The first game of the day matched up Texas and Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. Texas went into that game with a 30 game winning streak and a vaunted wishbone offense that been unstoppable. The Irish were well prepared since they had an entire month to practice against the wishbone. Notre Dame stopped the Texas offense cold and prevailed 24 to 11.
Shortly after the conclusion of the Cotton Bowl, an 8–3 Stanford team took on Woody Hayes’ undefeated Buckeyes. Just prior to the Rose Bowl, Ohio State had won 31 out of their last 32 games and were the heavy favorites. Stanford — led by Heisman trophy winner Jim Plunkett — pulled off the second upset of the day and defeated Ohio State 27–17.
Those two New Years Day upsets left the door open to third ranked Nebraska. The Big Red were fired up and took an early 10–0 lead over Louisiana State. The Tigers didn’t give up and took a 12–10 lead by the end of the third quarter. Jerry Tagge then marched the Huskers 67 yards and scored the winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak play with about seven minutes to play. Nebraska took a 17–12 lead. The Blackshirts closed out the game and the Huskers ended the season with an 11–0–1 record. Nebraska was the only major undefeated team in college football.
Intensive lobbying for the number one spot in the writers poll followed the New Years Day bowl games.
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[https://dennispcrawford.medium.com/a-drama-never-surpassed-the-story-of-nebraskas-improbable-first-national-championship-be4412542f03](https://dennispcrawford.medium.com/a-drama-never-surpassed-the-story-of-nebraskas-improbable-first-national-championship-be4412542f03)
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