Bo Pelini’s Top Five Wins as Nebraska Football’s Head Coach

5. 2009 Holiday Bowl

The 2009 Nebraska defense wasn’t only one of Pelini’s finest, it was one of the best in the nation giving up all of 10 points per contest. Easily the best Blackshirts seen in years. Bo Pelini’s No. 20 Huskers met up with the No. 22 Arizona Wildcats in San Diego, a favorite bowl destination of Big Red fans.

The result was a 33-0 mud hole stomping highlighted by defensive dominance.

Quarterback Zac Lee contributed two touchdowns, one via the ground and another through the air to Niles Paul. Kicker Alex Henery (also known as Ol’ Reliable at the time) put three field goals through from 22, 41 and 50 yards.

While the offensive output was mostly due to the leg of Henery, Paul did haul in four catches for 123 yards and the aforementioned six points. The Shawn Watson-led charge was merely an appetizer for the Big Red faithful.

Arizona’s offense was held to 109 yards total (63 on the ground, 46 through the air) as it was swarmed by a unit feeding off of Ndamukong Suh’s intensity. Wildcat quarterback Nick Foles went 10-31, throwing an inception into the waiting mitts of Matt O’Hanlon. Pierre Allen saw to it that Foles would be sacked twice on the day.

You can’t win if you can’t score, but the Huskers didn’t led the Wildcats have a moment to breathe let alone threaten their end zone.