Official recap
When football historians review the 1970s they'll probably list the Nebraska-Southern California 21-21 tie in 1970 as one of the great games of the decade.
It was that kind of game as Nebraska's two-TD underdogs three times led the highly regarded Trojans in a game that left 73,768 fans breathless on the last play — a 50-yard incomplete USC pass.
Nebraska got the jump on the Trojans in the second quarter — Husker Joe Orduna early had fumbled at the USC 5 — when fullback Dan Schneiss took a handoff from quarterback Jerry Tagge and threw a surprise 17-yard pass to Guy Ingles.
USC tied it on a 4-yard run by Jimmy Jones, but Nebraska roared back for a 14-7 halftime lead on Tagge's 15-yard pass to Johnny Rodgers to cap a 74-yard drive.
Back stormed the Trojans in the third quarter to tie it at 14-14, but on the second play after the next kick-off, Orduna tore 67 yards on a great run to put Nebraska ahead again, 21-14.
Nebraska's chance for icing a victory misfired in the final quarter when a bad snap caused Paul Rogers to miss a 22-yard field goal that would have given NU a 24-14 lead.
USC then moved 80 yards for the tying TD, with Clarence Davis going the last 10 yards with 8:16 left in the game.
Both teams had final chances in the wild finale, but a great college game ended 21-21.
H'MAX NOTES: Johnny Rodgers' 30-yard punt return helped set up the Huskers' first TD. ... The tie preserved USC's 23-game regular-season unbeaten streak. Coach John McKay said he would have gone for a two-point conversion if the last touchdown had occurred with five minutes or less remaining. ... The Trojans entered the game ranked third nationally by AP, Nebraska ninth.
JOURNAL-STAR RETROSPECTIVE | A.P. STORY
KLIN RETROSPECTIVE
LYELL'S CALL | SERIES HISTORY
SEASON STATS | NU ROSTER
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Nebraska 21
Southern Cal 21
Sept. 19, 1970
Los Angeles, CANebraska 0 14 7 0 — 21
Southern Cal 0 7 7 7 — 21
First Quarter
NEB — Guy Ingles 17 pass from Dan Schneiss
(Paul Rogers kick), 10:09 
Second Quarter
USC — Jimmy Jones 4 run (Ron Ayala kick), 3:35
NEB — Johnny Rodgers 15 pass from Jerry Tagge
(Rogers kick), 0:54
Third Quarter
USC — Charlie Evans 1 run (Ayala kick), 6:21
NEB — Joe Orduna 67 run (Rogers kick), 5:34 
Fourth Quarter
USC — Clarence Davis 10 run (Ayala kick), 8:16
NU USC
First Downs ........... 19 22
Rushing, Net ......... 208 175
Passes, Att-Comp ... 18-12 25-14
Passing, Net ......... 157 191
Comp.-Att.-Int... 12-18-3 14-25-2
Total Offense ........ 365 366
Punts-Avg. .......... 4-41 4-37
Fumbles lost ........... 3 2
Yards penalized ....... 42 45
LEADING NEBRASKA RUSHERS
Joe Orduna 135, Jeff Kinney 31.
LEADING NEBRASKA PASSER
Jerry Tagge 11 for 17 — 140 yds
 NU BACK OF GAME
Joe Orduna: Rushed for season high of
135 yards and a 7.5 average. His 67-yard
TD run gave NU a 21-14 lead to ensure tie.
 NU LINEMAN OF GAME
Jerry Murtaugh: Sensational defensive job,
with 14 unassisted tackles and 11 assisted
tackles. Also deflected a pass.
Attendance: 73,768
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