The 1970 NCAA Football Championship: A Season of Upsets and a Cornhusker Coronation
The 1970 NCAA University Division football season was a year of unexpected twists and turns, ultimately culminating in the Nebraska Cornhuskers claiming the national championship. This article delves into the details of that season, exploring the Cornhuskers' journey, the challenges faced by other top contenders, and the key moments that defined the championship race.
Pre-Season Expectations and Early Challenges
Early in the 1970 season, Jerry Murtaugh, a senior linebacker and co-captain for Nebraska, boldly predicted that the Cornhuskers would win the national championship. Murtaugh's confidence was understandable, given his impressive record and the team's potential. However, he was one of only three defensive starters returning. Furthermore, the path to a national championship is never entirely within a team's control.
Nebraska started the season ranked No. 9. Their journey began with a 36-12 victory against Wake Forest. However, Murtaugh's brash prediction seemed like a longshot after the Cornhuskers tied Southern California (USC) 21-21 at the LA Coliseum in their second game. While a tie against No. 3 USC was not a disgrace, it left Nebraska at No. 8 in the Associated Press (AP) poll, far from the top spot. Nebraska entered the game as a two-touchdown underdog to a USC squad fresh off a 42-21 whipping of Alabama in Birmingham, but never trailed the Trojans during the course of the game.
Dominance in the Big Eight
Despite the early setback, the Cornhuskers found their stride as they entered Big Eight play. They rolled through the conference, steadily climbing in the rankings. A significant moment came with a 51-13 victory against No. 20 Kansas State, propelling them to No. 3 in the AP rankings. In the next-to-last game of the regular season, Kansas State came to Lincoln with hopes of a Big Eight title opportunity, but they were not prepared for the domination that Nebraska would show them in a convincing defeat. The Wildcats managed only two touchdowns, one of which came with 5 minutes remaining in the 4th against the Nebraska reserves.
The Cornhuskers secured the Big Eight championship outright by defeating Oklahoma 28-21 at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska had to come from behind twice during the game against the young Sooners, who could have earned a share of the conference title with a victory.
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Nebraska finished the regular season with a 10-0-1 record, marking their first undefeated regular season since 1965. They were ranked No. 3 in both wire service polls, trailing No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Ohio State, both of whom were unbeaten and untied.
The Bowl Games and Championship Chaos
The Cornhuskers were matched against No. 5 LSU in the Orange Bowl. Meanwhile, Texas faced Notre Dame in a rematch of the previous year's Cotton Bowl, and Ohio State played Stanford in the Rose Bowl. Nebraska's hopes of winning the AP national championship hinged on a series of upsets. Both Texas and Ohio State needed to lose, and the Cornhuskers would have to win their game.
The stage was set for a dramatic New Year's Day. Notre Dame upset Texas 24-11, ending the Longhorns' 30-game winning streak. Stanford staged a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Ohio State 27-17. With the top two teams falling, Nebraska had an opportunity to seize the championship.
The Cornhuskers appeared ready to seize their opportunity, jumping ahead of LSU 10-0 in the first 13 minutes of the Orange Bowl. Third-ranked Nebraska jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and lead 10-3 at halftime, but #5 LSU fought back to make a game of it, pulling ahead on a field goal at the end of the 3rd quarter to get to 12-10. Nebraska responded by driving 67 yards for the winning touchdown, scored by Jerry Tagge from one yard away with 8:50 remaining. The Blackshirts held on the rest of the way to preserve the win and the game's final points. Nebraska won the Orange Bowl 17-12.
The Aftermath and National Recognition
The series of upsets created a debate about who should be crowned national champion. Notre Dame Coach Ara Parseghian argued that his team should be the AP champion because it had defeated No. 1 Texas. However, Nebraska's dominant performance and the losses by Texas and Ohio State swayed the voters.
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Ultimately, Nebraska was a decisive No. 1 in the final AP poll. "I was afraid Ara's comments might influence the voters, but I guess the writers are too smart to take some coach's word,'' Cornhusker Coach Bob Devaney said. The Cornhuskers were also recognized by President Richard Nixon, who proclaimed NU No. 1, to the delight of 8,000 fans at the NU Coliseum on January 14, 1971.
Key Players and Coaching Staff
The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers were coached by Bob Devaney, a legendary figure in college football. Key players on the team included Jerry Murtaugh, the outspoken linebacker, and Jerry Tagge, the quarterback who scored the winning touchdown in the Orange Bowl.
The Significance of the 1970 Season
The 1970 season marked a turning point for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football program. It was their first national championship and the beginning of a dominant era. The team's success brought national recognition to the university and the state of Nebraska.
1970 Season Schedule and Results
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 12 | 1:30 pm | Wake Forest* | No. 9 | Memorial Stadium | W 36-12 | 76,319 | |
| September 19 | 10:00 pm | at No. 3 USC* | No. 9 | Los Angeles Coliseum | T 21-21 | 83,475 | |
| September 26 | 1:30 pm | Army* | No. 8 | Memorial Stadium | W 28-0 | 76,343 | |
| October 3 | 1:30 pm | at Minnesota* | No. 8 | Memorial Stadium | W 48-0 | 47,957 | |
| October 10 | 1:30 pm | No. 16 Missouri | No. 7 | Memorial Stadium | W 31-7 | 76,432 | |
| October 17 | 1:30 pm | at Kansas | No. 7 | Memorial Stadium | W 41-20 | 42,000 | |
| October 24 | 1:30 pm | Oklahoma State | No. 6 | Memorial Stadium | W 65-31 | 76,393 | |
| October 31 | 1:50 pm | at Colorado | No. 6 | Folsom Field | W 24-7 | 52,500 | |
| November 7 | 1:30 pm | at Iowa State | No. 4 | Memorial Stadium | W 49-14 | 41,800 | |
| November 14 | 1:30 pm | No. 20 Kansas State | No. 4 | Memorial Stadium | W 51-13 | 76,424 | |
| November 21 | 1:30 pm | Oklahoma | No. 3 | Memorial Stadium | W 28-21 | 76,462 | |
| January 1, 1971 | 7:35 pm | vs. No. 5 LSU* | No. 3 | Orange Bowl | W 17-12 | 81,525 |
Source: NCAA Statistics
Statistical Summary of Games
- Wake Forest: Wake Forest hit first with a field goal thanks to a Nebraska fumble, but by halftime, it was the Cornhuskers leading 28-5.
- USC: Nebraska entered the game as a two-touchdown underdog to a USC squad fresh off a 42-21 whipping of Alabama in Birmingham but never trailed the Trojans during the course of the game. Ironically, USC aided Nebraska's national championship push by defeating then-No. 2 Notre Dame 38-28 at Los Angeles in the regular season finale. The Trojans came into the rivalry just 5-4-1, while the Fighting Irish was 9-0.
- Missouri: Nebraska scored only 7 points in the first half, and Missouri matched it before the half.
- Kansas State: Kansas State came to Lincoln with hopes of a Big Eight title opportunity, but they were not prepared for the domination that Nebraska would show them in a convincing defeat. The Wildcats managed only two touchdowns, one of which came with 5 minutes remaining in the 4th against the Nebraska reserves.
- Oklahoma: Nebraska locked up their first unbeaten regular season since 1965 by coming from behind twice to get the win over stubborn Oklahoma.
- LSU: Third-ranked Nebraska jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and led 10-3 at halftime, but #5 LSU fought back to make a game of it, pulling ahead on a field goal at the end of the 3rd quarter to get to 12-10. With over eight minutes remaining, Jerry Tagge jumped over the pile from the 1-yard line for the game's final points, and the Blackshirts held on the rest of the way to preserve the win.
Additional Notes
- Through the 1973 season, the final UPI Coaches' Poll was released in early December, before the bowl games. In 1970 it picked Texas as national champion on December 8, before the Longhorns' 24-11 loss to Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on New Year's Day.
- President Richard Nixon honored Nebraska's 1970 national championship team and head coach Bob Devaney with the presentation of a presidential plaque (noting the team's No. 1 ranking).
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