Nebraska football: 100 years at Memorial Stadium — top 5 games in the modern era

Enough of the negativity, Huskers’ fans. You’ve been put through abundant misery of late.

Instead, let’s take a stroll down memory lane. On Saturday, Nebraska will finish its 100th season of playing in iconic Memorial Stadium as it hosts Wisconsin. So many outstanding games played in the old venue over the years. Numerous legends have graced the playing surface and left a legacy to remember.

While the “Old Grey Lady,” as some call it, has been a bit more hospitable to visitors over the past decade, it once was known as a place where visiting teams had little chance at victory. In fact, from 1991-98 the Huskers won 47 straight games at home. That stands as the 5th longest streak of all time.

Mack Brown’s Texas Longhorns ended the streak on Halloween that year. Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams had himself a day. Major Applewhite threw a late TD to lead Texas to the 20-16 win. It was Nebraska’s 1st home loss since a Sept. 21, 1991 loss to eventual co-national champion Washington.

With so many memorable games played there, let’s take a look at the 5 best games in the modern era (1973-now) at Memorial Stadium. My criteria is as follows:

• Overall game competitiveness
• What was on the line
• Atmosphere
• Signature moments

This is a tough list to pare down to 5. Lots of games just missed the cut (looking at you 2016 Oregon and 1996 Colorado). And keep in mind the criteria mentioned above. Let’s dive in.

5) Nebraska 41, Miami (Fla) 31 – Sept. 20, 2014

This game makes the cut for a couple reasons. Number 1, the 91,585 fans on hand for this showdown is the most ever to attend a game at Memorial Stadium. And the Nebraska fans made their presence felt.

Reason No. 2 is the noise level and vitriol coming from the home crowd. With a chippy affair playing out on the field as tempers flared on each side all night, the crowd was raucous from start to finish. It was the Hurricanes’ first visit to Lincoln since 1976. The teams had met 5 teams since — all in bowl games, most in South Florida — and Nebraska relished the opportunity to get the guys from Coral Gables on its turf.

Ameer Abdullah rushed for 229 yards and 2 TDs and quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw for 2 more. The Nebraska defense harassed Miami freshman QB Brad Kaaya into 2 INTs as the 24th-ranked Huskers picked up a big nonconference win under Bo Pelini.

4) Nebraska 40, Colorado 31 – Nov. 28, 2008

A rivalry that’s seen so many memorable games. This one isn’t the closest, nor did it have the most on the line. But it did have a finish that still resonates in Big Red land to this day. And the atmosphere, especially at the end, was one of the best in stadium history.

Trailing 31-27 entering the 4th quarter, Nebraska got a 37-yard field goal from Alex Henery, then got the ball back and drove just inside the Colorado 40 before stalling. Pelini elected to send out Henery to attempt a 57-yarder with 1:50 left. Henery’s boot went through the uprights as the Memorial Stadium faithful went ballistic. It remains the longest field goal made in stadium history.

Ndamukong Suh put an exclamation point on the win. Suh intercepted a tipped pass and took it 30 yards for a game-clinching score, curb-stomping Buff’s QB Cody Hawkins in the process. The 2 signature moments are 2 of the loudest single instances many loyal fans remember over decades of attending games.

3) Oklahoma 20, Nebraska 17 – Nov. 22, 1986

In a matchup that featured top-5 teams, No. 3 Oklahoma rallied from a 17-7 4th quarter deficit to score the game’s final 13 points and spoil No. 5 Nebraska’s upset hopes.

The Huskers donned all-red uniforms — the 1st time ever Nebraska wore red jerseys and pants at home. Oklahoma entered as a 9-point favorite led by talented option QB Jamelle Holieway.

The Sooners were seeking their 3rd straight Big 8 title and Orange Bowl berth. Nebraska, led by QB Steve Taylor and running back Keith Jones, led 17-10 late in the 4th. The Huskers defense played well all game, matching the tenacity and physicality of the Sooners’ renowned unit led by All-America linebacker Brian Bosworth.

But the Huskers were flagged for a facemask on Holieway after getting a 4th down stop deep in Sooners’ territory, prolonging an Oklahoma drive. That’s when “Sooner Magic” came alive. Holieway connected with tight end Keith Jackson on a 17-yard TD to tie the game with 1:22 left.

After forcing a quick 3-and-out, OU got the ball back and Holieway again found Jackson along the Oklahoma sideline for a 41-yard gain with 9 seconds left. Tim Lashar knocked through the game-winning 31-yard FG with 6 seconds left, leaving the sellout crowd of 76,198 in stunned silence.

From start to finish, it was one of the best games and atmospheres many longtime fans remember. A high-stakes game with top-level play on each side. Your typical NU-OU game from that era.

2) Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 14 – Nov. 11, 1978

Top-ranked Oklahoma entered 9-0 and looking for another Orange Bowl bid and national title shot.

Tom Osborne was in his 6th season as Nebraska’s coach and was 0-5 against the Sooners. A sellout crowd of 76,015 was on hand to watch the donnybrook play out.

The fourth-ranked Huskers defense came to play. Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims ran for a tough 153 yards and 2 TDs for the Sooners. But the key play was a Sims fumble that was recovered by Nebraska’s Jim Pillen at the 3 with 3:27 remaining.

The hard-hitting Nebraska defense forced 9 Oklahoma fumbles, 6 of which were recovered by the Huskers. Turnovers were a tale of the day.

I-back Rick Berns’ 113-yard day helped spur the Nebraska offense. He was the first Nebraska back to go over the century mark in rushing against OU since Nebraska’s Jeff Kinney went for 174 in the 1971 Game of the Century.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the home crowd roared in celebration. Osborne got his signature win. It was one of the stadium’s most memorable moments.

1) Nebraska 20, Oklahoma 10 – Oct. 27, 2001

The era of the BCS saw the top 2 teams square off in Lincoln in late October with plenty on the line.

Nebraska, led by Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch at quarterback, looked to give coach Frank Solich a huge, signature win against Bob Stoops’ Sooners.

The game also featured one of the stadium’s most unforgettable plays. Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass will live in infamy in Huskers lore. With Nebraska clinging to a 13-10 lead, Solich called for a bit of trickery to pad the lead.

Running back Thunder Collins took a handoff on an apparent sweep around the end. But Collins pitched it back to Mike Stuntz, a backup QB who entered as a receiver. Stuntz reversed direction and fired a strike to Crouch who slipped out unguarded. Crouch hauled in the pass and raced 63 yards for a TD. The sellout crowd of 78,031 went delirious. A defining moment for Crouch, Solich and the Huskers.

With ESPN’s College GameDay broadcasting live from the stadium, it was the biggest game hosted in Lincoln in quite some time. Points were at a premium, but the quality of defense played that day and the anxiety each snap produced to those in attendance vaults the game to the top of this list.

Shawn Ekwall

Shawn Ekwall has been a contributing writer for Huskers Illustrated and covers the Huskers and other B1G teams for Saturday Tradition. Follow him on twitter @shawn_ekwall