CONGRATULATIONS: Nebraska’s Tom Osborne Crowned Best College Football Coach Ever, Receiving Elite Award for Historic 292-71-1 Record
In a landmark moment for college football history, legendary Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne was officially crowned the Best College Football Coach Ever at a special ceremony held in Pasadena, California, on June 4, 2025. The announcement was met with thunderous applause as Osborne, dressed in a crisp red tie and the humility he’s long been known for, took the stage to accept the newly established Gridiron Legacy Award, created to honor transcendent excellence in college coaching.
The award, presented by the National College Football Hall of Greats and endorsed by the NCAA, recognizes the coach with the most enduring impact on the sport—both in terms of on-field performance and leadership legacy. Osborne’s monumental record of 292 wins, 71 losses, and one tie over 25 seasons at the helm of the Nebraska Cornhuskers is one of the most revered in the sport’s history. His teams never missed a bowl game, won three national championships (1994, 1995, 1997), and claimed 13 conference titles, mostly in the fiercely competitive Big Eight and early Big 12 eras.
The ceremony opened with a tribute video narrated by Keith Jackson’s archival voice, blending classic footage of the 1995 Cornhuskers’ domination with images of Osborne walking the sidelines, headset on, stoic and composed. That team, which crushed Florida 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl, is still widely considered the most dominant college football team ever assembled.
“Coach Osborne taught us not only how to win, but how to live with purpose,” said former Heisman winner Eric Crouch, who introduced Osborne. “He coached us like we were sons, not players.”
Unlike many modern-day coaches, Osborne was known for his soft-spoken manner, deeply rooted Christian values, and cerebral approach to both offense and leadership. He revolutionized the option offense, made the weight room a year-round priority, and developed players from across the country into disciplined student-athletes. His teams graduated at high rates, and countless players—including NFL stars like Ahman Green, Grant Wistrom, and Mike Brown—credited him with changing their lives off the field as much as on it.
In his acceptance speech, Osborne thanked his players, coaching staff, fans, and late wife Nancy. “This honor is not mine alone. It belongs to the men who wore Nebraska red and white, who practiced in the cold, ran with heart, and believed in something bigger than themselves,” he said.
As the ceremony ended, the stadium-sized screen behind him lit up with “Forever Coach” in Nebraska scarlet, and a chorus of “GO BIG RED” echoed from fans flown in from Lincoln. For many, this wasn’t just an award—it was justice delivered.
Tom Osborne, the man who turned Nebraska into a national dynasty with quiet power and relentless integrity, now stands where he belongs: at the absolute summit of college football greatness.
