Nebraska 17
LSU 12

Jan. 1, 1971 • 7 p.m. Central
Orange Bowl • Miami, FL • NBC
1st 2nd 3rd 4th  T 
LSU 0 3 9 0 12
Nebraska 10 0 0 7 17
Embed from Getty Images
First Quarter
NEB: Rogers 25 yd field goal, 2:40
NEB: Orduna 3 yd run (Rogers kick) 2:06
Second Quarter
LSU: Lumpkin 36 yd field goal, 0:49
Third Quarter
LSU: Lumpkin 25 yd field goal, 11:49
LSU: Coffee 31 yd pass from Lee (kick wide) 0:00
Fourth Quarter
NEB: Tagge 1 yd run (Rogers kick) 8:50

                              NEB      LSU
First Downs .................. 18       20
  By Rushing ................. 12        7
  By Passing .................  6       11
  By Penalty .................  0        2
Rushes-Net yards ......... 48-132    45-51
  Yards Gained Rushing ...... 173      158
  Yards Lost Rushing ........  41      107
  Long Rushing Play  ......... 14       25
Passing net yards ........... 161      227
  Att-Comp-Int .......... 28-14-2  32-17-1
  Long Pass Play ............. 27       31
Total Offense ............ 76-293   77-278
Int. returns-yards .......... 1-0      2-3
Punts-average ............ 6-37.7   8-32.5
Punt returns-yards .........  1-3      0-0
Kickoff returns-yards ...... 4-54     3-22
Fumbles-lost ...............  4-3      4-3
Penalties-yards ............ 8-67     4-27
Time of possession ........ 30:06    29:54
 1st quarter ..............  9:30     5:30
 2nd quarter ..............  4:39    10:21
 3rd quarter ..............  6:14     8:46
 4th quarter ..............  9:43     5:17

ATTENDANCE: 80,699 (Orange Bowl Record)

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Coverage

Game recap

Natl. Champs

Huskers stake claim to first national title

Nebraska’s unrelenting Cornhuskers marched 67 yards into immortality to climax a brilliant Orange Bowl victory, 17-12 over Louisiana State. Trailing 12-10 as the fourth quarter opened — after leading early, 10-0 — Coach Bob Devaney’s Huskers passed and ran over and through the defensive titans of the nation for the winning touchdown.

It came with 6:10 gone in the final quarter when Jerry Tagge, the engineering genius of the night, clinched the Most Valuable Back Trophy by plunging over from the one and then extended the ball high over the pile — just to make sure. That score came three plays after the Huskers’ drive was kept alive by a third-and-seven pass from Tagge to I-back Jeff Kinney.

With victory came the near certainty that Nebraska would be voted No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, but that result would not be official until an anxious wait of nearly four days. No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Ohio State both lost their bowl games, leaving the door open to No. 3 Nebraska.

Full recap

Championship quiz

game photos

LJS & OWH
Omaha World-Herald
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LJS retrospectives
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Poll debate/results
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Pregame & team info
1970 schedule
05/09 Reds 23, Whites 3
09/12 Wake Forest W 36-12
09/19 @ S. California T 21-21
09/26 Army W 28-0
10/03 @ Minnesota W 35-10
10/10 Missouri W 21-7
10/17 @ Kansas W 41-20
10/24 Oklahoma St. W 65-31
10/31 @ Colorado W 29-13
11/07 @ Iowa St. W 54-29
11/14 Kansas St. W 51-13
11/21 Oklahoma W 28-21
01/01 LSU W 17-12

Commentary

Pope

If Nebraska isn't No. 1, there isn't any justice.

Edwin Pope
Miami Herald
Bondurant

Nebraska knew before it all started that a convincing win would make the Cornhuskers No. 1. The question remains, is 17-12 convincing enough.

Bill Bondurant
Fort Lauderdale News
Crittenden

The Big Eight hasn't had a national champion since the mid-1950s Bud Wilkinson era at Oklahoma, but yesterday's bowl countdown leaves Nebraska a clear No. 1.

John Crittenden
Miami News
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