List of Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons

Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Nebraska Cornhuskers football

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 Matt Rhule.[2]

Nebraska is among the most storied programs in college football history. Through 2019, the Cornhuskers rank seventh in all-time victories among FBS teams.[3] 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.[4][5] NU's 1971 and 1995 title-winning teams are considered to be among the best in college football history.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] Despite a span of 21 conference championships in 34 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.[9] 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.[10][11][12] Following Osborne's retirement in 1997, Nebraska cycled through four head coaches before hiring state native Scott Frost in 2017.[13]

Season-by-season results

Year Coach Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# APΒ°
Langdon Frothingham (Independent) (1890)
1890 Langdon Frothingham[n 1] 2–0
Theron Lyman (Independent) (1891)
1891 Theron Lyman[n 2] 2–2
J. S. Williams (WIUFA) (1892)
1892 J. S. Williams[n 3] 2–2–1 1–1–1 2nd
Frank Crawford (WIUFA) (1893–1894)
1893 Frank Crawford 3–2–1 1–2 3rd
1894 Frank Crawford 6–2 2–1 1st
Charles Thomas (WIUFA) (1895)
1895 Charles Thomas 6–3 2–1 T–1st
Edward N. Robinson (WIUFA) (1896–1897)
1896 Edward N. Robinson 6–3–1 1–1–1 3rd
1897 Edward N. Robinson 5–1 3–0 1st
Fielding H. Yost (Independent) (1898)
1898 Fielding H. Yost 8–3[n 4]
Alonzo Edwin Branch (Independent) (1899)
1899 Alonzo Edwin Branch 1–7–1
Walter C. Booth (Independent) (1900–1905)
1900 Walter C. Booth 6–1–1
1901 Walter C. Booth 6–2
1902 Walter C. Booth 9–0
1903 Walter C. Booth 10–0
1904 Walter C. Booth 7–3
1905 Walter C. Booth 8–2
Amos Foster (Independent) (1906)
1906 Amos Foster 6–4
King Cole (Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1907–1910)
1907 King Cole 8–2 1–0 T–1st
1908 King Cole 7–2–1 2–1 T–2nd
1909 King Cole 3–3–2 0–2–1 T–5th
1910 King Cole 7–1 2–0 1st
Ewald O. Stiehm (Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1911–1915)
1911 Ewald O. Stiehm 5–1–2 2–0–1 T–1st
1912 Ewald O. Stiehm 7–1 2–0 T–1st
1913 Ewald O. Stiehm 8–0 3–0 T–1st
1914 Ewald O. Stiehm 7–0–1 3–0 1st
1915 Ewald O. Stiehm 8–0 4–0 1st
E. J. Stewart (Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1916–1917)
1916 E. J. Stewart 6–2 3–1 1st
1917 E. J. Stewart 5–2 2–0 1st
William G. Kline (Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1918)
1918 William G. Kline 2–3–1 0–0 [n 5]
Henry Schulte (Independent) (1919–1920)
1919 Henry Schulte 3–3–2
1920 Henry Schulte 5–3–1
Fred Dawson (Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1921–1924)
1921 Fred Dawson 7–1 3–0 1st
1922 Fred Dawson 7–1 5–0 1st
1923 Fred Dawson 4–2–2 3–0–2 1st
1924 Fred Dawson 5–3 3–1 2nd
Ernest Bearg (Big Six Conference) (1925–1928)
1925 Ernest Bearg 4–2–2 2–2–1 5th
1926 Ernest Bearg 6–2 5–1 2nd
1927 Ernest Bearg 6–2 4–1 2nd
1928 Ernest Bearg 7–1–1 5–0 1st
Dana X. Bible (Big Six Conference) (1929–1936)
1929 Dana X. Bible 4–1–3 3–0–2 1st
1930 Dana X. Bible 4–3–2 2–2–1 4th
1931 Dana X. Bible 8–2 5–0 1st
1932 Dana X. Bible 7–1–1 5–0 1st
1933 Dana X. Bible 8–1 5–0 1st
1934 Dana X. Bible 6–3 4–1 2nd
1935 Dana X. Bible 6–2–1 4–0–1 1st
1936 Dana X. Bible 7–2 5–0 1st 9
Biff Jones (Big Six Conference) (1937–1941)
1937 Biff Jones 6–1–2 3–0–2 1st 11
1938 Biff Jones 3–5–1 2–3 T–3rd
1939 Biff Jones 7–1–1 4–1 2nd 18
1940 Biff Jones 8–2 5–0 1st L Rose 7
1941 Biff Jones 4–5 3–2 T–2nd
Glenn Presnell (Big Six Conference) (1942)
1942 Glenn Presnell 3–7 3–2 3rd
Adolph J. Lewandowski (Big Six Conference) (1943–1944)
1943 Adolph J. Lewandowski 2–6 2–3 T–4th
1944 Adolph J. Lewandowski 2–6 2–3 4th
George Clark (Big Six Conference) (1945)
1945 George Clark 4–5 2–3 4th
Bernie Masterson (Big Six Conference) (1946–1947)
1946 Bernie Masterson 3–6 3–2 T–3rd
1947 Bernie Masterson 2–7 2–3 4th
George Clark (Big Seven Conference) (1948)
1948 George Clark 2–8 2–4 T–5th
Bill Glassford (Big Seven Conference) (1949–1955)
1949 Bill Glassford 4–5 3–3 T–3rd
1950 Bill Glassford 6–2–1 4–2 2nd T–20 17
1951 Bill Glassford 2–8 2–4 T–4th
1952 Bill Glassford 5–4–1 3–2–1 3rd
1953 Bill Glassford 3–6–1 2–4 T–4th
1954 Bill Glassford 6–5 4–2 2nd L Orange
1955 Bill Glassford 5–5 5–1 2nd
Pete Elliott (Big Seven Conference) (1956)
1956 Pete Elliott 4–6 3–3 4th
Bill Jennings (Big Eight Conference) (1957–1961)
1957 Bill Jennings 1–9 1–5 7th
1958 Bill Jennings 3–7 1–5 6th
1959 Bill Jennings 4–6 2–4 6th
1960 Bill Jennings 4–6 2–5 T–6th
1961 Bill Jennings 3–6–1 2–5 T–6th
Bob Devaney (Big Eight Conference) (1962–1972)
1962 Bob Devaney 9–2 5–2 3rd W Gotham
1963 Bob Devaney 10–1 7–0 1st W Orange 5 6
1964 Bob Devaney 9–2 6–1 1st L Cotton 6 6
1965 Bob Devaney 10–1 7–0 1st L Orange 3 5
1966 Bob Devaney 9–2 6–1 1st L Sugar 7 6
1967 Bob Devaney 6–4 3–4 5th
1968 Bob Devaney 6–4 3–4 T–4th
1969 Bob Devaney 9–2 6–1 T–1st W Sun 12 11
1970 Bob Devaney 11–0–1 7–0 1st W Orange 3 1
1971 Bob Devaney 13–0 7–0 1st W Orange 1 1
1972 Bob Devaney 9–2–1 5–1–1 1st W Orange 9 4
Tom Osborne (Big Eight Conference) (1973–1995)ci
1973 Tom Osborne 9–2–1 4–2–1 T–2nd W Cotton T–11 7
1974 Tom Osborne 9–3 5–2 T–2nd W Sugar 9 8
1975 Tom Osborne 10–2 6–1 T–1st L Fiesta 9 9
1976 Tom Osborne 9–3–1 4–3 T–4th W Astro-Bluebonnet 7 9
1977 Tom Osborne 9–3 5–2 T–2nd W Liberty 10 12
1978 Tom Osborne 9–3 6–1 T–1st L Orange 8 8
1979 Tom Osborne 10–2 6–1 2nd L Cotton 7 9
1980 Tom Osborne 10–2 6–1 2nd W Sun 7 7
1981 Tom Osborne 9–3 7–0 1st L Orange 9 11
1982 Tom Osborne 12–1 7–0 1st W Orange 3 3
1983 Tom Osborne 12–1 7–0 1st L Orange 2 2
1984 Tom Osborne 10–2 6–1 T–1st W Sugar 3 4
1985 Tom Osborne 9–3 6–1 2nd L Fiesta 10 11
1986 Tom Osborne 10–2 5–2 3rd W Sugar 4 5
1987 Tom Osborne 10–2 6–1 2nd L Fiesta 6 6
1988 Tom Osborne 11–2 7–0 1st L Orange 10 10
1989 Tom Osborne 10–2 6–1 2nd L Fiesta 12 11
1990 Tom Osborne 9–3 5–2 3rd L Florida Citrus T–17 24
1991 Tom Osborne 9–2–1 6–0–1 T–1st L Orange 16 15
1992 Tom Osborne 9–3 6–1 1st L Orange† 14 14
1993 Tom Osborne 11–1 7–0 1st L Orange† 3 3
1994 Tom Osborne 13–0 7–0 1st W Orange† 1 1
1995 Tom Osborne 12–0 7–0 1st W Fiesta† 1 1
Tom Osborne (Big 12 Conference) (1996–1997)
1996 Tom Osborne 11–2 8–0 1st (North) W Orange† 6 6
1997 Tom Osborne 13–0 8–0 1st (North) W Orange† 1 2
Frank Solich (Big 12 Conference) (1998–2003)
1998 Frank Solich 9–4 5–3 T–2nd (North) L Holiday 20 19
1999 Frank Solich 12–1 7–1 1st (North) W Fiesta† 2 3
2000 Frank Solich 10–2 6–2 T–1st (North) W Alamo 7 8
2001 Frank Solich 11–2 7–1 T–1st (North) L Rose† 7 8
2002 Frank Solich 7–7 3–5 4th (North) L Independence
2003 Frank Solich[n 6] 10–3[n 6] 5–3 2nd (North) W Alamo 18 19
Bill Callahan (Big 12 Conference) (2004–2007)
2004 Bill Callahan 5–6 3–5 3rd (North)
2005 Bill Callahan 8–4 4–4 T–2nd (North) W Alamo 24 24
2006 Bill Callahan 9–5 6–2 1st (North) L Cotton
2007 Bill Callahan 5–7 2–6 T–5th (North)
Bo Pelini (Big 12 Conference) (2008–2010)
2008 Bo Pelini 9–4 5–3 T–1st (North) W Gator
2009 Bo Pelini 10–4 6–2 1st (North) W Holiday 14 14
2010 Bo Pelini 10–4 6–2 T–1st (North) L Holiday 19 20
Bo Pelini (Big Ten Conference) (2011–2014)
2011 Bo Pelini 9–4 5–3 3rd (Legends) L Capital One 24 24
2012 Bo Pelini 10–4 7–1 1st (Legends) L Capital One 23 25
2013 Bo Pelini 9–4 5–3 T–2nd (Legends) W Gator 25
2014 Bo Pelini[n 7] 9–4[n 7] 5–3 T–2nd (West) L Holiday
Mike Riley (Big Ten Conference) (2015–2017)
2015 Mike Riley 6–7 3–5 4th (West) W Foster Farms
2016 Mike Riley 9–4 6–3 T–2nd (West) L Music City
2017 Mike Riley 4–8 3–6 5th (West)
Scott Frost (Big Ten Conference) (2018–2022)
2018 Scott Frost 4–8 3–6 T–5th (West)
2019 Scott Frost 5–7 3–6 T–5th (West)
2020 Scott Frost 3–5 3–5 5th (West)
2021 Scott Frost 3–9 1–8 T–6th (West)
2022 Scott Frost[n 8] 4–8[n 8] 3–6[n 8] 6th (West)
Matt Rhule (Big Ten Conference) (2023–present)
2023 Matt Rhule 5–7 3–6 T–4th (West)
2024 Matt Rhule 7-6 3–6 T-12th W Pinstripe Bowl
Total: 924–430–40
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[15]

Notes

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Lyman was coach for preparing Nebraska for the game against Iowa only.
  3. ^ The team had no head coach, though Omaha lawyer J. S. Williams led the team for one game.
  4. ^ The NCAA football record book credits Yost with a 7–4 record coaching Nebraska in the 1898 season, incorrectly noting a 24–0 loss to William Jewell. Nebraska's records show a 38–0 victory over William Jewell on October 22, 1898, in Kansas City, Missouri, and credit Yost with an 8–3 record for the season.[14]
  5. ^ The MVIAA did not have standings or award a champion in 1918 due to World War I and the outbreak of the Spanish flu.
  6. ^ a b Bo Pelini served as interim head coach for the 2003 Alamo Bowl.
  7. ^ a b Pelini was fired on November 30, 2014. Barney Cotton served as Nebraska's interim head coach for the 2014 Holiday Bowl.
  8. ^ a b c After starting the season with two losses in their first three games, head coach Scott Frost was fired on September 11; receivers coach and associate head coach Mickey Joseph was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

References

  1. ^ "Nebraska vs. Missouri 1962". HuskerMax.
  2. ^ "Nebraska fires Frost; coach to get $15M buyout". September 11, 2022.
  3. ^ http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2019/FBS.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ "Nebraska Conference Championships". Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  5. ^ "Title teams – HuskerMaxβ„’". Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "Best college football teams of all-time". Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  7. ^ "Major Football Award Winners". Huskers.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  8. ^ "Nebraska Football Schedules 1910–1919". HuskerMax. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  9. ^ "Tom's Time: Devaney Selects His Successor". HuskerMax. October 3, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  10. ^ "The 150 greatest coaches in college football's 150-year history". December 10, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  11. ^ "The Greatest Coaches in College Football History". August 12, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Epley leaving Huskers". June 19, 2006. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  13. ^ "Nebraska officially announces hiring of Scott Frost, introductory press conference scheduled for Sunday". December 2, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  14. ^ "2010 NCAA Division I Football Records: Coaching Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 2. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  15. ^ "2021 Nebraska Football Guide" (PDF). huskers.com. p. 207. Retrieved April 13, 2022.