In the 1980s, Tom Osborne’s Nebraska Cornhuskers were a juggernaut of college football, their success built on a blend of disciplined execution, raw power, and a relentless commitment to the run game. However, as the decade progressed, one glaring omission haunted Osborne’s otherwise stellar resume: an elusive national championship. If the era of historical college football playoffs had existed back then, Nebraska’s teams in the ’80s would have been frequent contenders for the title, with Osborne’s teams having the potential to reshape the landscape of postseason football.
From the moment Osborne took the helm in 1973, Nebraska’s program was on the rise. By the early ’80s, he had developed a squad that embodied his ideals of toughness and discipline. The Cornhuskers’ option offense, led by standout quarterbacks like Turner Gill and later, Steve Taylor, was an unstoppable force. The offensive line, anchored by future NFL players like Dean Steinkuhler and Mike Minter, paved the way for legendary running backs such as Jeff Smith and Roger Craig. Their power running game, backed by physicality and precision, dominated opponents week after week.
In 1982, Nebraska came within a whisker of claiming their first national title under Osborne, finishing 12-1, with their only loss a devastating defeat to a strong Penn State team in the Orange Bowl. In a hypothetical college football playoff system, that team would have likely been a top contender for the national title, facing off against the likes of the Miami Hurricanes or the Alabama Crimson Tide, who were thriving in that era.
The 1983 Cornhuskers were arguably just as good, finishing the regular season unbeaten. However, a 28-24 loss to a potent Miami squad in the Orange Bowl dashed their championship dreams once again. But had there been a playoff system in place, Nebraska could have gone on to face Miami in a more structured postseason format. The rematch would have been a collision of styles—the disciplined power running game of Osborne’s Nebraska against the explosive speed and innovation of Miami, led by quarterback Bernie Kosar. Nebraska’s formula of dominating the line of scrimmage and controlling the clock might have neutralized Miami’s high-powered offense in a potential playoff scenario.
In 1988, after a few near-misses, Nebraska had assembled a team that many believed could finally break through and claim the title. With a more balanced attack featuring a stout defense and the versatile Taylor at quarterback, the Cornhuskers were primed for postseason success. They won the Big Eight Championship, and though they were shut out of the national title game by the flawed bowl system, a playoff berth would have guaranteed a shot at the championship. A meeting with Miami or Notre Dame—two of the powerhouses of the time—would have put Nebraska’s all-around game to the test. The defensive line, with future pros like Neil Smith, and a loaded backfield would have made for a thrilling postseason run.
What made Osborne’s Nebraska teams so special in the 1980s was their relentless pursuit of perfection. While their success was often clouded by heartbreaking near-misses in the postseason, a historical college football playoff would have given them the platform to showcase their full potential. The narrative of Nebraska’s ’80s teams, much like their real-life counterparts, would have been one of grit, determination, and near-misses—a fitting storyline in any playoff system. These teams, with their imposing physicality and disciplined approach, might have transformed the playoff era into a new chapter in Nebraska’s storied history, possibly altering the course of college football’s postseason narrative.
