History of Nebraska Cornhuskers football in Timeline

The Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represents the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in NCAA Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision, competing within the Big Ten Conference. Their home games have been played at Memorial Stadium since 1923, boasting a remarkable sellout streak since 1962, making attendance a major part of the program's identity.

1900: Iowa joins the Big Nine

A year later the schools became founding members of the Western Interstate University Football Association and played annually in Omaha (or suburb Council Bluffs) until Iowa joined the Big Nine (now the Big Ten) in 1900.

1900: Early Period of Success

Beginning in 1900, the Nebraska Cornhuskers football program experienced an extended period of success.

1901: Early Dominance

Starting in 1901, the Nebraska Cornhuskers experienced early dominance, including a twenty-four-game win streak.

1904: Continued Win Streak

By 1904, Nebraska continued its twenty-four game win streak and established itself as a regional powerhouse.

1906: Annual Series with Kansas Began

In 1906, Nebraska began playing Kansas every season. This was the start of the longest uninterrupted streak in Division I until 2010.

1907: Nebraska Field deemed inadequate

In 1907, Nebraska Field was considered inadequate, which later led to plans to build a new stadium.

1907: Founding members of MVIAA

In 1907, Nebraska and Iowa State were founding members of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (later the Big Eight).

1907: MVIAA Founding

In 1907, the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA) was founded, where Nebraska would win multiple titles.

1908: Antelope Field Conditions

Prior to 1908, Nebraska played home games at Antelope Field, known for being either very hard or muddy.

1909: Nebraska Field Opens

In 1909, Nebraska Field opened at the corner of North 10th and T Street, replacing Antelope Field.

1911: Ewald Stiehm Hired

In 1911, Ewald O. "Jumbo" Stiehm was hired as Nebraska's first full-time coach.

1913: Kansas State Joins MVIAA and Threatens Boycott

In 1913, Kansas State (KSU) joined the MVIAA and threatened to boycott their game against Nebraska due to the presence of a black player on Nebraska's roster. The game was played as scheduled.

1913: Series Discontinued

In 1913, the series between Nebraska and Minnesota was discontinued after Minnesota's head coach, Henry L. Williams, was upset with Nebraska's use of the "Minnesota shift."

1915: Invitation to Second Ever Bowl Game Declined

In 1915, Nebraska declined an invitation to face Washington State in the second bowl game ever played, due to the cost of travel.

1915: Retroactive National Championship

In 1915, Nebraska's 8-0 team was retroactively awarded a national championship.

1915: Momentum toward steel-and-concrete stadium

In 1915, significant momentum built toward constructing a steel-and-concrete stadium due to the Nebraska Cornhuskers football program's success and the deteriorating condition of Nebraska Field.

1916: End of Early Success Period

By 1916, Nebraska had achieved five undefeated seasons, and went thirty-four games without a loss, marking the end of an early era of success.

1920: Signs with Decatur Staleys

In 1920, Guy Chamberlin, Nebraska's first consensus All-American, signed with the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears).

1920: Blue practice jerseys worn against South Dakota

In 1920, Nebraska wore blue practice jerseys against South Dakota when the visiting Coyotes mistakenly brought their home reds to Lincoln.

1920: Oklahoma Joins MVIAA

In 1920, Oklahoma joined the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA).

1921: Annual Series Began

In 1921, Nebraska and Oklahoma began an annual series when Nebraska rejoined the conference.

November 30, 1922: Nebraska defeats Notre Dame

On November 30, 1922, Nebraska secured a 14–6 victory over Notre Dame, marking the final game played at Nebraska Field.

October 13, 1923: Memorial Stadium Opens

On October 13, 1923, the unfinished Memorial Stadium opened, dedicated to Nebraskans who served in various wars, with an initial capacity of 31,080.

1923: Memorial Stadium Established

In 1923, Memorial Stadium became the home field for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.

1923: Nebraska Field torn down and Memorial Stadium construction begins

In early 1923, Nebraska Field was demolished, and construction commenced on Memorial Stadium on the same site.

1926: Start of uninterrupted series

From 1926 to 2010, Nebraska and Iowa State played each other uninterrupted as they moved from the Big Eight to the Big 12.

1927: Annual Games since 1927

Since 1927, Nebraska and Oklahoma played annually.

1927: Victory Bell Awarded

Since 1927, the Missouri-Nebraska Bell (commonly referred to as the Victory Bell) has been awarded to the victor of the Nebraska-Missouri game.

1930: Helmets used as early as 1930

As early as 1930, Nebraska alternated between plain white or red helmets.

1932: Red helium balloon tradition begins

As early as 1932, fans at Memorial Stadium released red helium balloons when Nebraska scores its first points.

1932: Series Resumes

In 1932, the series between Nebraska and Minnesota resumed.

1933: Jersey numbers added to uniforms

In 1933, jersey numbers were added to solid-colored uniforms, establishing a consistent design.

1937: Sam Francis Drafted First Overall

In 1937, Sam Francis was drafted first overall into the National Football League.

1939: Nebraska at Manhattan Televised

In 1939, Nebraska's trip to Manhattan to play Kansas State was televised locally. This was the second televised college football game.

1940: End of MVIAA Dominance

By 1940, Nebraska's dominance in the MVIAA had waned, marking the end of an era.

1941: First Bowl Game Appearance

In 1941, Nebraska played in its first bowl game, the Rose Bowl, losing to Stanford.

1942: Domination Ends

By 1942, Nebraska dominated the series with Oklahoma, losing just three of the first twenty-two meetings.

1946: Small sleeve stripes added

In 1946, small sleeve stripes were added to Nebraska's jerseys.

1947: Start of Six Games

From 1947 through 2010, NU won five of just six games in the series

1948: Colorado joins MVIAA

In 1948, Nebraska and Colorado began playing regularly when Colorado joined the MVIAA.

1951: Inaugural Hall of Fame Class

In 1951, three Cornhuskers – Ed Weir, Dana X. Bible, and Fielding H. Yost – were members of the College Football Hall of Fame's inaugural class.

1953: Single stripe added to helmets

In 1953, a single stripe was added to Nebraska's helmets.

1955: Orange Bowl Appearance

In 1955, Nebraska was invited to the Orange Bowl and lost to Duke.

1957: Jersey numbers added to helmets

In 1957, Nebraska added jersey numbers to their helmets.

1959: Upset Victory

In 1959, Nebraska upset Oklahoma, ending OU's seventy-four-game conference win streak.

November 3, 1962: Sellout Streak Begins

On November 3, 1962, Missouri defeated Nebraska, marking the first game of Nebraska's NCAA-record sellout streak.

1962: Bob Devaney's Hiring

In 1962, Bob Devaney was hired as head coach and transformed Nebraska into a national football power.

1962: Devaney Hired, Conference Title Drought Ends

In 1962, Bob Devaney was hired, ending Nebraska's conference title drought and winning eight titles in eleven years.

1962: First Bowl Victory

In 1962, Bob Devaney's inaugural season concluded with Nebraska's first bowl victory, a 36-34 win over Miami in the Gotham Bowl.

1962: Consecutive sellout streak begins at Memorial Stadium

In 1962, Nebraska began a streak of consecutive sold-out games at Memorial Stadium, setting an NCAA record for any sport.

1962: Memorial Stadium Sellout Streak Begins

Since 1962, every Nebraska Cornhuskers home game at Memorial Stadium has been sold out.

1964: "Blackshirts" tradition originates

In 1964, the "Blackshirts" tradition originated when Bob Devaney wanted a way to more quickly distinguish between various units by having starting defensive players wear black jerseys during practice.

1966: First National Championship Game Appearance

In 1966, Nebraska reached its first national championship game (though not yet officially designated) in the Orange Bowl, where they lost to Alabama.

1967: No Bowl Game Appearance

Nebraska did not appear in a bowl game in 1967.

1968: Stripes added to pants

From 1968 through 1994, Nebraska's pants had two stripes down each side.

1968: No Bowl Game Appearance

Nebraska did not appear in a bowl game in 1968.

1969: Consecutive Bowl Game Streak Begins

In 1969, Nebraska began a record-setting streak of thirty-five consecutive bowl game appearances.

1969: Nebraska's Win Streak Against Kansas Begins

In 1969, Nebraska started a thirty-six-game winning streak against Kansas, which became the second-longest win streak over an opponent in college football history.

1970: National Championship Win

In 1970, Nebraska won a national championship under Bob Devaney.

1970: Single 'N' becomes permanent helmet design

In 1970, a shortage of "U" stickers led to the use of the single "N" on Nebraska's helmets, which became permanent after a national championship season.

November 25, 1971: The Game of the Century

On November 25, 1971, Nebraska beat Oklahoma 35-31 in Norman in "The Game of the Century."

1971: "Game of the Century" Victory

In 1971, Nebraska defeated Oklahoma 35-31 in the "Game of the Century" viewed by fifty-five million people. The team then beat Alabama in the Orange Bowl to win the national title.

1971: Another National Championship

In 1971, Nebraska secured another national championship, further cementing Devaney's legacy.

1971: Stan Hegener Drafted Last

In 1971, Stan Hegener was drafted with the last pick of the draft into the National Football League.

1971: Player names on jerseys for bowl games

Starting with the 1971 Orange Bowl, player last names appeared on jerseys for bowl games.

1973: Official walk-on program begins

In 1973, Nebraska began an official walk-on program when the NCAA reduced the number of scholarships schools could offer.

1973: Osborne Succeeds Devaney

In 1973, Tom Osborne succeeded Bob Devaney and continued to win conference championships.

1973: Tom Osborne Named Successor

In 1973, Tom Osborne succeeded Bob Devaney as head coach, continuing the program's success.

1978: Missouri Upset

In 1978, Missouri upset Nebraska in Lincoln, taking the Cornhuskers out of national title contention.

1978: Nebraska Victory Over Oklahoma

In 1978, Nebraska defeated No. 1 Oklahoma in the regular season.

1979: 1979 Orange Bowl

In 1979, Nebraska avenged its loss to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

1980: "N" on sleeves

From 1980 to 1983, Nebraska's jerseys featured just an "N" on the sleeves.

1981: Iowa upsets Nebraska

In 1981, Iowa's 10–7 upset of No. 7 Nebraska was instrumental in Hayden Fry's Iowa rebuild.

1982: Colorado declares Nebraska as primary rival

In 1982, Bill McCartney declared Nebraska to be Colorado's primary rival, though Colorado was among the country's worst programs at the time.

1983: "N" on sleeves

From 1980 to 1983, Nebraska's jerseys featured just an "N" on the sleeves.

1983: Victory Over Minnesota

In 1983, Nebraska won 84-13 against Minnesota in Minneapolis.

1983: Orange Bowl Defeat

In 1983, Nebraska's defeat to Miami in the Orange Bowl is considered one of college football's greatest games.

1983: Chaotic 1983 Bowl Season

In 1983, a chaotic bowl season led to the 1984 Orange Bowl becoming a de facto national title game between Nebraska and Miami.

1984: Irving Fryar Drafted First Overall

In 1984, Irving Fryar was drafted first overall into the National Football League.

1984: 1984 Orange Bowl

In 1984, Nebraska played Miami in the Orange Bowl in a de facto national title game. Nebraska trailed, scored late, and went for two to win outright, but the conversion failed and Miami won its first title 31-30.

1984: Stripes and TV numbers re-added

In 1984, stripes and TV numbers were permanently re-added to Nebraska's jerseys, although both decreased in size as sleeves shortened.

1986: Colorado defeats Nebraska

In 1986, Colorado defeated Nebraska.

1986: Red pants and jerseys worn against Oklahoma

In 1986, Nebraska wore red pants with red jerseys for its contest with Oklahoma, but the combination was unofficially retired after a Nebraska loss.

1988: Offensive Player of the Year

In 1988, Roger Craig was named Offensive Player of the Year.

1988: Last names permanently affixed to all jerseys

In 1988, last names were permanently affixed to all Nebraska jerseys.

1989: Switzer Resigns

In 1989, Barry Switzer abruptly resigned from Oklahoma in the wake of NCAA sanctions.

1989: Colorado defeats Nebraska

In 1989, Colorado defeated Nebraska.

1989: Miami Defeats Nebraska in Orange Bowl

In 1989, Miami defeated Nebraska convincingly in the Orange Bowl.

1989: Centennial patch added

In 1989, a patch was added to the left shoulder to commemorate the hundredth season of Nebraska football; it remained for future seasons and was altered to read "Nebraska Football: A Winning Tradition."

1990: Colorado defeats Nebraska

In 1990, Colorado defeated Nebraska.

1991: All-white uniforms first worn

Nebraska first wore all-white uniforms in the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl and its first three road games of 1992; NU lost three of these games and "surrender suits" have been used sporadically in the decades since.

1992: Miami Defeats Nebraska in Orange Bowl

In 1992, Miami defeated Nebraska convincingly in the Orange Bowl.

1992: Mirage Bowl in Tokyo

In 1992, Nebraska played Kansas State in the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, where Nebraska won 38-24.

1992: All-white uniforms worn

Nebraska wore all-white uniforms in its first three road games of 1992, losing three of these games; the "surrender suits" have been used sporadically in the decades since.

1993: Super Bowl Representation

From 1993 until 2019, Nebraska was represented by at least one player in each Super Bowl.

1993: Controversial Championship Game Loss

In 1993, Nebraska suffered a controversial championship game loss, motivating them to pursue a national title.

1993: Close Call in Title Game

In 1993, Tom Osborne experienced a last-second title game loss, motivating his pursuit of a national championship in the following season.

1994: Pants stripes discontinued

From 1968 through 1994, Nebraska's pants had two stripes down each side before being removed in 1995.

1994: Osborne's First Consensus National Championship

In 1994, Tom Osborne achieved his first consensus national championship with Nebraska, defeating Miami in the Orange Bowl.

1994: First Major-Poll National Championship for Osborne

In 1994, Tom Osborne won his first major-poll national championship as head coach of Nebraska.

1994: National Championship Claimed

In 1994, the Nebraska Cornhuskers secured another national championship.

1994: "Tunnel Walk" tradition begins

Since 1994, Nebraska's home games have opened with the "Tunnel Walk" as the team takes the field before kickoff, typically to the Alan Parsons Project instrumental "Sirius."

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1995: 1995 Orange Bowl

In 1995, Nebraska played in the Orange Bowl, which was designated as the national championship game. Tommie Frazier led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, securing Tom Osborne's first consensus national title as head coach.

1995: Pants stripes removed

In 1995, Nebraska removed the two stripes down each side of their pants.

1995: Another Championship Season

In 1995, Nebraska, led by Tommie Frazier and Ahman Green, dominated opponents and went on to win another national championship.

1996: Adidas becomes official sponsor

In 1996, Adidas became Nebraska's official shoe and uniform sponsor.

1996: Colorado replaces Oklahoma as Thanksgiving opponent

In 1996, Colorado replaced Oklahoma as Nebraska's traditional Thanksgiving weekend opponent when the Big 12 was established.

1996: Divisions Changed

In 1996, Nebraska and Oklahoma were placed in different divisions when the Big Eight and Southwest merged, meaning they would not play annually for the first time since 1927.

1996: Fiesta Bowl Victory

In 1996, Nebraska defeated Florida 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl to win their third consecutive national championship, marking a dominant performance.

1996: Big 12 Inception

In 1996, Nebraska played in the Big 12's North Division after the conference's inception.

1997: Largest win over Cyclones

During the 85-year consecutive playing streak from 1926 to 2010, Nebraska recorded their largest win over the Cyclones, a 77–14 win in Lincoln in 1997, when Tom Osborne won his last national title.

1997: "Flea Kicker" Game

In 1997, Nebraska won against Missouri, which was highlighted by the "Flea Kicker" play.

1997: Big 12 Championship Win

In 1997, Nebraska won the Big 12 Championship Game in Tom Osborne's final season as head coach.

1997: National Title Victory

In 1997, Nebraska, led by Scott Frost, won its third national title in four years, defeating Texas A&M for the Big 12 title and Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.

1997: Tom Osborne's Retirement

In 1997, Tom Osborne retired after a successful coaching career with Nebraska Cornhuskers.

1998: Kansas State Ends Losing Streak to Nebraska

In 1998, Kansas State ended its twenty-nine-year losing streak to Nebraska with a 40-30 victory.

1999: Stoops Hired

In 1999, Bob Stoops was hired at Oklahoma and quickly revived the program.

1999: Major Expansion of Memorial Stadium Begins

In 1999, major expansions of East, West, and North Stadium began, which continued through 2013, ultimately raising the stadium's capacity to 85,458.

2000: Oklahoma Beats Nebraska

In 2000, Bob Stoops' Oklahoma team beat top-ranked Nebraska on the way to the national championship.

2001: Colorado defeats Nebraska

In 2001, Colorado defeated No. 1 Nebraska 62–36, leading to BCS controversy when one-loss NU was selected to play in the national championship game over two-loss CU.

2002: Side panels on jerseys and pants introduced

In 2002, Nebraska featured large side panels on its jersey and pants and wore all-white in every road game; the changes were unpopular among fans and most were reverted, which included the return of pant stripes.

2002: 2002 BCS National Championship

In 2002, Nebraska was controversially selected to face Miami in the BCS national championship game, where Miami won 37-14.

2002: BCS National Championship Game Appearance

In 2002, Nebraska, under coach Frank Solich, made it to the BCS National Championship Game.

2003: Solich Fired

In 2003, Frank Solich was fired after a 7-7 season.

2003: Consecutive Bowl Game Streak Ends

In 2003, Nebraska's NCAA record thirty-five straight bowl game appearances streak came to an end.

2004: Bowl Streak Ends

In 2004, Nebraska's lengthy bowl streak came to an end during Frank Solich's tenure.

2004: Nebraska's Win Streak Against Kansas Ends

In 2004, Nebraska's thirty-six-game winning streak against Kansas ended.

2006: Tunnel Walk Entrance Moved

In 2006, the Tunnel Walk entrance was moved to the northwest corner of the field upon completion of the Osborne Athletic Complex.

2007: Callahan Fired, Pelini Hired

In 2007, Bill Callahan was fired and replaced by Bo Pelini.

2009: Alternate uniforms worn for one game

Since 2009, Nebraska has worn alternate uniforms for one game in most seasons.

2010: End of Six Games

From 1947 through 2010, NU won five of just six games in the series

2010: Nebraska Joins Big Ten, Series with Kansas Ends

In 2010, Nebraska joined the Big Ten Conference, which ended the annual series with Kansas that had been uninterrupted since 1906.

2010: Nebraska Leaves Big 12

In 2010, Nebraska left the Big 12 conference.

2010: Teams depart the Big 12

In 2010, the Cornhuskers and Buffaloes departed the Big 12.

2010: Victory Bell

Nebraska held the Victory Bell after its 2010 win in Lincoln.

2011: Nebraska Joins Big Ten

In 2011, Nebraska joined the Big Ten conference, and the teams have played regularly since then.

2011: Teams play annually for the Heroes Trophy

Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011, the teams have played annually for the Heroes Trophy.

2012: "Adidas Unrivaled" game

In 2012, Nebraska and Wisconsin played the first "Adidas Unrivaled" game; both schools wore uniforms featuring block letters instead of front numbers.

2012: Wisconsin Upset

In 2012, Wisconsin dominated in an upset victory over Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship Game.

2012: Red helium balloon tradition paused

In 2012, the tradition of releasing red helium balloons was paused due to global helium shortages and environmental concerns.

2013: Memorial Stadium expansion completed

By 2013, major expansions of East, West, and North Stadium that began in 1999 raised the stadium's capacity to 85,458, completely enclosing the original superstructure.

2014: Bits of Broken Chair Trophy Created

In 2014, the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy was created from a Twitter exchange between the official account for Minnesota mascot Goldy Gopher and the satirical "Faux Pelini". Publicized on-field exchanges followed in 2014 and 2015.

2014: Freedom Trophy

Since 2014, the Freedom Trophy has been awarded to the winner of the Nebraska-Wisconsin game.

2015: On-field Exchanges

In 2015, publicized on-field exchanges continued after the creation of the "$5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy".

2017: Apparel deal signed with Adidas

In 2017, Nebraska and Adidas signed an eleven-year, $128-million apparel deal.

2017: Missed Bowl Game

In 2017, Nebraska missed a bowl game for the first time in ten years.

2017: Early Inductees Recognized

In 2017, the school recognized eight early College Football Hall of Fame inductees, including Guy Chamberlin, whose career predated the use of numbers on jerseys.

2019: Blackshirts-themed uniforms worn

In 2019, Nebraska wore non-throwback alternate designs, including Blackshirts-themed uniforms.

2019: Zac Taylor Named Bengals Coach

In 2019, Zac Taylor, a former Nebraska quarterback, was named head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.

2020: Blackshirts-themed uniforms worn

In 2020, Nebraska wore non-throwback alternate designs, including Blackshirts-themed uniforms.

2022: Red helium balloon tradition paused

In 2022, the tradition of releasing red helium balloons was paused again due to global helium shortages and environmental concerns.

2023: Matt Rhule Hired as Head Coach

In 2023, Matt Rhule was hired as the head coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.

2023: Matt Rhule Hired

In 2023, Matt Rhule was hired to coach the Nebraska Cornhuskers after a historically poor stretch.

2023: "Volleyball Day in Nebraska"

In 2023, Memorial Stadium hosted "Volleyball Day in Nebraska", setting a stadium record and the highest attendance ever recorded for a women's sporting event with 92,003 attendees.

2023: Tunnel Walk Entrance Moved Again

In 2023, the Tunnel Walk entrance was moved to the northeast corner when the home locker room was moved to the Osborne Legacy Complex.

2023: Blue-trimmed jerseys worn for stadium's centennial

Nebraska celebrated the stadium's hundredth anniversary in 2023, wearing blue-trimmed jerseys to commemorate the occasion.

2024: Hawkeyes are permanent conference opponent

Following Big Ten expansion in 2024, the Hawkeyes are the Cornhuskers' only permanent conference opponent; Nebraska is one of three for Iowa, along with Minnesota and Wisconsin.