The Cornhuskers compiled a perfect 13–0 record and claimed their thirdnational championship in four years. Nebraska was ranked first in the finalCoaches Poll of the year, but was ranked second behindMichigan (also undefeated, at 12–0) in the finalAP Poll. Of the 20 official championship selectors designated by the NCAA, 13 selected Nebraska as national champions, six selected Michigan, and one declared them co-champions.[1] It remains one of the most hotly contested national championship debates in college football history.[2]
Nebraska secured their firstBig 12 Conference championship by defeatingTexas A&M by a score of 54–15 in theBig 12 Championship Game. Nebraska had been upset byTexas in the inaugural Big 12 Championship Game in1996. The season ended with a 42–17 victory over No. 3Tennessee in the1998 Orange Bowl for their fourth consecutive major bowl victory.
The Nebraska offense, which led the country in scoring, was led by quarterbackScott Frost and running backAhman Green. Frost became just the tenth player in college football history to both pass and run for 1,000 yards. Green finished second in the country in rushing yards with 1,877 yards, and tied for third in touchdowns with 22.[3] Offensive linemanAaron Taylor was named a consensusAll-American and was the recipient of theOutland Trophy. The Cornhusker defense was anchored by All-American defensive linemenJason Peter andGrant Wistrom, winner of theLombardi Award.
Head coachTom Osborne announced after the regular season that the Orange Bowl would be his final game as head coach. He retired as Nebraska's all-time winningest coach, and was sixth in wins all-time in major college football history at the time of his retirement.[4]
Nebraska Head CoachTom Osborne announced his retirement just prior to the 1998 Orange bowl, capping a remarkable career of success. The #2 Cornhuskers handily defeated the #3 Tennessee Volunteers 42–17, while #1Michigan defeated #7Washington State team 21–16. In postgame coverage on the field, Nebraska quarterbackScott Frost openly lobbiedCoaches Poll voters for support based on performance comparisons between Nebraska and Michigan.[6] The voters apparently agreed, as Nebraska was ranked #1 in the final Coaches Poll, while Michigan retained their pre-bowl #1 ranking in theAP Poll, creating a splitNational Championship. The 1997 Huskers set an NCAA record that still stands by scoring an average of 5.5 rushing touchdowns per game (66 rushing touchdowns in twelve games, not including the six scored in the Orange Bowl).[7]
The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1997 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[9]
