The U versus the Cornhuskers? Oh, boy, this is a rivalry that began way back at the 50th Orange Bowl in 1984, when Coach Howard Schnellenberger made good on his promise to deliver a championship to UM. College football mathematicians look at the outcome of that matchup as one of numerous improbabilities resulting in the first of five championships the program earned. Now chiseled into the lore of '80s and '90s hip-hop, the University of Miami Hurricanes went into that January 2, 1984 game as underdogs led by Bernie Kosar, and thanks in part to upsets at the Cotton, Rose, and Sugar bowls, the Canes were able to emerge number one in the polls.
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Much has changed since the Schnellenberger era, but the rivalry between the orange-and-green with the scarlet-and-cream remains, with this Saturday's game being their 12th meeting (a series led by the Nebraska Cornhuskers 6-5). Now helmed by Al Golden and sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya (son of Friday actress Angela Means Kaaya, of "bye, Felicia" fame), the Canes look to even out the rivalry numbers at 3:30 p.m. at the revamped Sun Life Stadium (347 Don Shula Dr., Miami Gardens). Tickets cost $80 to $475. Call 305-943-8000 or visit sunlifestadium.com.
Nebraska vs. Miami Head-To-Head Football History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF5svoZ8wFc
Interesting Rivalry Facts -- Four meetings - 1984, 1992, 1995 and -- 2002 – have decided the national champion. Three of those four games were in the Orange Bowl while the two met in 2002 in the Rose Bowl.
Six out of the 11 meetings have been played in bowl games, with four being at the Orange Bowl and one each at the Gotham Bowl and Rose Bowl.
The 2015 meeting in Miami is the first time neither team has been ranked entering the matchup since the 1964 Gotham Bowl.
From 1975 to 2002 – a total of seven games – the winner was ranked in the AP top five entering the matchup.
Three Memorable Games
1. Osborne Goes For Two – January 1, 1984 – Miami Orange Bowl (Miami, FL) – With the national title on the line, No. 1 Nebraska scored a touchdown in the last minute to cut the lead to 31-30. Instead of going for the tie, Huskers coach Tom Osborne decided to go for two. The two-point conversion was no good, catapulting Miami to No. 1 in the final poll and securing the Canes' first national championship.
2. Osborne Gets Revenge – January 1, 1995 – Miami Orange Bowl (Miami, FL) – Nine years later, Osborne would get his rematch with the Hurricanes with another national title at stake. The No. 1 Cornhuskers, led by quarterback Tommie Frazier, came back from a 17-7 third quarter deficit to defeat the No. 3 Hurricanes, 24-17, and complete their season with a perfect 13-0 record and national championship.
3. The U Makes A Statement – January 1, 1992 – Miami Orange Bowl (Miami, FL) – Under coach Dennis Erickson, the Hurricanes came into the 1992 Orange Bowl matchup against Nebraska with an undefeated record and No. 1 ranking. The Canes dominated, shutting out the Cornhuskers 22-0 to finish the season perfect and finish No. 1 in the AP Poll.
Program Comparisons -- National Championships
Both Nebraska and Miami have won five national championships. The Hurricanes were dominant in the 80s, winning three of them in that decade alone with the other two coming in 1991 and 2001. The Cornhuskers won back-to-back titles in 1970-1971 and 1994-95 and brought home their fifth championship in 1997.
Total: Nebraska 5, Miami 5
Conference Titles
The Cornhuskers have a staggering 46 total conference titles, while Miami won nine Big East titles, before moving to the ACC where UM has 0.
Total: Nebraska 46, Miami 9
Heisman Winners
Johnny Rodgers (1972), Mike Rozier (1983) and Eric Crouch (2001) have all brought the Heisman Trophy back to Lincoln. Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) have won the award as a Hurricane.
Total Winners : Nebraska 3, Miami 2 [Brad Kaaya is next]
