The 1990 Season Ended in Disaster—Which Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Nebraska Football

At the end of the 1990 college football season, the beginning of the dynasty that would change Nebraska football forever was only about two and a half years away. From 1993 to 1997, the Huskers would go on one of the most dominant runs in the history of the sport, putting together a 60-3 record and winning three national championships in four years. You know the story. 

But at the end of the 1990 season, the dynasty that was right around the corner would have seemed about as likely as Tom Osborne cracking a post-game beer. 

Late that season, the Huskers were undefeated and ranked #2 in the country. Going into the fourth quarter of the Colorado game up 12-0, things were looking promising. Then they fell apart. Nebraska lost to Colorado 27-12, and followed that up with a 45-10 loss to unranked Oklahoma. They would go on to lose to Georgia Tech 45-21 in the Citrus Bowl.  

Colorado and Georgia Tech were co-national champions that year, so Nebraska wasn’t exactly playing the Sisters of the Poor. But still. From #2 going into the Colorado game, the Huskers would finish the season ranked #24, their lowest post-season ranking since 1968. It was the fourth consecutive season the boys in red finished outside the top 10. Fans and pundits alike were wondering if Nebraska’s days as a college football powerhouse were over. 

This week, on the Common Fan Podcast, we launched Episode 4 of our series focused on Tom Osborne’s coaching career. This episode, Reaching the Mountaintop, looks at the Nebraska football teams of the early 1990s, from the low point of the 1990 season through the first national championship season in 1994. 

Thanks to Husker great Abdul Muhammad and longtime Nebraska sportswriter Mitch Sherman for joining us for a fantastic conversation. 

Righting the Ship

After the disappointing end to the 1990 season, Osborne…

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