Best of the Decade: Team records
Record-best team accomplishments were a scarce commodity for Nebraska football in the 2010s.
As noted in the previous segment, dozens of individual records were set. But safely out of reach for another decade were team records like the 1983 offense’s 401.7 rushing yards per game and the 1967 defense’s per-game average of 67.5 rushing yards allowed.
Besides some record-setting comebacks, just a few new team high marks were established during the past 10 seasons, and here is the rundown:
TEAM RECORDS
SEASON
• First Downs: 330; 2012 • First Downs by Penalty: 29; 2012 • Fewest Fumbles: 11; 2015 • Fewest Fumbles Lost: 2; 2017 • Field Goal Percentage (min. 10 att.): 94.7; 2010 (18/19)GAME
• Total Offense Yards Per Play: 11.288; vs. Kansas State, 2010 (52/587) • Interception Return TDs: 2,* vs. Idaho, 2010, and vs. Southern Miss, 2013 • Punt Return Average (min. 3 returns): 44.7; vs. Iowa, 2014 *Tied record
With so few actual team records to revisit, below are the decade’s bests and worsts in various categories. The 2010 defense stands out for its leading numbers in several categories. Two seasons later, it was offense’s turn, but a decade-worst turnover margin hurt the Huskers’ cause.
Three times, a decade worst was followed the next season by a decade best: total offense (2011-12), punt return average (2013-14) and pass breakups (2017-18). The opposite happened with net punting (2015-16) after the tragic loss of Sam Foltz.
DECADE’S BESTS/WORSTS
First downs per game Best: 2012, 23.6* Worst: 2010, 18.1 Total offense per game Best: 2012, 460.8* Worst 2011, 379.9 Rushing yards per game Best: 2012, 253.4* Worst: 2017, 107.5 Passing yards per game Best: 2017, 277.5 Worst: 2010, 150.6 Points per game Best: 2014 37.8 Worst: 2017 25.8 Net yards per punt Best: 2015, 39.4 Worst: 2016, 33.6 Punt return average Best: 2014, 15.9* Worst: 2013, 3.0 Kickoff return average Best: 2011, 25.5 Worst: 2018, 15.8 Lost fumbles Best: 2017, 2* Worst: 2010 & 2013, 16 Interceptions thrown Best: 2010 & 2011, 8 Worst: 2015, 21 Turnovers lost Best: 2016, 14 Worst: 2012, 35 Turnover margin Best: 2016, +5 Worst 2012 & 2015, -12 Penalties Best: 2019, 61 Worst: 2010, 109 Yards penalized Best: 2019, 518 Worst: 2010, 993
QB sacks allowed Best: 2015, 14 Worst: 2012, 35 First downs allowed per game Best: 2010, 17.0 Worst: 2017, 23.5 Total offense allowed per game Best: 2010, 306.8 Worst: 2017, 436.2 Rushing yards allowed per game Best: 2015, 109.8 Worst: 2017, 214.8 Passing yards allowed per game Best: 2010, 153.6* Worst: 2015, 290.5 Points allowed per game Best: 2010, 17.4 Worst: 2017, 36.4 Opponent punt return average Best: 2019, 2.3 Worst: 2011, 11.9 Opponent kickoff return average Best: 2015, 18.9 Worst: 2011, 24.0 Tackles for loss Best: 2013, 94 Worst: 2017, 57 Quarterback sacks Best: 2013, 39 Worst: 2017, 14 Pass breakups Best: 2018, 58 Worst: 2017, 28 Opponent fumbles recovered Best: 2019 & 2014, 2012, 10 Worst: 2017 & 2016, 3 Opponent passes intercepted Best: 2010, 19 Worst: 2017, 9 Opponent turnovers Best: 2014, 2012 & 2010, 23 Worst: 2017, 12
*Best in conference
The 2010 team leads the way with seven bests. Dominating the flip side is the 2017 team with its 12 worsts, triple the count of the nearest contender. Fans might draw hope from the tallies of the 2018-19 teams: five bests and just one worst.
BESTS 2010: 7 2011: 2 2012: 5 2013: 2 2014: 4 2015: 3 2016: 1 2017: 2 2018: 1 2019: 4
WORSTS 2010: 4 2011: 3 2012: 2 2013: 2 2014: 0 2015: 4 2016: 2 2017: 12 2018: 1 2019: 0