1968 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team


The 1968 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The Huskers were 6–4, but had a losing record in conference at 3–4. They lost three Big 8 games at home and were shut out 47–0 at Oklahoma in the season finale. Nebraska did not play in a bowl game for the second consecutive year; the next season without a bowl was 36 years later in 2004. The home shut out against Kansas State was the last time they have been shut out at home as of 2017 season.
Following 1968, Tom Osborne was promoted to offensive coordinator and installed the I formation offense. This led to a 9–2 record in 1969 and consecutive undefeated national championship seasons in 1970 and 1971.

Schedule

Roster

Coaching staff

Game summaries

Wyoming

At the end of the 1st quarter, Nebraska was trailing 3-10, and struggled to catch up for much of the game. Finally, five minutes into the 4th quarter, with the assistance of the Blackshirts who had held off any further scores from the Cowboys, the Cornhuskers managed to get another touchdown to tie the game. Then, as time was running out and the Nebraska offensive effort was stalling, Nebraska PK Paul Rogers launched a 51-yard field goal through the uprights and into the stands for the win, leading to an exuberant mob of fans rushing the field in celebration.

Utah

The Cornhuskers tallied 518 yards of total offense while holding the Utes to just 138, 46 of which were on the ground, and had little trouble with Utah, holding them scoreless in Memorial Stadium.

Minnesota

It seemed like a repeat of the first game of the year, as once again Nebraska started out behind and wasn't able to catch up again until the 4th quarter, and once again Nebraska PK Paul Rogers booted the game-winning field goal at the end of the 4th quarter with just 1:32 remaining on the clock to secure the win against national co-champion Minnesota.

Kansas

The highly regarded Kansas Jayhawks had been averaging 51 points per game, yet the Blackshirts managed to bottle them up to just 23 points, though Nebraska's 13 points were not enough to get the conference-opening win. Kansas managed to escape Lincoln with a victory only by scrambling to put up two touchdowns in the final 4 minutes.

Missouri

Nebraska was severely hampered by a day of mistakes, losing four fumbles, an interception, and suffering two punt receptions muffed and recovered by Missouri. Despite the tall odds presented by these burdens, the Cornhuskers dropped the game to the Tigers by only 2 points.

Oklahoma State

The first half was scoreless as both teams struggled unsuccessfully for an edge, but Oklahoma State found a way through and scored the first 14 in the 3rd. Nebraska fought back, and once again Cornhusker PK Paul Rogers scored the game-winner off his foot with PAT in the final minute to put Nebraska ahead by 1.

Iowa State

Iowa State helped to spot Nebraska with an early 14-0 lead by losing an early fumble and never recovered from the setback. The Cyclones made a feeble late attempt, coming within 8 points before the Cornhuskers put up another field goal to finish them off.

Kansas State

Nebraska was stunned at home, at their homecoming game, when Kansas State held the Cornhuskers to just 146 total yards, 78 on the ground, and slapped Nebraska with only their second shutout under Head Coach Bob Devaney.

Colorado

Nebraska flashed with some vengeance in response to the previous week's shutout, running out ahead of Colorado in Boulder 22-0 with help from a 62-yard punt return touchdown, finally letting the Buffaloes on the board with just 2 minutes remaining to play.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma denied Nebraska's bid for a post-season bowl game, as the Sooners scored five touchdowns to set a new Big 8 record and handed NU its worst defeat of the Devaney era with a painful 47-0 shutout in Norman.

Rankings

PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Final
AP141427913NRNRNRNRNRNRNRNR
CoachesNR

Awards

AwardName
All America
1st team		Joe Armstrong
All-America
honorable mention		Mel Brichacek, Ken Geddes,
Dana Stephenson
All-Big Eight
1st team		Joe Armstrong, Ken Geddes,
Dana Stephenson
All-Big Eight
2nd team		Bob Best, Joe Orduna
All-Big Eight
honorable mention		Bob Best, Mel Brichacek, Dick Davis,
Adrian Fiala, Ed Hansen, Jim Hawkins,
Al Larson, Bob Liggett, Jerry Murtaugh,
Tom Penney, Paul Rogers, Mike Wynn

1968 Team Players in the NFL (& AFL)

The 1968 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1969 Common Draft :
PlayerPositionRoundPickFranchise
James HawkinsDB7177Los Angeles Rams
Dick DavisRB12306Cleveland Browns

The 1968 Nebraska Cornhuskers juniors selected in the following year's 1970 NFL Draft:
PlayerPositionRoundPickFranchise
Jim McFarlandTE7164St. Louis Cardinals
Ken GeddesLB7175Detroit Lions
Dana StephensonDB8183Chicago Bears
Mike WynnDE8206Oakland Raiders
Frank PatrickQB10251Green Bay Packers
Bob LiggettDT15390Kansas City Chiefs
Mike GreenRB16406San Diego Chargers
Glenn PattersonC17439Dallas Cowboys

The 1968 Nebraska Cornhuskers sophomores selected in the 1971 NFL Draft:
PlayerPositionRoundPickFranchise
Joe OrdunaRB249San Francisco 49ers
Bob NewtonT371Chicago Bears
Paul RogersK-DB8190Pittsburgh Steelers
Dan SchneissTE11261Boston Patriots

Members of the 1968 Nebraska freshman team selected in the 1972 NFL Draft:
PlayerPositionRoundPickFranchise
Jerry TaggeQB111Green Bay Packers
Jeff KinneyRB123Kansas City Chiefs
Larry JacobsonDT124New York Giants
Carl JohnsonT5112New Orleans Saints
Van BrownsonQB8204Baltimore Colts
Keith WortmanG10242Green Bay Packers

NFL and Pro Players

The following 1968 Nebraska players joined a professional team as draftees or free agents.
NameTeam
Dick DavisCleveland Browns
Ken GeddesLos Angeles Rams
Sherwin JarmonChicago Fire
Bob LiggettKansas City Chiefs
Jim McFarlandSt. Louis Cardinals
Joe OrdunaNew York Giants
Frank PatrickGreen Bay Packers
Frank VactorWashington Redskins