Nebraska football is coming off a bye week that followed a disappointing loss to a UCLA Bruins that is on a three-game winning streak. With a 5-4 record, Nebraska is on the verge of its first bowl game berth since 2016. Nebraska with its new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, will travel to Los Angeles this week to take on the USC Trojans which has a record of 4-5.
The two teams first played each other in Lincoln in 1969. By this time, under the leadership of Coach Bob Devaney, Nebraska was experiencing its most success since the 1930s. Devaney was in his 8th season leading the Huskers but failed to earn a bowl berth the previous two seasons. This is the same year that Tom Osborne served as offensive coordinator for the Huskers and installed the I-formation. USC, meanwhile, was coming off of a 9-1-1 season and a Rose Bowl lose under Coach John McCay. The game against USC was the first of the season for both teams.
After USC jumped out to a two-touchdown lead, Nebraska responded by scoring a TD of their own in the second quarter to go into halftime down 21-7. The deficit grew to 28-7 heading into the fourth quarter. The Huskers comeback attempt fell short as the Trojans intercepted a Jerry Tagge pass which they converted into a field goal. Nebraska lost the game 31-21.
Nebraska would rebound from two disappointing seasons and finish the 1969 season with a record of 9-2. The Huskers finished 11th overall. Despite the loss, Nebraska was primed for an unprecedented run starting with national championships the following two seasons. The 1970 NFL draft saw eight Huskers drafted.
Nebraska would get another shot at the Trojans the following season in a game that ended in a 21-21 tie in Los Angeles. After that the two teams would wait 36 years to play its third ever contest. Most recently the two teams played in 2014 with Nebraska losing 45-42. The overall series has been dominated by the Trojans with the Huskers having never defeated the boys from SoCal. The series stands at 0-4-1.
Please feel free to comment to share your thoughts and predictions for the game.
Until next time, keep exploring!
Omaha Exploration is sponsored by
Click here to contact me if you’re interested in sponsoring OE.
Get email notifications when new OE content is posted
Follow OE on the socials
Omaha Exploration, 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links can be used, if full and clear credit is given to Omaha Exploration with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Omaha Exploration 
Leave a comment