Husker Football: Top 10 Teams of All-Time

8. 1982

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska fans will always remember 1982 as the year that should have been. The Huskers won every game that season except for a still-controversial game against Penn State in Happy Valley.

Despite falling behind 21-7 early, Nebraska stormed back to take a 24-21 lead.

Penn State moved the ball down the field and scored in the closing seconds of the game to win 27-24.

The game-winning touchdown was set up by a reception that was made by a Nittany Lion receiver inside the five-yard line with nine seconds to go.

The problem is that the Penn State player never got a foot down in bounds. The refs “saw” it differently.

Nebraska rebounded from that loss and rattled off 10 straight wins, but their spot in the national title game was held by that very same Penn State squad (despite a 21 point loss to Alabama on their resume).

The Nittany Lions went on to knock off the Georgia Bulldogs and claim the National Championship, while Nebraska finished 12-1 and No. 3 in the polls.