Husker Football: Top 10 Teams of All-Time

5. 1983

The “scoring explosion” re-wrote the NCAA record books in 1983.

However, most Husker fans would trade all those records if they could change the outcome of just one play.

Led by Heisman trophy-winning running back Mike Rozier (2,148 yards on the year), Nebraska put up big numbers against almost all of its opponents, going undefeated through the regular season.

The Cornhuskers were faced with a difficult test if they were going to claim their first national title in the Osborne era. They had to beat No. 5 Miami (FL) in the Orange Bowl.

Nebraska found itself in a 17-0 hole after the first quarter, but fought back, despite losing Rozier to injury along the way.

The Big Red finally caught up to the Hurricanes in the closing minutes of the game, scoring a touchdown and being an extra point away from a 31-31 tie and yet another national championship.

Tom Osborne made a call that helped define his career. It was a gutsy decision to play for the win and a clear-cut national champion.

The Huskers went for two and were unsuccessful as Turner Gill’s pass was batted down by a Miami defender.

Even though Miami would take home the ultimate prize, the Huskers earned final No. 2 ranking and Osborne gained an immense amount of respect for the call from his peers.