List of Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons
The Nebraska Cornhuskers football team competes as part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, representing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the West Division of the Big Ten. Nebraska plays its home games at Memorial Stadium, where it has sold out every game since 1962.[1] The team is currently coached by Scott Frost.
Nebraska is among the most storied programs in college football history. Through 2019, the Cornhuskers rank seventh in all-time victories among FBS teams.[2] Nebraska claims 46 conference championships and five national championships (1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, and 1997), and has won nine other national championships that the school does not claim.[3][4] NU's 1971 and 1995 title-winning teams are considered to be among the best in college football history.[5] Famous Cornhuskers include Heisman Trophy winners Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, and Eric Crouch, who join 22 other Cornhuskers in the College Football Hall of Fame. Notable among these are players Bob Brown, Guy Chamberlin, Tommie Frazier, Rich Glover, Dave Rimington, and Will Shields, and coaches Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne.[6]
The program's first extended period of success came just after the turn of the century. Between 1900 and 1916, Nebraska had five undefeated seasons and completed a stretch of 34 consecutive games without a loss, still a program record.[7] Despite a span of 21 conference championships in 33 seasons, the Cornhuskers didn't experience major national success until Bob Devaney was hired in 1962. In eleven seasons as head coach, Devaney won two national championships, eight conference titles, and coached 22 All-Americans, but perhaps his most lasting achievement was the hiring of Tom Osborne as offensive coordinator in 1969.[8] Osborne was named Devaney's successor in 1973, and over the next 25 years established himself as one of the best coaches in college football history with his trademark I-form offense and revolutionary strength, conditioning, and nutrition programs.[9][10][11] Following Osborne's retirement in 1997, Nebraska cycled through four head coaches before hiring state native Scott Frost in 2017.[12]
Season-by-season results
National champion | Conference champion | Division champion | Bowl game |
Season | Coach[A 1] | Season results | Bowl game[A 2] | Final rank[A 3] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall | Conf. | Standing | AP | CP | ||||
Nebraska Old Gold Knights | ||||||||
Independent (1890–1891) | ||||||||
1890 | Langdon Frothingham | 2–0 | ||||||
1891 | Theron Lyman | 2–2 | ||||||
Nebraska Bugeaters | ||||||||
Western Interstate University Football Association (1892–1897) | ||||||||
1892 | J.S. Williams | 2–2–1 | 1–1–1 | T–2nd | ||||
1893 | Frank Crawford | 3–2–1 | 1–2 | T–3rd | ||||
1894 | 6–2 | 2–1 | T–1st | |||||
1895 | Charles Thomas | 6–2 | 2–1 | T–1st | ||||
1896 | Eddie N. Robinson | 6–3–1 | 1–1–1 | 3rd | ||||
1897 | 5–1 | 3–0 | 1st | |||||
Independent (1898–1906) | ||||||||
1898 | Fielding Yost | 8–3 | ||||||
1899 | Alonzo Edwin Branch | 1–7–1 | ||||||
Nebraska Cornhuskers | ||||||||
1900 | Walter C. Booth | 6–1–1 | ||||||
1901 | 6–2 | |||||||
1902 | 9–0 | |||||||
1903 | 10–0 | |||||||
1904 | 7–3 | |||||||
1905 | 8–2 | |||||||
1906 | Amos Foster | 6–4 | ||||||
Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1907–1918) | ||||||||
1907 | King Cole | 8–2 | 1–0 | T–1st | ||||
1908 | 7–2–1 | 2–1 | T–2nd | |||||
1909 | 3–3–2 | 0–1–1 | 5th | |||||
1910 | 7–1 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
1911 | Ewald O. Stiehm | 5–1–2 | 2–0–1 | T–1st | ||||
1912 | 7–1 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
1913 | 8–0 | 3–0 | T–1st | |||||
1914 | 7–0–1 | 3–0 | 1st | |||||
1915 | 8–0 | 4–0 | 1st | |||||
1916 | E. J. Stewart | 6–2 | 3–1 | 1st | ||||
1917 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
1918 | William G. Kline | 2–3–1 | —[A 4] | |||||
Independent (1919–1920) | ||||||||
1919 | Henry Schulte | 3–3–2 | ||||||
1920 | 5–3–1 | |||||||
Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1921–1927) | ||||||||
1921 | Fred Dawson | 7–1 | 3–0 | 1st | ||||
1922 | 7–1 | 5–0 | T–1st | |||||
1923 | 4–2–2 | 3–0–2 | 1st | |||||
1924 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
1925 | Ernest Bearg | 4–2–2 | 2–2–1 | T–5th | ||||
1926 | 6–2 | 5–1 | 2nd | |||||
1927 | 6–2 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
Big Six Conference (1928–1947) | ||||||||
1928 | Ernest Bearg | 7–1–1 | 5–0 | 1st | ||||
1929 | Dana X. Bible | 4–1–3 | 3–0–2 | 1st | ||||
1930 | 4–3–2 | 2–2–1 | 4th | |||||
1931 | 8–2 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
1932 | 7–1–1 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
1933 | 8–1 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
1934 | 6–3 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
1935 | 6–2–1 | 4–0–1 | 1st | |||||
1936 | 7–2 | 5–0 | 1st | 9 | ||||
1937 | Biff Jones | 6–1–2 | 3–0–2 | 1st | 11 | |||
1938 | 3–5–1 | 2–3 | T–3rd | |||||
1939 | 7–1–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | 18 | ||||
1940 | 8–2 | 5–0 | 1st | Lost Rose Bowl (Stanford) 21–13 | 7 | |||
1941 | 4–5 | 3–2 | T–2nd | |||||
1942 | Glenn Presnell | 3–7 | 3–2 | 3rd | ||||
1943 | Adolph J. Lewandowski | 2–6 | 2–3 | T–4th | ||||
1944 | 2–6 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
1945 | George Clark | 4–5 | 2–3 | 4th | ||||
1946 | Bernie Masterson | 3–6 | 3–2 | T–3rd | ||||
1947 | 2–7 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
Big Seven Conference (1948–1959) | ||||||||
1948 | George Clark | 2–8 | 2–4 | T–5th | ||||
1949 | Bill Glassford | 4–5 | 3–3 | T–3rd | ||||
1950 | 6–2–1 | 4–2 | 2nd | 17 | 20 | |||
1951 | 2–8 | 2–4 | T–4th | |||||
1952 | 5–4–1 | 3–2–1 | 3rd | |||||
1953 | 3–6–1 | 2–4 | T–4th | |||||
1954 | 6–5 | 4–2 | 2nd | Lost Orange Bowl (Duke) 34–7 | ||||
1955 | 5–5 | 5–1 | 2nd | |||||
1956 | Pete Elliott | 4–6 | 3–3 | 4th | ||||
1957 | Bill Jennings | 1–9 | 1–5 | 7th | ||||
1958 | 3–7 | 1–5 | 6th | |||||
1959 | 4–6 | 2–4 | 6th | |||||
Big Eight Conference (1960–1995) | ||||||||
1960 | Bill Jennings | 4–6 | 2–5 | T–6th | ||||
1961 | 3–6–1 | 2–5 | T–6th | |||||
1962 | Bob Devaney | 9–2 | 5–2 | 3rd | Won Gotham Bowl (Miami) 36–34 | |||
1963 | 10–1 | 7–0 | 1st | Won Orange Bowl (Auburn) 13–7 | 6 | 5 | ||
1964 | 9–2 | 6–1 | 1st | Lost Cotton Bowl Classic (Arkansas) 10–7 | 6 | 6 | ||
1965 | 10–1 | 7–0 | 1st | Lost Orange Bowl (Alabama) 39–28 | ||||
1966 | 9–2 | 6–1 | 1st | Lost Sugar Bowl (Alabama) 34–7 | 6 | 7 | ||
1967 | 6–4 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
1968 | 6–4 | 3–4 | T–4th | |||||
1969 | 9–2 | 6–1 | T–1st | Won Sun Bowl (Georgia) 45–6 | 11 | 12 | ||
1970 | 11–0–1 | 7–0 | 1st | Won Orange Bowl (LSU) 17–12 | 1 | 3 | ||
1971 | 13–0 | 7–0 | 1st | Won Orange Bowl (Alabama) 38–6 | 1 | 1 | ||
1972 | 9–2–1 | 5–1–1 | 1st | Won Orange Bowl (Notre Dame) 40–6 | 4 | 9 | ||
1973 | Tom Osborne | 9–2–1 | 4–2–1 | T–2nd | Won Cotton Bowl Classic (Texas) 19–3 | 7 | 11 | |
1974 | 9–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | Won Sugar Bowl (Florida) 13–10 | 9 | 8 | ||
1975 | 10–2 | 6–1 | T–1st | Lost Fiesta Bowl (Arizona State) 17–14 | 9 | 9 | ||
1976 | 9–3–1 | 4–3 | T–4th | Won Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl (Texas Tech) 27–24 | 9 | 7 | ||
1977 | 9–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | Won Liberty Bowl (North Carolina) 21–17 | 12 | 10 | ||
1978 | 9–3 | 6–1 | T–1st | Lost Orange Bowl (Oklahoma) 31–24 | 8 | 8 | ||
1979 | 10–2 | 6–1 | 2nd | Lost Cotton Bowl Classic (Houston) 17–14 | 9 | 7 | ||
1980 | 10–2 | 6–1 | 2nd | Won Sun Bowl (Mississippi State) 31–17 | 7 | 7 | ||
1981 | 9–3 | 7–0 | 1st | Lost Orange Bowl (Clemson) 22–15 | 11 | 9 | ||
1982 | 12–1 | 7–0 | 1st | Won Orange Bowl (LSU) 21–20 | 3 | 3 | ||
1983 | 12–1 | 7–0 | 1st | Lost Orange Bowl (Miami) 31–30 | 2 | 2 | ||
1984 | 10–2 | 6–1 | T–1st | Won Sugar Bowl (LSU) 28–10 | 4 | 3 | ||
1985 | 9–3 | 6–1 | 2nd | Lost Fiesta Bowl (Michigan) 27–23 | 11 | 10 | ||
1986 | 10–2 | 5–2 | 3rd | Won Sugar Bowl (LSU) 30–15 | 5 | 4 | ||
1987 | 10–2 | 6–1 | 2nd | Lost Fiesta Bowl (Florida State) 31–28 | 6 | 6 | ||
1988 | 11–2 | 7–0 | 1st | Lost Orange Bowl (Miami) 23–3 | 10 | 10 | ||
1989 | 10–2 | 6–1 | 2nd | Lost Fiesta Bowl (Florida State) 41–17 | 11 | 12 | ||
1990 | 9–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | Lost Florida Citrus Bowl (Georgia Tech) 45–21 | 24 | 17 | ||
1991 | 9–2–1 | 6–0–1 | T–1st | Lost Orange Bowl (Miami) 22–0 | 15 | 16 | ||
1992 | 9–3 | 6–1 | 1st | Lost Orange Bowl (Florida State) 27–14 | 14 | 14 | ||
1993 | 11–1 | 7–0 | 1st | Lost Orange Bowl (Florida State) 18–16 | 3 | 3 | ||
1994 | 13–0 | 7–0 | 1st | Won Orange Bowl (Miami) 24–17 | 1 | 1 | ||
1995 | 12–0 | 7–0 | 1st | Won Fiesta Bowl (Florida) 62–24 | 1 | 1 | ||
Big 12 Conference (North Division) (1996–2010) | ||||||||
1996 | Tom Osborne | 11–2 | 8–0 | 1st | Won Orange Bowl (Virginia Tech) 41–21 | 6 | 6 | |
1997 | 13–0 | 8–0 | 1st | Won Orange Bowl (Tennessee) 42–17 | 2 | 1 | ||
1998 | Frank Solich | 9–4 | 5–3 | 2nd | Lost Holiday Bowl (Arizona) 23–20 | 19 | 20 | |
1999 | 12–1 | 7–1 | 1st | Won Fiesta Bowl (Tennessee) 31–21 | 3 | 2 | ||
2000 | 10–2 | 6–2 | T–1st[A 5] | Won Alamo Bowl (Northwestern) 66–17 | 8 | 7 | ||
2001 | 11–2 | 7–1 | T–1st[A 6] | Lost Rose Bowl (Miami) 37–14 | 8 | 7 | ||
2002 | 7–7 | 3–5 | 4th | Lost Independence Bowl (Ole Miss) 27–23 | ||||
2003 | 10–3 | 5–3 | 2nd | Won Alamo Bowl (Michigan State) 17–3[A 7] | 19 | 18 | ||
2004 | Bill Callahan | 5–6 | 3–5 | T–3rd | ||||
2005 | 8–4 | 4–4 | T–2nd | Won Alamo Bowl (Michigan) 32–28 | 24 | 24 | ||
2006 | 9–5 | 6–2 | 1st | Lost Cotton Bowl Classic (Auburn) 17–14 | ||||
2007 | 5–7 | 2–6 | T–5th | |||||
2008 | Bo Pelini | 9–4 | 5–3 | T–1st[A 8] | Won Gator Bowl (Clemson) 26–21 | |||
2009 | 10–4 | 6–2 | 1st | Won Holiday Bowl (Arizona) 33–0 | 14 | 14 | ||
2010 | 10–4 | 6–2 | T–1st | Lost Holiday Bowl (Washington) 19–7 | 20 | 19 | ||
Big Ten Conference (Legends Division) (2011–2013) | ||||||||
2011 | Bo Pelini | 9–4 | 5–3 | 3rd | Lost Capital One Bowl (South Carolina) 30–13 | 24 | 24 | |
2012 | 10–4 | 7–1 | 1st | Lost Capital One Bowl (Georgia) 45–31 | 25 | 23 | ||
2013 | 9–4 | 5–3 | T–2nd | Won Gator Bowl (Georgia) 24–19 | 25 | |||
Big Ten Conference (West Division) (2014–present) | ||||||||
2014 | Bo Pelini | 9–4 | 5–3 | T–2nd | Lost Holiday Bowl (USC) 45–42[A 9] | |||
2015 | Mike Riley | 6–7 | 3–5 | 4th | Won Foster Farms Bowl (UCLA) 37–29 | |||
2016 | 9–4 | 6–3 | T–2nd | Lost Music City Bowl (Tennessee) 38–24 | ||||
2017 | 4–8 | 3–6 | 5th | |||||
2018 | Scott Frost | 4–8 | 3–6 | T–5th | ||||
2019 | 5–7 | 3–6 | T–5th | |||||
2020[A 10] | 3–5 | 3–5 | 5th | |||||
2021 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||||||
879–373–40 | (regular season) | |||||||
26–27 | (bowl games) | |||||||
905–400–40 | (overall) | |||||||
Notes
- Nebraska's earliest coaching history is unclear. Many were nominal in their roles and likely only coached single games, if any. Nebraska played with no official coach until Frank Crawford was hired in 1893[13]
- The first college football bowl game was played in 1902. No other bowl game was played until 1916, when the Rose Bowl Game became the first annual bowl game
- The Associated Press began conducting a weekly college football poll in 1936. A weekly poll of college football coaches was introduced in 1950[14]
- The MVIAA did not have standings or award a champion in 1918 due to World War I and the outbreak of the Spanish flu
- Nebraska and Kansas State tied for the Big 12 North title in 2000. Kansas State played in the conference championship game, having defeated the Cornhuskers in the regular season
- Nebraska and Colorado tied for the Big 12 North title in 2001. Colorado played in the conference championship game, having defeated the Cornhuskers in the regular season
- Bo Pelini served as interim head coach for the 2003 Alamo Bowl
- Nebraska and Missouri tied for the Big 12 North title in 2008. Missouri played in the conference championship game, having defeated the Cornhuskers in the regular season
- Barney Cotton served as interim coach for the 2014 Holiday Bowl
- Nebraska's out-of-conference schedule was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
References
- "Nebraska vs. Missouri 1962". HuskerMax.
- http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2019/FBS.pdf
- "Nebraska Conference Championships". Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- "Title teams – HuskerMax™". Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- "Best college football teams of all-time". Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- "Major Football Award Winners". Huskers.com. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
- "Nebraska Football Schedules 1910–1919". HuskerMax. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- "Tom's Time: Devaney Selects His Successor". HuskerMax. October 3, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- "The 150 greatest coaches in college football's 150-year history". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- "The Greatest Coaches in College Football History". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- "Epley leaving Huskers". Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- "Nebraska officially announces hiring of Scott Frost, introductory press conference scheduled for Sunday". Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- http://www.huskersnside.com//pdf5/40179.pdf?
- Football Bowl Subdivision Records, p. 80
- http://www.huskers.com/pdf9/2760511.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=100