Missouri 35
Nebraska 31

Nov. 18, 1978 • 1:30 p.m. Central
Memorial Stadium •Lincoln, NE
1st2nd3rd4th F 
Missouri7714735
Nebraska14314031
First Quarter
NU: Rick Berns 82 run (Billy Todd kick) 14:42
MU: James Wilder 9 run (Jeff Brockhaus kick) 9:45
NU: Junior Miller 2 pass from Tom Sorley (Todd kick) 2:06
Second Quarter
NU: Todd 27 field goal, 11:32
MU: Kellen Winslow 14 pass from Phil Bradley (Brockhaus kick) 6:28
Third Quarter
NU: Berns 2 run (Todd kick) 10:44
MU: Wilder 1 run (Brockhaus kick) 7:13
MU: Wilder 4 run (Brockhaus kick) 5:58
NU: Tim Hager 4 run (Todd kick) 0:52
Fourth Quarter
MU: Wilder 7 run (Brockhaus kick) 3:42

                         MU       NU
First Downs............. 25       27
Rushing Net......... 55-289   72-381
Passing Net  .......... 187      136
  Comp-Att-Int .... 10-21-0   9-14-1
Total Offense....... 76-476   86-517
Return Yards .......... 101       85
Punts ................ 3-35     2-33
Fumbles Lost .......... 2-1      1-0
Penalties-Yards ...... 6-67     2-10

RUSHING
MU: Wilder 28-181, Grant 9-48, Bradley 13-39, Ellis 5-21.

NU: Berns 36-255, Brown 5-40, Franklin 12-30, Hipp 11-28, Sorley 7-23, Hager 1-4, McCloney 1-1.

PASSING
MU: Bradley 10-21-0 187.
NU: Sorley 8-13-1 131; Hager 1-1-0 5.

RECEIVING
MU: Winslow 6-132, Wilder 2-13, Lewis 1-33, Downer 1-9.

NU: Berns 3-34, Miller 3-14, Smith 1-36, Lockett 1-32, Brown 1-20.

ATTENDANCE: 75,850

NU OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF GAME: Rick Berns

NU DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF GAME:
  Lee Kunz, 13 tackles

MORE INDIVIDUAL STATS

Coverage

Recap

1978 Nebraska-Oklahoma, Berns photoNebraska lost despite a record-setting performance from I-back Rick Berns. · Lincoln Journal Star · Newspapers.com

Upset dashes Huskers’ hopes for national championship

After a big win over Oklahoma the previous week, Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne was concerned heading into the season finale against Missouri about the chance of a mental letdown against a tough and upset-minded Tiger squad. Osborne’s worries turned into reality in the form of a 35-31 loss that dashed the national-championship hopes of the Huskers, who entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Rick Berns churned to a record-breaking 255 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries to set the Nebraska single-game rushing mark and the career rushing record of 2,605 yards. But Berns’ performance wasn’t enough to counter a potent Missouri attack, led by the running of James Wilder – with 181 yards and four touchdowns – and the pass receiving of All-Big 8 tight end Kellen Winslow.

Berns led off the scoring on the first play of the game from scrimmage by ripping off an 82-yard run. The early score was a sign of what was to come as both teams moved almost at will throughout the game.

The loss dropped Nebraska back into a tie for the conference title and brought a surprising rematch with Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

Game on YouTube
Neb. Sources
Lincoln Journal Star
Omaha World-Herald
Daily Nebraskan
More Sources
Kansas City Star
Associated Press
United Press International
Sports Illustrated
Rock M Nation
Football Study Hall
The Sports Notebook
2008 retrospectives
Huskers.com
HuskerOnline
Omaha World-Herald
Associated Press
Columbia Missourian
Pregame & team info
1978 schedule
04/29White 14, Red 13
09/02@ AlabamaL 3-20
09/09CalW 36-26
09/16HawaiiW 56-10
09/30@ IndianaW 69-17
10/07@ Iowa St.W 23-0
10/14Kansas St.W 48-14
10/21@ ColoradoW 52-14
10/28Oklahoma St.W 22-14
11/04@ KansasW 63-21
11/11OklahomaW 17-14
11/18MissouriL 31-35
01/01OklahomaL 24-31
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