2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
. The Cornhuskers played their home games at Memorial Stadium
in Lincoln, Nebraska
and were led by head coach Bo Pelini
. The Cornhuskers finished the season 10–4, 6–3 in Big 12
and were Big 12 North Division champions and represented the division in the Big 12 Championship Game
, where they lost to Texas 13–12. Nebraska was invited to the Holiday Bowl
, where they defeated Arizona
33–0.
. The Cornhuskers were led by second-year Head Coach
Bo Pelini
. Pelini previously served as Defensive Coordinator
for LSU
and Oklahoma
following a season as Nebraska's Defensive Coordinator in 2003, and was brought back to Nebraska to lead the football program by Nebraska's former Head Coach and current Athletic Director
, Tom Osborne after the conclusion of the 2007 season
.
|-
|-
Source:
and finished with a 24–21 victory in the 2008 Motor City Bowl
against Central Michigan
. Nebraska entered the contest with a 4-game winning streak after defeating Clemson in the Gator Bowl
. Nebraska decisively defeated the Howard Schnellenberger
-led Owls, 49–3. Nebraska's Roy Helu Jr. rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns, while Zac Lee, in his first start as quarterback at Nebraska, threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns, along with one interception. The FAU offense did produce good yardage, gaining 122 yards rushing and 230 yards passing. However, they were unable to score a touchdown, with their only points coming from a 21-yard field goal by Ross Gornall in the second quarter. A large part of this was because of 5 turnovers by the Owls. This win extended the Cornhuskers season-opener win streak to 24 games, the nation's longest.
, although they were not invited to a postseason bowl game.
and a 30–35 Nebraska home field loss in non-conference play in 2008. Nebraska was poised to win its first touchdown-free game since 1937 on PK Alex Henery's career-high five field goals, but Virginia Tech escaped the home loss when Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor found a receiver on 3rd and goal from the 11 with just 21 seconds remaining to play. Statistically Nebraska outperformed the Hokies on offense, as Virginia Tech was held to just 11 first downs, only 4 first downs after the first quarter, pinned Hokie QB Taylor to -22 yards on the ground, and outgained Virginia Tech 343–278. 112 of the 278 Hokie yards were acquired on just three key plays.
in 2008. This game was also Nebraska's 300th consecutive sellout of Memorial Stadium (an ongoing NCAA record), and the Cornhuskers wore 'throwback'-style uniforms based on the team's 1962 appearance from when the NCAA-record streak began, to commemorate the milestone.
Nebraska smothered Louisiana Lafayette in front of an all-time Memorial Stadium record crowd, piling up 55 points while posting their first shutout since a 56–0 pasting of in 2006. Nearly all of Nebraska's active roster found playing time, as the game was decided early.
Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert
was hobbled early in the game with an apparent ankle injury, but Tiger Head Coach Gary Pinkel
opted to keep him in the game. Both teams struggled in heavy rain conditions to produce offensive output early on. The teams combined for 11 punts and two fumbles in the first half, with Missouri's safety early in the second quarter and a last-second touchdown just before halftime
for the only points points on the board.
With electrical problems persisting and scoreboards remaining dark throughout the night, the Cornhuskers attempted to regroup during the half in a locker room without lights.
The third quarter continued the scoring struggle, with Missouri still holding Nebraska off the scoreboard while only managing a field goal. In the fourth quarter, however, Nebraska managed to score with three touchdowns in 3:22, thanks in part to two turnovers forced by the Cornhusker defense. Protecting an 8 point lead, and with the stands quickly emptying of rain-soaked Tiger fans, Nebraska tried to run the ball for short gains in order to let the clock tick down. They did, however, score another touchdown with 56 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.
The road win against #24 Missouri was Nebraska's first win against a ranked opponent since a 28–27 win against Texas A&M
in 2006. Nebraska improved their series lead against Missouri, dating back to 1892, to 64–36–3.
Although it was not known at the time the game was played, this would be the last conference meeting between these teams due to Nebraska's abrupt move to the Big Ten Conference
to take effect for the 2011 season, leaving this series under the control of the Cornhuskers at 7–4.
The Cyclones moved up to 5–3 (2–2) after a 2–10 (0–8) record the previous season and enjoyed their first win in Memorial Stadium since 1977. First-year Iowa State Head Coach Paul Rhoads
said about the game, "When you don't win in a stadium on the road since 1977, it's big." Overall, Nebraska leads the series 85–17–2.
had been making the most noise over the course of the season even to the point of generating some early Heisman
talk, it was DT Jared Crick, who dominated Baylor on this day, racking up a school record five sacks, and seven additional tackles for losses, making a total of 13 tackles (10 solo), as well as recovering a fumble.
Baylor's own defense was also stubborn, only allowing the Cornhuskers 20 points in the first half before shutting them out in the second. Baylor managed a single field goal and a defensive touchdown off of an interception a short time later in the third quarter to end the scoring. The final score was 20–10 and gave Nebraska the road victory.
Just as with the Texas Tech game, it was not known at the time that this would be the last conference meeting between these teams, and the regular series drew to a close with Nebraska in command 11-1.
In 2009, the defenses took control of the game. Oklahoma made their way down the field but were stopped in Nebraska territory. Tres Way tried for his first career field goal but instead sent it flying to the left. Later in the first quarter Oklahoma made it way back down and tried for another field goal but this time Ndamukong Suh made sure the game stayed tied by getting a hand on the kick. Later on, Oklahoma QB Landry Jones was intercepted by Prince Amukamara of Nebraska, who returned it to the one yard line. Nebraska's offense struggled most of the game, but they got the 1 yard they needed as Zac Lee connected to Ryan Hill for the game's only touchdown. Later Oklahoma and Nebraska exchanged field goals, and then Matt O'Hanlon got three interceptions in the fourth quarter to seal an important victory for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and keep Oklahoma from recording even a single touchdown.
This game also turned out to be the unplanned final conference meeting between these programs in their storied historical rivalry, and the Sooners and Cornhuskers parted ways with Oklahoma owning the series edge 44-38-3.
Kansas State (6–6, 4–4) ended its season with losses in three of its last four games. Because two of the Wildcats' wins were against lower-division teams, they needed to beat Nebraska to become eligible for a bowl game.
The Huskers' Zac Lee completed 13 of 19 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Helu gave Nebraska a two-touchdown lead early in the third quarter with his 14-yard run. Daniel Thomas ran 19 times for 99 yards for Kansas State, and Grant Gregory was 11 of 31 for 126 yards. The Wildcats failed to score a touchdown for the second straight game despite their offense spending most of the second half on Nebraska's side of the field.
Three scoring opportunities were lost when Keithen Valentine fumbled at the Nebraska 1 and Josh Cherry missed field goals of 51 and 32 yards. The Wildcats, trailing by two touchdowns, drove to the Nebraska 25 in the last 4 minutes, but Ndamukong Suh and Barry Turner teamed up to sack Gregory. The Wildcats turned the ball over on downs when Gregory led Brandon Banks too much on a ball thrown toward the end zone.
The Huskers took over with 3:41 left and were able to run out the clock for their fourth straight win after Lee sneaked for a first down on fourth-and-1 from his own 36. Kansas State's only points came at the end of the game's opening series, when Cherry kicked a 44-yard field goal.
Nebraska, enjoying their fifth straight win, capped their regular conference schedule at 6–2, winning all league road games for the year. Colorado's season ended with no bowl game and a 3–9 record in coach Dan Hawkins' fourth year. Nebraska extended their series lead to 48–18–2.
as heavy underdogs, as 63 of 64 media predictions recorded by one source predicted a Texas victory. Nebraska hoped to upset the Longhorns and earn a BCS bowl game berth. The Longhorns sought to stay unbeaten and earn an invitation to the 2010 BCS National Championship Game
.
The game was defined by dominant defenses on both sides. The Nebraska offense, still struggling to find a productive groove, was rendered ineffective by Texas, gaining only 106 yards on the day and scoring all 12 points on field goals. However, the highly-productive Longhorn offense led by Heisman-candidate Colt McCoy
found itself struggling to make progress against the blackshirts. McCoy was sacked nine times and intercepted three times, while Texas was held to just 202 yards of offense for the game. The 13 Longhorn points were the fewest they had scored in any game since a 7–12 loss to Texas A&M in 2006.
Late in the fourth quarter, with Texas holding a slight 10–9 lead, Nebraska came up with the most productive series of the night, going 43 yards in 8 plays to set up the go-ahead field goal putting Nebraska up 12–10 with just 1:44 to play. Texas faced their first loss of the season and the loss of an invite to the national championship. A poor kickoff following the field goal provided Texas with good starting field position, and a 15-yard penalty on Nebraska shortly thereafter put Texas in the outer reaches of field goal range. Texas tried to inch closer from there but McCoy was sacked for a 2-yard loss. Then Texas lost another yard on a rush attempt, and had an incomplete pass on 3rd down that started with just 8 seconds remaining in the game. The timekeeper allowed the game clock to expire, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers rushed the field to celebrate their unlikely 2009 league championship.
The celebration was short-lived, however. Instant replay
found that the incomplete ball hit a railing with 1 second remaining. Checking the exact timing on every play of a game is not normally performed, and it is not uncommon for a second or two to tick off after plays are completed. A review was ordered, and one second was placed back on the game clock, and the field was cleared of the celebrating Cornhuskers and staff. Texas' subsequent 4th down field goal gave the Longhorns a league title by the narrowest margin in Big 12 championship history.
Nebraska slipped to 4–9 against Texas all time, and to 2–3 in the league championship game. Despite the loss, Nebraska's performance resulted in the team moving up one spot in both of the major college football rankings.
The Wildcats gained only 109 total yards on the day and six first downs. Nebraska committed seven penalties for 55 yards, but managed to hold Arizona off of the scoreboard entirely, and posted the first Holiday Bowl game shutout. The bowl was also Nebraska's first ever bowl game shutout win. The only other major statistical battles won by Arizona were in the punting game in kickoff return yards. The Wildcats netted approximately six more yards per punt in their nine attempts than Nebraska managed in its four attempts. In kickoff return yards, Arizona had eight opportunities compared to the lone Nebraska kickoff return to open the second half.
Nebraska evened up the all-time series against the Wildcats, to 1–1–1. Nebraska had a 20–23 Holiday Bowl loss to Arizona in 1998 and a 14–14 tie against the Wildcats in 1961.
With the Holiday Bowl victory, Pelini secured the program's first 10-win season since 2003, which coincidentally was the season when former head coach Frank Solich
was controversially fired before the bowl game and Pelini himself as interim coach led the Cornhuskers to their 10th win of 2003 in the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State. Nebraska finished 2009 with the nation's No. 1 scoring defense for only the second time in school history (1984). The Nebraska defense also led the country in pass efficiency defense and red zone efficiency defense, and it finished in the top ten in the four major defensive categories (scoring, total, pass efficiency, rushing) for the first time since 1999. Nebraska's overall program record at the end of the 2009 season stood at 827-341-40 (.701) all-time.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
. The Cornhuskers played their home games at Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln
Memorial Stadium is located on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. It is the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team....
in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
and were led by head coach Bo Pelini
Bo Pelini
Mark "Bo" Pelini is the head football coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He had previously been defensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers...
. The Cornhuskers finished the season 10–4, 6–3 in Big 12
2009 Big 12 Conference football season
The 2009 Big 12 Conference football season is the 14th season for the Big 12, as part of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season.-Coaching changes:-Media Poll:Ranked by total points, first place votes shown in parenthesis.-Rankings:...
and were Big 12 North Division champions and represented the division in the Big 12 Championship Game
2009 Big 12 Championship Game
The 2009 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game was held on December 5, 2009 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The divisional winners from the Big 12 Conference squared off in the 14th edition of the game. The Texas Longhorns represented the South Division and the Nebraska Cornhuskers...
, where they lost to Texas 13–12. Nebraska was invited to the Holiday Bowl
2009 Holiday Bowl
The 2009 Holiday Bowl was the thirty-second edition of the college football bowl game and was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game started at 5:00 PM US PST on Wednesday, December 30, 2009. The game was telecast on ESPN. The Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Arizona...
, where they defeated Arizona
2009 Arizona Wildcats football team
The 2009 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Wildcats, led by sixth-year head coach Mike Stoops, played their home games at Arizona Stadium....
33–0.
Before the season
The 2009 Cornhuskers began the regular season on Saturday, September 5, 2009 against the Florida Atlantic Owls2009 Florida Atlantic Owls football team
The 2009 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2009 college football season. The team was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and played their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The Owls were in their fourth season of...
. The Cornhuskers were led by second-year Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Bo Pelini
Bo Pelini
Mark "Bo" Pelini is the head football coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He had previously been defensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers...
. Pelini previously served as Defensive Coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
and Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
following a season as Nebraska's Defensive Coordinator in 2003, and was brought back to Nebraska to lead the football program by Nebraska's former Head Coach and current Athletic Director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
, Tom Osborne after the conclusion of the 2007 season
2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill Callahan and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska....
.
Schedule
|-|-
|-
Source:
Roster and coaching staff
Florida Atlantic
This was the first time Nebraska had met the Florida Atlantic Owls, who, in 2008, finished 6–6 (4–3) for a 3rd place tie with Arkansas State in the Sun Belt ConferenceSun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
and finished with a 24–21 victory in the 2008 Motor City Bowl
2008 Motor City Bowl
The 2008 Motor City Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association bowl game in which the Florida Atlantic Owls defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas 24–21. It was played on December 26, 2008 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan and aired on ESPN. The underdog FAU team from the Sun Belt...
against Central Michigan
Central Michigan Chippewas football
The Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences...
. Nebraska entered the contest with a 4-game winning streak after defeating Clemson in the Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
. Nebraska decisively defeated the Howard Schnellenberger
Howard Schnellenberger
Howard Schnellenberger is an American football coach at both the professional and college level. He is currently in his final season as head coach of Florida Atlantic University, having announced his retirement on August 11, 2011, effective at the end of the 2011 season...
-led Owls, 49–3. Nebraska's Roy Helu Jr. rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns, while Zac Lee, in his first start as quarterback at Nebraska, threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns, along with one interception. The FAU offense did produce good yardage, gaining 122 yards rushing and 230 yards passing. However, they were unable to score a touchdown, with their only points coming from a 21-yard field goal by Ross Gornall in the second quarter. A large part of this was because of 5 turnovers by the Owls. This win extended the Cornhuskers season-opener win streak to 24 games, the nation's longest.
Arkansas State
Cornhusker QB Zac Lee passed for over 340 yards and four touchdowns as the Cornhuskers had little trouble defeating Arkansas State in Lincoln 38–9. Nebraska's defense struggled for consistent performance but still managed to hold the Red Wolves out of the end zone except for a single touchdown and field goal, while the Cornhusker offense was consistently able to gain yardage. This was the first time Nebraska had met the Arkansas State Red Wolves, who finished the 2008 season 6–6 (4–3) for a 3rd place tie with Florida Atlantic in the Sun Belt ConferenceSun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
, although they were not invited to a postseason bowl game.
Virginia Tech
The Huskers fell to 2–1 against the Hokies in the final seconds, having split the series with a 41–21 Nebraska victory in the 1996 Orange Bowl1996 Orange Bowl (December)
The 63rd Orange Bowl, also known as the 1996 Orange Bowl, was a 1996–1997 Bowl Alliance game played on December 31, 1996 between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the . Virginia Tech, champions of the Big East Conference, came into the game with a 10–1 record and #10 AP ranking, whereas Nebraska,...
and a 30–35 Nebraska home field loss in non-conference play in 2008. Nebraska was poised to win its first touchdown-free game since 1937 on PK Alex Henery's career-high five field goals, but Virginia Tech escaped the home loss when Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor found a receiver on 3rd and goal from the 11 with just 21 seconds remaining to play. Statistically Nebraska outperformed the Hokies on offense, as Virginia Tech was held to just 11 first downs, only 4 first downs after the first quarter, pinned Hokie QB Taylor to -22 yards on the ground, and outgained Virginia Tech 343–278. 112 of the 278 Hokie yards were acquired on just three key plays.
Louisiana Lafayette
This was the first time Nebraska had met the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, who finished 6–6 (5–2) for a 2nd place finish in the Sun Belt ConferenceSun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
in 2008. This game was also Nebraska's 300th consecutive sellout of Memorial Stadium (an ongoing NCAA record), and the Cornhuskers wore 'throwback'-style uniforms based on the team's 1962 appearance from when the NCAA-record streak began, to commemorate the milestone.
Nebraska smothered Louisiana Lafayette in front of an all-time Memorial Stadium record crowd, piling up 55 points while posting their first shutout since a 56–0 pasting of in 2006. Nearly all of Nebraska's active roster found playing time, as the game was decided early.
Missouri
In a game that nearly was canceled twice—once by torrential rains, possible lightning hazards, and potential flooding, and again when a power outage darkened the stadium less than an hour before kickoff—Nebraska tied an all-time 4th-quarter comeback record, previously set in 1966, when the Cornhusker offense overcame the weather and penalties to roll off 27 unanswered points.Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert
Blaine Gabbert
Blaine Gabbert is an American football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Missouri Tigers before leaving early for the 2011 NFL draft after his junior year...
was hobbled early in the game with an apparent ankle injury, but Tiger Head Coach Gary Pinkel
Gary Pinkel
Gary Robin Pinkel is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Missouri, a position he has held since the 2001 season. From 1991 to 2000, Pinkel coached at the University of Toledo, where his team won a Mid-American Conference...
opted to keep him in the game. Both teams struggled in heavy rain conditions to produce offensive output early on. The teams combined for 11 punts and two fumbles in the first half, with Missouri's safety early in the second quarter and a last-second touchdown just before halftime
Half-time
In some team sports such as association football and rugby, matches are played in two halves. Half-time is the name given to the interval between the two halves of the match...
for the only points points on the board.
With electrical problems persisting and scoreboards remaining dark throughout the night, the Cornhuskers attempted to regroup during the half in a locker room without lights.
The third quarter continued the scoring struggle, with Missouri still holding Nebraska off the scoreboard while only managing a field goal. In the fourth quarter, however, Nebraska managed to score with three touchdowns in 3:22, thanks in part to two turnovers forced by the Cornhusker defense. Protecting an 8 point lead, and with the stands quickly emptying of rain-soaked Tiger fans, Nebraska tried to run the ball for short gains in order to let the clock tick down. They did, however, score another touchdown with 56 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.
The road win against #24 Missouri was Nebraska's first win against a ranked opponent since a 28–27 win against Texas A&M
2006 Texas A&M Aggies football team
The 2006 Texas A&M Aggies football team completed the season with a 9-4 record. The Aggies had a regular season Big 12 record of 5-3.-Schedule:-Roster:-The Citadel:-Louisiana-Lafayette:-Army:-Louisiana Tech:...
in 2006. Nebraska improved their series lead against Missouri, dating back to 1892, to 64–36–3.
Texas Tech
Nebraska's hopes for redemption following last year's heartbreaking loss in Lubbock against the then-#7 Texas Tech Red Raiders fell short as the Cornhuskers never found a groove in their offensive output, even after changing quarterbacks for much of the second half. The Cornhusker defensive effort was outstanding, holding the unranked Red Raiders to just 259 yards, less than half of their season average. Although the offensive unit outgained Texas Tech with 285 total yards of its own, penalties and miscues took a heavy toll that could not be overcome.Although it was not known at the time the game was played, this would be the last conference meeting between these teams due to Nebraska's abrupt move to the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
to take effect for the 2011 season, leaving this series under the control of the Cornhuskers at 7–4.
Iowa State
Although the Iowa State Cyclones have historically fared poorly in the previous 103 meetings with Nebraska, the Cyclones entered Memorial Stadium without their leading quarterback and rushing threat and subsequently played an error-free game. The solid effort was enough to put up 9 points in the first half to lead Nebraska by 2, which concluded the game's scoring. The 9 points turned out to be sufficient to win against the poor Cornhusker offensive effort, which turned over the ball a school-record eight times (including four inside of Iowa State's five-yard line). The turnovers negated Nebraska's 362–239 edge in yards gained.The Cyclones moved up to 5–3 (2–2) after a 2–10 (0–8) record the previous season and enjoyed their first win in Memorial Stadium since 1977. First-year Iowa State Head Coach Paul Rhoads
Paul Rhoads
Paul Rhoads is an American college football head coach at Iowa State University. Rhoads was formerly the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Auburn University football team before then-head coach Tommy Tuberville was forced to resign at the 2008 season's end...
said about the game, "When you don't win in a stadium on the road since 1977, it's big." Overall, Nebraska leads the series 85–17–2.
Baylor
As part of the effort to provide a spark to its nonproductive offense, true freshman quarterback Cody Green made his first start and notched his first win against the Bears in Waco. Although highly-touted Nebraska DT Ndamukong SuhNdamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions 2nd overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
had been making the most noise over the course of the season even to the point of generating some early Heisman
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
talk, it was DT Jared Crick, who dominated Baylor on this day, racking up a school record five sacks, and seven additional tackles for losses, making a total of 13 tackles (10 solo), as well as recovering a fumble.
Baylor's own defense was also stubborn, only allowing the Cornhuskers 20 points in the first half before shutting them out in the second. Baylor managed a single field goal and a defensive touchdown off of an interception a short time later in the third quarter to end the scoring. The final score was 20–10 and gave Nebraska the road victory.
Just as with the Texas Tech game, it was not known at the time that this would be the last conference meeting between these teams, and the regular series drew to a close with Nebraska in command 11-1.
Oklahoma
The history of Nebraska's contests with the Oklahoma Sooners continued in this 85th meeting between these programs, with Oklahoma holding a 44–37–3 series lead. Oklahoma had defeated Nebraska in 2008 with a strong offensive output in Norman, which left Nebraska behind 0–35 in the first quarter.In 2009, the defenses took control of the game. Oklahoma made their way down the field but were stopped in Nebraska territory. Tres Way tried for his first career field goal but instead sent it flying to the left. Later in the first quarter Oklahoma made it way back down and tried for another field goal but this time Ndamukong Suh made sure the game stayed tied by getting a hand on the kick. Later on, Oklahoma QB Landry Jones was intercepted by Prince Amukamara of Nebraska, who returned it to the one yard line. Nebraska's offense struggled most of the game, but they got the 1 yard they needed as Zac Lee connected to Ryan Hill for the game's only touchdown. Later Oklahoma and Nebraska exchanged field goals, and then Matt O'Hanlon got three interceptions in the fourth quarter to seal an important victory for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and keep Oklahoma from recording even a single touchdown.
This game also turned out to be the unplanned final conference meeting between these programs in their storied historical rivalry, and the Sooners and Cornhuskers parted ways with Oklahoma owning the series edge 44-38-3.
Kansas
The Nebraska offense tried to improve over their performance the previous week against Oklahoma. Chastised for playing close conservatively during the 10–3 win over Oklahoma, the Cornhuskers hit Kansas with a barrage of big plays to win in Lawrence for the first time since 2003. To start the game Niles Paul caught a Zac Lee pass for a 35-yard gain. Roy Helu Jr. ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns, and Nebraska used big plays on offense to beat Kansas 31–17 Saturday and take a share of the Big 12 North lead.Kansas State
Roy Helu Jr. ran 26 times for 95 yards and a touchdown, and Nebraska defeated Kansas State 17–3 to win the Big 12 North. The win earned the Huskers a birth in the Big 12 conference championship game on December 5 in Arlington, Texas against the Texas Longhorns. The third-ranked Longhorns clinched the South Division with a 51–20 win over Kansas.Kansas State (6–6, 4–4) ended its season with losses in three of its last four games. Because two of the Wildcats' wins were against lower-division teams, they needed to beat Nebraska to become eligible for a bowl game.
The Huskers' Zac Lee completed 13 of 19 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Helu gave Nebraska a two-touchdown lead early in the third quarter with his 14-yard run. Daniel Thomas ran 19 times for 99 yards for Kansas State, and Grant Gregory was 11 of 31 for 126 yards. The Wildcats failed to score a touchdown for the second straight game despite their offense spending most of the second half on Nebraska's side of the field.
Three scoring opportunities were lost when Keithen Valentine fumbled at the Nebraska 1 and Josh Cherry missed field goals of 51 and 32 yards. The Wildcats, trailing by two touchdowns, drove to the Nebraska 25 in the last 4 minutes, but Ndamukong Suh and Barry Turner teamed up to sack Gregory. The Wildcats turned the ball over on downs when Gregory led Brandon Banks too much on a ball thrown toward the end zone.
The Huskers took over with 3:41 left and were able to run out the clock for their fourth straight win after Lee sneaked for a first down on fourth-and-1 from his own 36. Kansas State's only points came at the end of the game's opening series, when Cherry kicked a 44-yard field goal.
Colorado
Nebraska ended Colorado's season by defeating the Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Colorado elected to receive to start, and the Cornhusker defense prevented them from getting further than their own 21 yard line on all four of their first quarter possessions, setting the tone for the game. Nebraska's offense struggled at times during the game, and the Buffaloes gained some traction in the second half. Colorado's two trips into the red zone during the fourth quarter produced no points through the efforts of the blackshirts to turn them away. Nebraska moved the ball 80 yards in 13 plays to seal the game with seven more points, going up 28–14. The teams traded possessions again, before Colorado managed to punch in a final touchdown on the last play of the game.Nebraska, enjoying their fifth straight win, capped their regular conference schedule at 6–2, winning all league road games for the year. Colorado's season ended with no bowl game and a 3–9 record in coach Dan Hawkins' fourth year. Nebraska extended their series lead to 48–18–2.
Texas
This was Nebraska first trip to the Big 12 title game since 2006 and fifth time in the league's 14 years. Nebraska met undefeated #3 Texas for the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game2009 Big 12 Championship Game
The 2009 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game was held on December 5, 2009 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The divisional winners from the Big 12 Conference squared off in the 14th edition of the game. The Texas Longhorns represented the South Division and the Nebraska Cornhuskers...
as heavy underdogs, as 63 of 64 media predictions recorded by one source predicted a Texas victory. Nebraska hoped to upset the Longhorns and earn a BCS bowl game berth. The Longhorns sought to stay unbeaten and earn an invitation to the 2010 BCS National Championship Game
2010 BCS National Championship Game
The 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game was the finale of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, and was played between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was hosted by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California,...
.
The game was defined by dominant defenses on both sides. The Nebraska offense, still struggling to find a productive groove, was rendered ineffective by Texas, gaining only 106 yards on the day and scoring all 12 points on field goals. However, the highly-productive Longhorn offense led by Heisman-candidate Colt McCoy
Colt McCoy
Daniel "Colt" McCoy is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
found itself struggling to make progress against the blackshirts. McCoy was sacked nine times and intercepted three times, while Texas was held to just 202 yards of offense for the game. The 13 Longhorn points were the fewest they had scored in any game since a 7–12 loss to Texas A&M in 2006.
Late in the fourth quarter, with Texas holding a slight 10–9 lead, Nebraska came up with the most productive series of the night, going 43 yards in 8 plays to set up the go-ahead field goal putting Nebraska up 12–10 with just 1:44 to play. Texas faced their first loss of the season and the loss of an invite to the national championship. A poor kickoff following the field goal provided Texas with good starting field position, and a 15-yard penalty on Nebraska shortly thereafter put Texas in the outer reaches of field goal range. Texas tried to inch closer from there but McCoy was sacked for a 2-yard loss. Then Texas lost another yard on a rush attempt, and had an incomplete pass on 3rd down that started with just 8 seconds remaining in the game. The timekeeper allowed the game clock to expire, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers rushed the field to celebrate their unlikely 2009 league championship.
The celebration was short-lived, however. Instant replay
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
found that the incomplete ball hit a railing with 1 second remaining. Checking the exact timing on every play of a game is not normally performed, and it is not uncommon for a second or two to tick off after plays are completed. A review was ordered, and one second was placed back on the game clock, and the field was cleared of the celebrating Cornhuskers and staff. Texas' subsequent 4th down field goal gave the Longhorns a league title by the narrowest margin in Big 12 championship history.
Nebraska slipped to 4–9 against Texas all time, and to 2–3 in the league championship game. Despite the loss, Nebraska's performance resulted in the team moving up one spot in both of the major college football rankings.
Arizona
Arizona hoped to capitalize on the suspect Nebraska offense, with their best hope being to put at least a couple of scores in against the blackshirts while keeping the Cornhuskers off the board as much as possible. The Nebraska coaching staff, however, installed some entirely different offensive looks that Arizona had not prepared for. The new offensive schemes leveraged the strengths of available personnel and minimized turnover risks. The tone of the game was set early on when Nebraska intercepted Arizona and subsequently punched in the first touchdown of the game only 75 seconds into the contest. From there on out, the Wildcats were on their heels, often unable to contain the steady Nebraska gains, and unable to score or make any progress against the Nebraska defense.The Wildcats gained only 109 total yards on the day and six first downs. Nebraska committed seven penalties for 55 yards, but managed to hold Arizona off of the scoreboard entirely, and posted the first Holiday Bowl game shutout. The bowl was also Nebraska's first ever bowl game shutout win. The only other major statistical battles won by Arizona were in the punting game in kickoff return yards. The Wildcats netted approximately six more yards per punt in their nine attempts than Nebraska managed in its four attempts. In kickoff return yards, Arizona had eight opportunities compared to the lone Nebraska kickoff return to open the second half.
Nebraska evened up the all-time series against the Wildcats, to 1–1–1. Nebraska had a 20–23 Holiday Bowl loss to Arizona in 1998 and a 14–14 tie against the Wildcats in 1961.
Rankings
| Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | 24 | 22 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 15 | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | 21 | 20 | 14 |
| Coaches | 22 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 17 | NR | NR | NR | NR | 25 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 14 |
| Harris | Not released | 24 | 21 | 19 | NR | NR | NR | NR | 25 | 24 | 22 | 20 | ||||
| BCS | Not released | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | 22 | 22 | |||||||
After the season
After the bowl game it was revealed that QB Zac Lee had been playing with an injured throwing arm since the Arkansas State game on September 12, the second game of the season, and that off-season surgery was scheduled to help him ready for the 2010 season. Despite periods of fan outcries about Nebraska's offensive struggles, news of his injury had deliberately been withheld during the season to prevent opposing teams from using the specific knowledge to their advantage.With the Holiday Bowl victory, Pelini secured the program's first 10-win season since 2003, which coincidentally was the season when former head coach Frank Solich
Frank Solich
Frank Solich is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Ohio University, a position he has held since the 2005 season...
was controversially fired before the bowl game and Pelini himself as interim coach led the Cornhuskers to their 10th win of 2003 in the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State. Nebraska finished 2009 with the nation's No. 1 scoring defense for only the second time in school history (1984). The Nebraska defense also led the country in pass efficiency defense and red zone efficiency defense, and it finished in the top ten in the four major defensive categories (scoring, total, pass efficiency, rushing) for the first time since 1999. Nebraska's overall program record at the end of the 2009 season stood at 827-341-40 (.701) all-time.
Awards
| Award | Name(s) |
|---|---|
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy Bronko Nagurski Trophy The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte... |
Ndamukong Suh Ndamukong Suh Ndamukong Suh is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions 2nd overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.... |
| Lombardi Award Lombardi Award The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which... |
Ndamukong Suh |
| Outland Trophy Outland Trophy The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in... |
Ndamukong Suh |
| Bednarik Award | Ndamukong Suh |
| AP Player of the Year | Ndamukong Suh |
| All-America 1st team | Ndamukong Suh |
| All-America honorable mention | Prince Amukamara Prince Amukamara -College career:After arriving at Nebraska, Amukamara contemplated playing basketball on top of football, but dropped those plans after fall football practices began. As a freshman in 2007, Amukamara was described as being a newcomer "with a lot of personality" by senior linebacker Corey McKeon. He... , Larry Asante, Jared Crick, Phillip Dillard |
| Freshman All-America honorable mention | Baker Steinkuhler |
| Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year | Ndamukong Suh |
| Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year | Ndamukong Suh |
| All-Big 12 1st team | Prince Amukamara, Larry Asante, Jared Crick, Alex Henery Alex Henery Alex Henery is an American football kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, setting an NCAA record for field goal accuracy with a 89.5% success rate... , Mike McNeill, Ndamukong Suh |
| All-Big 12 2nd team | Phillip Dillard, Roy Helu Jr., Jacob Hickman, Niles Paul Niles Paul Niles Paul is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Nebraska.-College career:... |
| All-Big 12 4th team | Matt O’Hanlon, Barry Turner |
| All-Big 12 honorable mention | DeJon Gomes Dejon Gomes Dejon Gomes is an American football safety who plays for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.- Early life and career :... , Eric Hagg Eric Hagg Eric Hagg is an American football safety for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Browns in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska, and high school football in Arizona at Ironwood High School.-External links:**... , Ricky Henry, Barry Turner, Keith Williams Keith Williams (offensive lineman) Keith Williams is an American football offensive guard for the Buffalo Bills of the NFL. He was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.-Early years:... |
| All-Big 12 Freshman 1st team | Will Compton, Ben Cotton, Sean Fisher |
| All-Big 12 Freshman honorable mention | Baker Steinkuhler |
Draft picks, signees, or other future professional players
- Prince AmukamaraPrince Amukamara-College career:After arriving at Nebraska, Amukamara contemplated playing basketball on top of football, but dropped those plans after fall football practices began. As a freshman in 2007, Amukamara was described as being a newcomer "with a lot of personality" by senior linebacker Corey McKeon. He...
, 2011 1st-round pick of the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Larry AsanteLarry AsanteLarry Asante is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
, 2010 4th-round pick of the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Chris Brooks, 2010 free agent signee of the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
- Phillip DillardPhillip DillardPhillip Dillard is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He attended Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma, where he was rated as one of the nation's top high school...
, 2010 4th-round pick of the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Dejon GomesDejon GomesDejon Gomes is an American football safety who plays for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.- Early life and career :...
, 2011 5th-round pick of the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... - Eric HaggEric HaggEric Hagg is an American football safety for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Browns in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska, and high school football in Arizona at Ironwood High School.-External links:**...
, 2011 7th-round pick of the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Roy Helu, 2011 4th-round pick of the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
- Alex HeneryAlex HeneryAlex Henery is an American football kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, setting an NCAA record for field goal accuracy with a 89.5% success rate...
, 2011 4th-round pick of the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Ricky Henry, 2011 UFL 1st-round pick of the Hartford Colonials
- D.J. Jones, 2011 UFL 6th-round pick of the Omaha NighthawksOmaha NighthawksThe Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
- Matt O'Hanlon, 2010 free agent signee of the Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
- Niles PaulNiles PaulNiles Paul is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Nebraska.-College career:...
, 2011 5th-round pick of the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... - Mike Smith, 2011 UFL 5th-round pick of the Omaha NighthawksOmaha NighthawksThe Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
- Ndamukong SuhNdamukong SuhNdamukong Suh is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions 2nd overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
, 2010 1st-round pick of the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... - Barry Turner, 2010 free agent signee of the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
- Keith WilliamsKeith Williams (offensive lineman)Keith Williams is an American football offensive guard for the Buffalo Bills of the NFL. He was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.-Early years:...
, 2011 6th-round pick of the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
See also
- 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season2009 NCAA Division I FBS football seasonThe 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
- 2009 Big 12 Conference football season2009 Big 12 Conference football seasonThe 2009 Big 12 Conference football season is the 14th season for the Big 12, as part of the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season.-Coaching changes:-Media Poll:Ranked by total points, first place votes shown in parenthesis.-Rankings:...