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2010 Jul 28
Ranking NU Teams Since 1980: No. 8
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In July, we’ll be ranking all 30 of Nebraska teams since 1980, worst to first. Be sure to keep track and argue along the way. Remember, too, to visit our 30 best games and 30 best players series since 1980, as well. Enjoy!
1987 Nebraska
Overall Record (Big 8/12): 11-2 (6-1)
Titles won: None
All-Americans: Quarterback Steve Taylor, defensive tackle Neil Smith, defensive end Broderick Thomas and offensive guard John McCormack, 1st-team All-Americans
Summary: After surviving a difficult non-conference schedule with gusto, Nebraska appeared ready to avenge its misfortune in the 1983 season - until The Game of the Century II when Oklahoma once again played foil to the Huskers. NU dropped its second game of the year in the Fiesta Bowl, in a thrilling-but-disappointing loss to Florida State.
NU was a balanced, quick-strike offense averaging 6.1 yards per carry and nearly 16 yards per reception. Taylor flowered into a complete quarterback, throwing for 900 yards and rushing for 659 for a combined 21 touchdowns. Keith Jones rushed for 1,232 yards - a whopping 7.2 yards per carry - and 13 touchdowns. The front seven - anchored by Thomas, Smith, defensive lineman Tim Rother and linebacker LeRoy Etienne - consistently harassed the quarterback, only struggling toward the end of the season.
The No. 2 Huskers opened the year with an easy win over Utah State, then faced No. 3 UCLA on national TV in game two. After spotting the Bruins a 7-0 lead, Nebraska blasted off behind an incredible performance from Taylor, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 217 yards and five touchdowns. Three of those were longer than 30 yards, and two of them went to tight end Todd Millikan. NU staked itself to a 42-17 lead before the Bruins crawled back to 42-33 with two late touchdowns.
Next was a trip to No. 12 Arizona State. Nebraska survived a back-and-forth battle with a 35-28 win thanks to a long, 62-yard run from Jones that set up NU’s final touchdown with four minutes left, and an interception on ASU’s ensuing drive. The following week, backup QB Clete Blakeman helped rally Nebraska from a 21-13 fourth-quarter deficit for a 30-21 win. The defense pitched in by forcing two fourth-quarter turnovers.
Nebraska coasted through most of the Big Eight schedule, which included a 35-0 win over No. 12 Oklahoma State and Thurman Thomas, who jawed with Husker defenders before the game. Thomas rushed for seven yards. A guy named Barry Sanders spelled him and rushed for 60, but the Cowboys never put a point on the board.
And so NU rolled into its game with No. 2 Oklahoma - which lost the top ranking one week before after narrowly beating Missouri - with all the hype and excitement one could imagine. Head coach Tom Osborne allowed his players to speak freely the week before the game, which led to a ton of bulletin board material. OU, which was starting backup quarterback Charles Thompson, wasn’t given much of a chance at victory.
The Sooners’ wishbone offense, despite losing three fumbles, humiliated NU’s defense, racking up 419 yards in a 17-7 win. NU took a 7-3 lead into halftime, but couldn’t count on OU fumbling the second half away. Taylor threw three interceptions and couldn’t get untracked.
Nebraska survived a game at Colorado with a 24-7 win thanks to Jones’ career day - 248 yards on 26 caries - which included a 44-yard touchdown run on a fourth down.
In the Fiesta Bowl, NU took a 14-0 lead over FSU (which was one point away from playing for the national title) before the Seminoles stormed back to take a 21-14 halftime lead. Nebraska retook a 28-24 lead in the third quarter, and appeared ready to ice the game in the fourth when Tyrese Knox fumbled at FSU’s 2-yard line. FSU responded with a 97-yard drive, and converted a fourth-and-goal from the 15 team for the winning touchdown. Nebraska tried to answer, but a 56-yard pass from Taylor to Morgan Gregory was called back because not enough Huskers were on the line of scrimmage.
A tough end to an excellent season for a strong team.
Highlight: Taylor’s performance vs. UCLA and the Blackshirts’ dominance over Oklahoma State.
Lowlight: The OU game. Nebraska got outcoached and outplayed.
Check out the rest of the list!
No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9
1987 Nebraska
Overall Record (Big 8/12): 11-2 (6-1)
Titles won: None
All-Americans: Quarterback Steve Taylor, defensive tackle Neil Smith, defensive end Broderick Thomas and offensive guard John McCormack, 1st-team All-Americans
Summary: After surviving a difficult non-conference schedule with gusto, Nebraska appeared ready to avenge its misfortune in the 1983 season - until The Game of the Century II when Oklahoma once again played foil to the Huskers. NU dropped its second game of the year in the Fiesta Bowl, in a thrilling-but-disappointing loss to Florida State.
NU was a balanced, quick-strike offense averaging 6.1 yards per carry and nearly 16 yards per reception. Taylor flowered into a complete quarterback, throwing for 900 yards and rushing for 659 for a combined 21 touchdowns. Keith Jones rushed for 1,232 yards - a whopping 7.2 yards per carry - and 13 touchdowns. The front seven - anchored by Thomas, Smith, defensive lineman Tim Rother and linebacker LeRoy Etienne - consistently harassed the quarterback, only struggling toward the end of the season.
The No. 2 Huskers opened the year with an easy win over Utah State, then faced No. 3 UCLA on national TV in game two. After spotting the Bruins a 7-0 lead, Nebraska blasted off behind an incredible performance from Taylor, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 217 yards and five touchdowns. Three of those were longer than 30 yards, and two of them went to tight end Todd Millikan. NU staked itself to a 42-17 lead before the Bruins crawled back to 42-33 with two late touchdowns.
Next was a trip to No. 12 Arizona State. Nebraska survived a back-and-forth battle with a 35-28 win thanks to a long, 62-yard run from Jones that set up NU’s final touchdown with four minutes left, and an interception on ASU’s ensuing drive. The following week, backup QB Clete Blakeman helped rally Nebraska from a 21-13 fourth-quarter deficit for a 30-21 win. The defense pitched in by forcing two fourth-quarter turnovers.
Nebraska coasted through most of the Big Eight schedule, which included a 35-0 win over No. 12 Oklahoma State and Thurman Thomas, who jawed with Husker defenders before the game. Thomas rushed for seven yards. A guy named Barry Sanders spelled him and rushed for 60, but the Cowboys never put a point on the board.
And so NU rolled into its game with No. 2 Oklahoma - which lost the top ranking one week before after narrowly beating Missouri - with all the hype and excitement one could imagine. Head coach Tom Osborne allowed his players to speak freely the week before the game, which led to a ton of bulletin board material. OU, which was starting backup quarterback Charles Thompson, wasn’t given much of a chance at victory.
The Sooners’ wishbone offense, despite losing three fumbles, humiliated NU’s defense, racking up 419 yards in a 17-7 win. NU took a 7-3 lead into halftime, but couldn’t count on OU fumbling the second half away. Taylor threw three interceptions and couldn’t get untracked.
Nebraska survived a game at Colorado with a 24-7 win thanks to Jones’ career day - 248 yards on 26 caries - which included a 44-yard touchdown run on a fourth down.
In the Fiesta Bowl, NU took a 14-0 lead over FSU (which was one point away from playing for the national title) before the Seminoles stormed back to take a 21-14 halftime lead. Nebraska retook a 28-24 lead in the third quarter, and appeared ready to ice the game in the fourth when Tyrese Knox fumbled at FSU’s 2-yard line. FSU responded with a 97-yard drive, and converted a fourth-and-goal from the 15 team for the winning touchdown. Nebraska tried to answer, but a 56-yard pass from Taylor to Morgan Gregory was called back because not enough Huskers were on the line of scrimmage.
A tough end to an excellent season for a strong team.
Highlight: Taylor’s performance vs. UCLA and the Blackshirts’ dominance over Oklahoma State.
Lowlight: The OU game. Nebraska got outcoached and outplayed.
Check out the rest of the list!
No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9
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Tags: 30 best teams, steve taylor, neil smith, broderick thomas, keith jones
Home > Blogs > Official Husker Locker Blog > Ranking NU Teams Since 1980: No. 8
This was a talented, excellent team - a worthy edition for a top 10 entry to this list. I believe after the season, Osborne himself said that at the time this was his third best team after '83 and '82 (although there's certainly room to argue that, in my opinion). I think Osborne thought this team was national title caliber, and in a lot of years, it might have been. 1987 saw some incredibly talented teams in Miami, FSU, OU, and Nebraska.
The schedule was no joke, and this team got through several good teams in impressive fashion. As far as pure scoring defense goes, this team ripped through the Big 8 about as impressively as any modern Nebraska team.
Unfortunately, OU was just a great team that year, and NU didn't play well against the Sooners. Not much more really needs to be said. NU took a 7-0 halftime lead, but by the end, the score could've been much, much worse. Other than one splendid drive, the NU offense really didn't do much of anything.
The Fiesta Bowl was a travesty. Even Bowden admitted that NU was the better team. Those were the kinds of bad breaks that NU seemed to get against OU, FSU ... and now UT.
Excellent write-up, HL.
– Jul 29, 2010
Ok. State game was the best of the year.
Neb. came 2 yards away (Knox fumble) from beating FSU and finishing No. 3 in the country. That loss took the breath out of the Huskers and doomed us for six years!
– Jul 28, 2010