher, Paul #8 (Jr.) DB Lewis, Rodney #5 (So.) DB Liegl, David #28 (Jr.) DB Lindquist, Ric #15 (So.) DB Lindquist, Steve #68 (Sr.) OG Lindstrom, Dan #98 (So.) DE Lockett, Frank #80 (Sr.) SE Matthies, Tom #77 (So.) OT Mauer, Mark #17 (So.) QB McCloney, Maurice #31 (Fr.) WB McCrady, Tim #24 (So.) WB Means, Andy #34 (So.) DB Michaelson, Steve #18 (So.) QB Miller, Junior #89 (Jr.) TE Minor, John #86 (Jr.) DE Nelson, Derrie #92 (So.) DE Ohrt, Tom #74 (Sr.) OT Payne, Dennis #13 (Sr.) DB Pensick, Dan #93 (Jr.) DT Pillen, Jim #29 (Sr.) DB Phillips, Patrick #94 (So.) DE Poeschl, Randy #75 (Sr.) DT Porter, G.M. (Budge) (Sr.) CB Potadle, Paul #61 (Jr.) OG Quinn, Jeff #11 (So.) QB Rabas, Greg #85 (So.) TE Ruud, John #46 (Jr.) LB Ruzich, Mike #99 (So.) DT Saalfeld, Kelly #57 (Jr.) C Schleusener, Randy #53 (So.) C Searcey, L.G. #42 (So.) DB Selko, John #83 (Jr.) TE Sherry, Scott #91 (So.) DE Sims, Sammy #6 (So.) DB Smith, Tim #84 (Jr.) SE Sorley, Tom #12 (Sr.) QB Steels, Anthony #33 (So.) WB Steiner, Dan #58 (Jr.) OG Stewart, Eric #19 (Jr.) DB Swanigan, Raymond #53 (So.) LB Sukup, Dean #3 (Jr.) PK Theissen, Gordon #90 (Jr.) DE Todd, Billy #14 (Sr.) PK Vering, Tom #47 (Jr.) LB Walton, Darrell #7 (Sr.) DB Weinmaster, Kerry #51 (Jr.) MG Williams, Brent #66 (So.) LB Woodard, Scott #88 (So.) SE Wurth, Tim #25 (Jr.) IB       Depth chart I-Formation 5–2 Yes No Yes Tom Sorley Tim Hager Jeff Quinn I.M Hipp Rick Burns Tim Wurth Craig Johnson Rick Burns Andra Franklin Jim Kotera Tim Smith Frank Lockett Scott Woodard SE Kenny Brown Tim McCrady Maurice McCloney WB Junior Miller Jeff Finn John Selko Kelvin Clark Dan Steiner Mark Goodspeed Barney Cotton John Havekost Paul Potadle Kelly Saalfeld Jeff Bloom Trey DeLoach Steve Lindquist Lawrence Cooley Randy Schleusener Tom Ohrt Steve Glenn Mike Bruce Bruce Dunning Brent Williams Kim Baker INSDIE Lee Kunz Tom Vering John Ruud INSDIE Jeff Hansen Russell Gary Eric Stewart Jim Pillen Mark Leroy Bob Plambeck MONSTER BACK Andy Means Darrell Walton David Ligel Tim Fischer Rodney Lewis Paul Letcher Georgie Andrews Dan Lindstrom Gordon Theissen Bill Barnett Dan Pensick Randy Poeschl Kerry Weinmater Oudious Lee Curt Hineline Rod Horn David Clark Bill Bryant Lawrence Cole Derrie Nelson Daryl Holmes Billy Todd Tim Smith 110 90 No Coaching staff Name Title First yearin this position Years atNebraska Alma materTom OsborneHead coach/offensive coordinator19731964–1997Hastings CollegeJerry MooreReceivers19781973–1978BaylorLance Van ZandtDefensive coordinatorDefensive backs19771977–1980LamarCletus FischerOffensive line 1960–1985NebraskaJohn MeltonLinebackers19731962–1988WyomingMike CorganRunning backs19621962–1982Notre DameBoyd EpleyHead strength coach19691969–2003NebraskaGeorge DarlingtonDefensive ends 1973–2002 RutgersMilt TenopirOffensive line19741974–2002 SterlingGuy InglesFreshman Head Coach 1976–1978NebraskaGene HueyReceivers19771977–1986WyomingCharlie McBrideDefensive line19771977–1999Colorado Game summaries Alabama #10 Nebraska at #1 Alabama [box score] #10 Nebraska #1 Alabama 3 0 0 0 0 7 6 7 1978-09-02 Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama CST 77,023 Tom Osborne brought his Nebraska Cornhuskers into Birmingham to face Bear Bryant's top-ranked Crimson Tide to start the 1978 season. The game was nationally televised. Bear Bryant felt his team was not prepared enough for the game and did not feel his team deserved their #1 rating.1978 Bryant:Tide Not No. 1 after Spring's Discontent The Sacramento Bee web https://www.newspapers.com/image/620943655/?terms=Michael%20Droese%20sprinter 13 March 2023 Nebraska put the first points on the board with a field goal halfway through the 1st quarter. However, the game belonged to Alabama for the rest of the day with no further answer from Nebraska. Alabama suffered no fumbles and rolled up twice as many ground yards as Nebraska. California California at #10 Nebraska [box score] California #10 Nebraska 7 0 7 12 0 7 7 22 1978-09-09 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,780 The Golden Bears were on the scoreboard first, but the Cornhuskers came back to tie midway through the 2nd quarter with help from a tricky two-handoff pass play to set up a score. The score was still tied at 14 through the 3rd quarter, before a surge of scoring opened up in the 4th as both teams combined for 34 points. Nebraska led on the ground 302–76, while California owned the air 271–190, but the Cornhuskers had more points at the final whistle. Hawaii Hawaii at #12 Nebraska [box score] 1978 University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Warriors Hawaii #12 Nebraska 0 0 10 0 7 28 7 14 1978-09-16 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,615 Nebraska rolled to a dominating 35–0 1st half lead, and eight Cornhusker players scored during the course of the game as Hawaii allowed 599 yards of offense in their futile attempts to slow the onslaught. Hawaii's only touchdown came on the heels of a Nebraska fumble, and the spread was by then far too great for the Warriors to pose a threat to the Cornhuskers. Indiana #12 Nebraska at Indiana [box score] #12 Nebraska Indiana 28 7 14 20 0 10 0 7 1978-09-30 Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana CST 42,738 Nebraska scored on all of their first four possessions and jumped to a 28-lead in the 1st quarter, scoring more points than Indiana would muster on the entire day. Five Cornhusker runners found the end zone, as well as a Blackshirt who recovered a fumble, as Nebraska rolled up 613 yards of offense for the day. Iowa State #10 Nebraska at #15 Iowa State [box score] #10 Nebraska #15 Iowa State 6 3 0 14 0 0 0 0 1978-10-07 Cyclone Stadium, Ames, Iowa CST 51,450 Nebraska was the first on the board and never allowed Iowa State to join them afterwards, as they led 9–0 at halftime and tacked on 14 more before the final whistle, while capitalizing on two interceptions thrown by the Cyclones and holding Iowa State to just 82 yards of total offense at their own home field. Kansas State #8 Nebraska at Kansas State [box score] #8 Nebraska Kansas State 0 14 21 13 0 7 0 7 1978-10-14 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 53,262 Kansas State made an effort to be competitive for a bit, but Nebraska kept going after obtaining a 14–7 halftime lead. The Wildcats were trailing by 28 before they put up their final 4th-quarter touchdown, which the Cornhuskers further marginalized with 13 additional points while posting their second consecutive 600+ yard game. Colorado Colorado at #5 Nebraska [box score] Colorado #5 Nebraska 14 0 0 0 3 11 17 21 1978-10-21 Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado CST 75,818 Colorado jumped out to an 11-point lead in the 1st quarter, helped in part by a 100-yard kickoff return, but there would be no further Colorado points allowed as Nebraska tallied 49 straight unanswered points for a win, while recording their third consecutive game with over 600 yards of offense. Oklahoma State Oklahoma State at #4 Nebraska [box score] Oklahoma State #4 Nebraska 7 0 7 0 0 19 3 0 1978-10-28 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,786 Oklahoma State held Nebraska to around half of the total offensive yards the Cornhuskers had accumulated in each of the last three games. Statistically it was close, as the Cowboys barely led in the air 110–99, while the Cornhuskers barely led on the ground 217–213, and the Cowboys also held the edge in 1st downs 17–15. But Nebraska scored a 42-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to play, going ahead by 8 and holding on for the win. Kansas #4 Nebraska at Kansas [box score] #4 Nebraska Kansas 7 35 14 7 0 7 8 6 1978-11-04 Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas CST 50,463 Nebraska started slow, only leading by 7 after the 1st quarter, but then the game blew open when the Cornhuskers put up four unanswered touchdowns in the 2nd and five overall, leading 42–7 at the half. The Jayhawks gamely put up 14 more points before the day was over, but not nearly enough to catch up, let alone overcome the additional 21 posted by the Cornhuskers before the final whistle. Nebraska's 799 total yards of offense set a new Big 8 record. Oklahoma #1 Oklahoma at #4 Nebraska [box score] #1 Oklahoma #4 Nebraska 7 0 7 0 0 7 7 3 1978-11-11 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,015 ABC Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles Earl Shostrom The game was the biggest since the original Nebraska-Oklahoma Game of the Century in 1971, as the top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma Sooners arrived in Lincoln to defend their ranking and possibly settle the 1978 Big 8 title with Nebraska. Oklahoma put up the first score, which was matched by Nebraska by halftime, and the game was still tied at 14 at the start of the 4th quarter. Nebraska put up the go-ahead field goal just minutes into the 4th, and the ensuing battle pitted the vaunted Oklahoma offense against the stalwart Blackshirts, who held until the end, finally forcing Oklahoma RB Billy Sims to fumble on the Nebraska 3 with 3:27 remaining to play and sealing the first Cornhusker victory over the Sooners since the famous 1971 contest. Missouri Missouri at #2 Nebraska [box score] Missouri #2 Nebraska 7 7 14 7 14 3 14 0 1978-11-18 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 75,850 The Cornhuskers were riding high from their win over #1 Oklahoma, but the Missouri Tigers downed the Cornhuskers in Lincoln 35–31. Nebraska RB Rick Berns, soon to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, started the day by tearing off an 82-yard run to set the tone. Nebraska was able to cling to a slim 3-point halftime lead through the 3rd quarter, but failed to answer Missouri's final touchdown with 3:42 remaining to play, which subsequently and unexpectedly sent both Oklahoma and Nebraska to the Orange Bowl to once again face each other. Oklahoma #6 Nebraska vs #4 Oklahoma [box score] #6 Nebraska #4 Oklahoma 7 0 3 14 7 7 17 0 1979-01-01 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami 8:30 p.m. EST 66,365 NBC Dick Enberg and John Brodie Just six weeks prior, Oklahoma and Nebraska met for the 1978 revisit of the "Game of the Century." Yet circumstances dictated that they would meet again for a rematch. Nebraska led the first down battle 27–17 and led Oklahoma in the air 220–47 as well as in total offense, but was hurt by two lost interceptions. Although behind by 7 at the half and falling to 31–10 by the end of the 3rd, the Cornhuskers rallied back and had a chance until IB Craig Johnson was stopped on a 4th-and-1 for no gain on the Sooners 7 with 8:07 left. Nebraska got the ball back and put it into the end zone again with :03 left on the clock to come within 7 points for the final score. Rankings 1978 NCAA Division I-A football rankings 16 AP 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 6 5 4 8 16 Coaches 8 Awards 1978 Husker Honors Award Name(s) National Coach of the Year Tom Osborne All-America 1st team George Andrews, Kelvin Clark All-America 2nd team Steve Lindquist All-America 3rd team Junior Miller All-America honorable mention Rick Berns, I. M. Hipp, Rod Horn, Lee Kunz Big 8 Coach of the Year Tom Osborne All-Big 8 1st team George Andrews, Rick Berns, Kelvin Clark, Steve Lindquist, Junior Miller, Jim Pillen All-Big 8 2nd team Kenny Brown, Barney Cotton, I. M. Hipp, Rod Horn, Lee Kunz, Tim Smith, Billy Todd, Kerry Weinmaster All-Big 8 honorable mention Andra Franklin, Jeff Hansen, Andy Means, Derrie Nelson, Tom Ohrt, Kelly Saalfeld, Tom Sorley NFL and pro players The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1978 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 2009-06-10 Name Team Bill Barnett Miami Dolphins Rick Berns Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kelvin Clark Denver Broncos Barney Cotton Cincinnati Bengals Andra Franklin Miami Dolphins Russell Gary New Orleans Saints Mark Goodspeed St. Louis Cardinals Rod Horn Cincinnati Bengals Lee Kunz Chicago Bears Jeff Lee St. Louis Cardinals Oudious Lee St. Louis Cardinals Rodney Lewis New Orleans Saints Frank Lockett Boston Breakers Junior Miller Atlanta Falcons Derrie Nelson San Diego Chargers Jeff Quinn Pittsburgh Steelers Anthony Steels Boston Breakers References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Category:Big Eight Conference football champion seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football