Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry

The Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry was an American college football rivalry between the Missouri Tigers and Nebraska Cornhuskers. The rivalry was the second oldest in the Big 12 Conference and third oldest west of the Mississippi River. However, it ended following the 2010 game, when Nebraska and Missouri met in league play for the last time prior to Nebraska's 2011 move to the Big Ten Conference.[2][3][4][5] In November 2011, Missouri announced that it would join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012.

Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry
Missouri Tigers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
First meetingNovember 5, 1892
Latest meetingOctober 30, 2010
TrophyVictory Bell
Statistics
Meetings total104
All-time seriesNebraska leads, 65–36–3[1]
Largest victoryNebraska, 62–0 (1972)
Current win streakNebraska, 2
Locations of Missouri and Nebraska

Series history

The Tigers and Cornhuskers have met 104 times since 1892, dating back to the formation of the Western Interstate University Football Association.[6]

The rivalry remained competitive through 1978, with Nebraska leading the series 37–32–3 up to that point. However, starting in 1979, Missouri lost the next 24 games.

Following a close overtime game in Columbia in 1997, the rivalry began to gain attention once again. A miraculous touchdown catch by Nebraska's Matt Davison tied the ballgame at the end of regulation, which allowed #1 Nebraska to barely escape a loss to unranked Missouri. Davison caught the ball after it bounced off the hands, chest, foot of a Missouri safety and foot of teammate Shevin Wiggins in what is now known as the famous Flea Kicker play. Nebraska went on to share the national title with Michigan.[7] An unranked Missouri finally broke through in 2003 with a 41–24 victory over #10 Nebraska. Fans, players, and coaches from both sides had remarked that in recent years the rivalry had returned to the levels of intensity that was felt prior to the late 1980s.[8]

A Missouri campus tradition came to an end following the Tigers' win over Nebraska in 2005. Anytime the goalposts were torn down at Faurot Field, they were carried out of the stadium, around the columns, and then finally to Harpo's Bar and Grill at 29 S. Tenth Street in downtown Columbia, in a tradition that dated back to 1971. Students rushed the field and tore down the goal posts following the Missouri wins in 2003 and 2005. Following the 2005 incident, 20 fans were arrested on trespassing charges and the university announced it would be forming an internal task force to reduce fan rowdiness. In May 2006, Missouri athletic director Mike Alden announced that collapsible goalposts would be installed for the upcoming 2006 season, hoping to end any future incidents with students rushing the field to tear down the goalposts.[9]

End of the rivalry

On June 11, 2010, the Nebraska Cornhuskers announced that its regents unanimously voted to end the university's affiliation with the Big 12 Conference, and would be joining the Big Ten Conference beginning with the 2011 season.[10][11][12] Therefore, the October 30, 2010 contest between these two teams was the last unless the programs meet in a future non-conference game or postseason bowl game. On November 6, 2011, the Missouri Tigers announced their decision to leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference beginning with the 2012 season.

Due to both Nebraska's and Missouri's move to the Big Ten and SEC respectively, there are actually several opportunities for the teams to possibly meet in a bowl game each season. Three bowls feature the Big Ten and SEC as their contracted matchup, in addition to the possibility that other bowls can take teams from the Big Ten or SEC if their contracted conferences fail to produce enough bowl-eligible teams.

Victory Bell

The Victory Bell (sometimes known as the Missouri–Nebraska bell) was awarded to the winner of the Nebraska and Missouri football game annually.[13] The exchange was organized by the Innocents Society of Nebraska and QEBH of Missouri.[14][15]

The tradition dated back to 1892 when these teams first met, when the bell was taken from a church in Seward, Nebraska by members of Nebraska fraternities Phi Delta Theta and Delta Tau Delta. At the time, the members of the two fraternities occupied the same house. When the two groups moved into separate houses, there was a dispute over who should keep the bell. Annual scholastic or athletic contests were held, with the bell being used as a trophy. This rivalry abated, yet still the ownership of the bell was left in question.

In 1926, Missouri athletic director Chester D. Brewer suggested an annual award be established for the annual Missouri-Nebraska football game. The bell was selected to be the prize to end the conflict between the fraternities, and the letters 'M' and 'N' were engraved on opposite sides of the bell.[16] The exchange was coordinated by the Innocents Society and Missouri's prestigious Q.E.B.H. Society. Missouri won the first game in 1927 7–6. The scores from the games up through 2005 are engraved on the bell.[14]

With Nebraska's victory over Missouri in the final league meeting of these teams on October 30, 2010, Nebraska's Memorial Stadium became the apparent final home of the Victory Bell, though a commemorative bell will be produced for permanent display at the University of Missouri. It is possible that the Victory Bell could change hands again if the teams meet in a future non-conference game or postseason bowl game.[17]

Game results
Missouri victoriesNebraska victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 November 5, 1892 Omaha Nebraska 1–0†
2 November 11, 1893 Kansas City Missouri 30–18
3 November 3, 1894 Kansas City Missouri 18–14
4 November 2, 1895 Omaha Nebraska 12–10
5 October 26, 1896 Columbia Nebraska 8–4
6 October 30, 1897 Lincoln Nebraska 41–0
7 October 24, 1898 Columbia Nebraska 47–6
8 October 21, 1899 Lincoln Missouri 11–0
9 November 5, 1900 Columbia Nebraska 12–0
10 November 9, 1901 Omaha Nebraska 51–0
11 October 25, 1902 St. Joseph Nebraska 12–0
12 October 28, 1911 Lincoln Nebraska 34–0
13 November 2, 1912 Columbia Nebraska 7–0
14 November 10, 1917 Lincoln Nebraska 52–0
15 November 8, 1919 Columbia Nebraska 12–5
16 October 21, 1922 Lincoln Nebraska 48–0
17 October 27, 1923 Columbia Tie7–7
18 November 1, 1924 Lincoln Nebraska 14–6
19 October 10, 1925 Columbia Missouri 9–6
20 October 9, 1926 Lincoln Missouri 14–7
21 October 8, 1927 Columbia Missouri 7–6
22 October 27, 1928 Lincoln Nebraska 24–0
23 October 26, 1929 Columbia Tie7–7
24 November 15, 1930 Lincoln Tie0–0
25 October 31, 1931 Columbia Nebraska 10–7
26 November 24, 1932 Lincoln Nebraska 21–6
27 November 4, 1933 Columbia Nebraska 26–0
28 November 24, 1934 Lincoln Nebraska 13–6
29 November 2, 1935 Columbia Nebraska 19–6
30 October 31, 1936 Lincoln #11 Nebraska 20–0
31 October 23, 1937 Columbia #8 Nebraska 7–0
32 October 29, 1938 Lincoln Missouri 13–10
33 November 4, 1939 Columbia Missouri 27–13
34 October 26, 1940 Lincoln #18 Nebraska 20–7
35 October 25, 1941 Columbia Missouri 6–0
36 November 7, 1942 Lincoln Missouri 26–6
37 October 30, 1943 Columbia Missouri 54–20
38 October 28, 1944 Lincoln Nebraska 24–20
39 October 27, 1945 Columbia Missouri 19–0
40 November 2, 1946 Lincoln Missouri 21–20
41 November 1, 1947 Columbia Missouri 47–6
42 November 13, 1948 Lincoln Missouri 33–6
43 October 29, 1949 Columbia #16 Missouri 21–20
44 November 4, 1950 Lincoln Nebraska 40–34
45 October 27, 1951 Columbia Missouri 35–19
46 November 1, 1952 Lincoln Missouri 10–6
47 October 24, 1953 Columbia Missouri 23–7
48 October 30, 1954 Lincoln Nebraska 25–19
49 October 22, 1955 Columbia Nebraska 18–12
50 November 3, 1956 Lincoln Nebraska 15–14
51 October 26, 1957 Columbia Missouri 14–13
52 November 1, 1958 Lincoln Missouri 31–0
53 October 24, 1959 Columbia Missouri 9–0
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
54 October 29, 1960 Lincoln #5 Missouri 28–0
55 October 28, 1961 Columbia Missouri 10–0
56 November 3, 1962 Lincoln Missouri 16–7
57 November 2, 1963 Columbia Nebraska 13–12
58 October 31, 1964 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 9–0
59 October 30, 1965 Columbia #3 Nebraska 16–14
60 October 29, 1966 Lincoln #8 Nebraska 35–0
61 November 18, 1967 Columbia Missouri 10–7
62 October 19, 1968 Lincoln #20 Missouri 16–14
63 October 11, 1969 Columbia #7 Missouri 17–7
64 October 10, 1970 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 21–7
65 October 9, 1971 Columbia #1 Nebraska 36–0
66 October 14, 1972 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 62–0
67 October 13, 1973 Columbia #12 Missouri 13–12
68 October 12, 1974 Lincoln Missouri 21–10
69 November 1, 1975 Columbia #3 Nebraska 30–7
70 October 23, 1976 Lincoln #17 Missouri 34–24
71 November 5, 1977 Columbia #11 Nebraska 21–10
72 November 18, 1978 Lincoln Missouri 35–31
73 November 3, 1979 Columbia #2 Nebraska 23–20
74 November 1, 1980 Lincoln #8 Nebraska 38–16
75 October 24, 1981 Columbia #15 Nebraska 6–0
76 October 23, 1982 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 23–19
77 October 15, 1983 Columbia #1 Nebraska 34–13
78 October 13, 1984 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 33–23
79 October 19, 1985 Columbia #7 Nebraska 28–20
80 October 18, 1986 Lincoln #3 Nebraska 48–17
81 October 31, 1987 Columbia #2 Nebraska 42–7
82 October 29, 1988 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 26–18
83 October 14, 1989 Columbia #4 Nebraska 50–7
84 October 13, 1990 Lincoln #7 Nebraska 69–21
85 October 26, 1991 Lincoln #9 Nebraska 63–6
86 October 24, 1992 Columbia #8 Nebraska 34–24
87 October 23, 1993 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 49–7
88 October 22, 1994 Columbia #3 Nebraska 42–7
89 October 14, 1995 Lincoln #2 Nebraska 57–0
90 November 9, 1996 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 51–7
91 November 8, 1997 Columbia #1 Nebraska 45–38OT
92 October 24, 1998 Lincoln #7 Nebraska 20–13
93 September 25, 1999 Columbia #6 Nebraska 40–10
94 September 30, 2000 Lincoln #1 Nebraska 42–24
95 September 29, 2001 Columbia #4 Nebraska 36–3
96 October 12, 2002 Lincoln Nebraska 24–13
97 October 11, 2003 Columbia Missouri 41–24
98 October 30, 2004 Lincoln Nebraska 24–3
99 October 22, 2005 Columbia Missouri 41–24
100 November 4, 2006 Lincoln Nebraska 34–20
101 October 6, 2007 Columbia #17 Missouri 41–6
102 October 4, 2008 Lincoln #4 Missouri 52–17
103 October 8, 2009 Columbia #21 Nebraska 27–12
104 October 30, 2010 Lincoln #14 Nebraska 31–17
Series: Nebraska leads 65–36–3[1]
† Missouri forfeit, see 1892 Nebraska Bugeaters football team

See also

References
  1. "Winsipedia - Missouri Tigers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers football series history". Winsipedia.
  2. "Omaha.com". Archived from the original on 2012-09-14.
  3. "Rivalry appears strong between Missouri and Nebraska". ESPN.com. 9 October 2009.
  4. "Missouri-Nebraska a fight to the death – The Maneater".
  5. "Lesser Known College Football Rivalries".
  6. "Sports News & latest headlines from AOL". AOL.com.
  7. Maisel, Ivan (1997-11-12). "Hallowed Be His Name". CNN/SI. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  8. "Historic rivalry between Missouri, Nebraska revived". Daily Nebraskan. 2006-06-15. Archived from the original on 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  9. "Missouri wants to stop toppling of goal posts". USA Today. October 25, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  10. "Perlman hopes to begin Big Ten athletics by 2011". Lincoln Journal Star. Archived from the original on 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  11. "Nebraska to the Big Ten". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  12. "It's unanimous: Nebraska to the Big Ten". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  13. "College Football Tickets Missouri". Archived from the original on 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  14. "The Innocents Society". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  15. "Mascot & Football Traditions". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2010-03-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "The final Battle for the Bell?". HuskerExtra.com. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
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