# 1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

The 1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 5 | 1:30 pm | Utah State* | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | | W 56–12 | 75,910 |
| September 12 | 4:00 pm | No. 3 UCLA* | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | ESPN | W 42–33 | 76,313 |
| September 26 | 2:30 pm | at No. 12 Arizona State* | No. 2 | Sun Devil StadiumTempe, AZ | ABC | W 35–28 | 71,264 |
| October 3 | 3:00 pm | South Carolina* | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | ESPN | W 30–21 | 76,061 |
| October 10 | 1:30 pm | Kansas | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE (rivalry) | | W 54–2 | 76,053 |
| October 17 | 1:30 pm | at No. 12 Oklahoma State | No. 2 | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK | CBS | W 35–0 | 50,440 |
| October 24 | 1:30 pm | Kansas State | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE (rivalry) | | W 56–3 | 76,106 |
| October 31 | 1:30 pm | at Missouri | No. 2 | Faurot FieldColumbia, Missouri (rivalry) | | W 42–7 | 55,594 |
| November 7 | 1:30 pm | Iowa State | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | | W 42–3 | 76,001 |
| November 21 | 2:30 pm | No. 2 Oklahoma | No. 1 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE (rivalry) | CBS | L 7–17 | 76,663 |
| November 28 | 3:00 pm | at Colorado | No. 5 | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO (rivalry) | ESPN | W 24–7 | 52,026 |
| January 1, 1988 | 12:30 pm | vs. No. 3 Florida State* | No. 5 | Sun Devil StadiumTempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl) | NBC | L 28–31 | 72,112 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Coaches | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 |

## Game summaries
### Utah State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Utah State | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| • Nebraska | 7 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 56 |
Nebraska QB Steve Taylor rushed for 157 yards, breaking a 35-year-old Cornhusker quarterback record, and Nebraska returned two punts for touchdowns, tying its own Big 8 record. Nebraska rolled over Utah State with 515 rushing yards while holding the Aggies to -1 yard.

### UCLA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| UCLA | 7 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 33 |
| • Nebraska | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
Memorial Stadium recorded its 150th consecutive sellout as #2 Nebraska defeated #3 UCLA. This was the first time two teams from the Top 3 had played in Lincoln. Nebraska QB Steve Taylor's five TD passes tied a Big 8 record set in 1938.

### Arizona State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Nebraska | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Arizona State | 0 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 28 |
Following a late ASU game-tying score resulting from a fumble by Nebraska QB Steve Taylor, Nebraska IB Keith Jones tore off a 62-yard run with 3:37 remaining to set up the winning series as Nebraska triumphed over the #12 Sun Devils.

### South Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Carolina | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| • Nebraska | 3 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 30 |
South Carolina was leading 21–13 in the 3rd as Nebraska QB Steve Taylor left the game with a shoulder injury. After that, Nebraska regained the momentum, holding the Gamecocks to just 9 yards total, recovering a fumble to set up a score, and adding a late interception and field goal to put up the win.

### Kansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| • Nebraska | 17 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 54 |
Nebraska cruised against a weak Kansas team, as Nebraska QB Clete Blakeman filled in for injured starting QB Steve Taylor.

### Oklahoma State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Nebraska | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Oklahoma State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nebraska continued their 26-year winning streak against the Cowboys, putting a stop to #12 Oklahoma State's best start and best winning streak since 1945. Cowboys RB Thurman Thomas, at that time the NCAA rushing leader, was held to just 7 yards in 9 carries.

### Kansas State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas St | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Nebraska | 21 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 56 |
at Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
* Date: October 24, 1987
* Game attendance: 76,106
* Box Score
Nebraska secured their 26th consecutive winning season, tying the NCAA record, and rolled up 459 rushing yards using 17 rushing players, while the Cornhusker defense prevented a touchdown for the third game in a row.
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kansas St | Passing | Gary Swim | 12/29, 118 Yds, INT |
| Kansas St | Rushing | Lee Pickett | 9 Rush, 44 Yds |
| Kansas St | Receiving | Kent Dean | 5 Rec, 59 Yds |
| Nebraska | Passing | Clete Blakeman | 9/10, 165 Yds, TD |
| Nebraska | Rushing | Tyreese Knox | 8 Rush, 100 Yds, TD |
| Nebraska | Receiving | Todd Millikan | 3 Rec, 46 Yds |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | KSU | NU |
| 1 | 13:18 | 3 | 66 | | Nebraska | Steve Taylor 49-yard touchdown run, Chris Drennan kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | 8:23 | 10 | 39 | | Nebraska | Tom Banderas 15-yard touchdown reception from Steve Taylor, Chris Drennan kick good | 0 | 14 |
| 1 | 0:25 | 10 | 80 | | Nebraska | Richard Bell 46-yard touchdown run, Chris Drennan kick good | 0 | 21 |
| 2 | 7:07 | 10 | 56 | | Nebraska | Clete Blakeman 1-yard touchdown run, Chris Drennan kick good | 0 | 28 |
| 2 | 2:24 | 3 | 1 | | Kansas St | 29-yard field goal by Mark Porter | 3 | 28 |
| 2 | 0:00 | 7 | 88 | | Nebraska | Hendley Hawkins 40-yard touchdown reception from Clete Blakeman, Chris Drennan kick good | 3 | 35 |
| 3 | 8:17 | 7 | 47 | | Nebraska | Micah Heibel 3-yard touchdown run, Chris Drennan kick good | 3 | 42 |
| 3 | 0:41 | 10 | 83 | | Nebraska | Gerry Gdowski 10-yard touchdown run, Chris Drennan kick good | 3 | 49 |
| 4 | 10:53 | 3 | 63 | | Nebraska | Tyreese Knox 50-yard touchdown run, Chris Drennan kick good | 3 | 56 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 3 | 56 |

### Missouri

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Nebraska | 7 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
| Missouri | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
The NCAA touchdown pass record from 1938 was tied by Nebraska for the second time in this season as the Cornhusker offense scored in all four quarters for the 4th game in a row, though the defense finally allowed their first touchdown in 15 quarters.

### Iowa State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Iowa State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| • Nebraska | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
The Cornhuskers locked up their 19th consecutive 9-win season while piling up 666 total yards of offense as they rocketed to a 28–0 halftime lead before coasting to another win.

### Oklahoma

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 17 |
| Nebraska | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska
* Date: November 21
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 76,663
* TV announcers (CBS): Brent Musburger and Pat Haden
* HuskerMax
Game information :
Oklahoma
Charles Thompson 2/9, 25 Yds
Patrick Collins 13 Rush, 131 Yds, TD
Keith Jackson 1 Rec, 21 Yds
Nebraska
Steve Taylorr 6/18, 58 Yds, 3 INT
Keith Jones 15 Rush, 94 Yds, TD
Richard Bell 2 Rec, 18 Yds :
Billed as "Game of the Century II", this first-ever #1 vs. #2 matchup in Memorial Stadium brought a halt to the Cornhuskers' title hopes. Nebraska had taken away Oklahoma's #1 ranking before this game, and gave it back as the Cornhuskers struggled to move the ball after their first and only score. The Sooners went on to win their 4th straight Big 8 Championship.
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | OU | NEB |
| 1 | 1:28 | | 84 | | Nebraska | Jones 25-yard touchdown run, Drennan kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | 12:48 | 2 | 13 | | Oklahoma | Stafford 11-yard touchdown run, Lashar kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 3 | 1:39 | | | | Oklahoma | Collins 65-yard touchdown run, Lashar kick good | 14 | 7 |
| 4 | 7:40 | | | | Oklahoma | 27-yard field goal by Lashar | 17 | 7 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 17 | 7 |

### Colorado

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Nebraska | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Nebraska recovered from the Oklahoma loss and obtained their revenge for last year's loss to Colorado by taking out their frustrations on the Buffaloes in Boulder. Nebraska IB Keith Jones' 248 yards lifted him into a career 3rd-place ranking among Cornhusker runners.

### Florida State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Florida State | 0 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
| Nebraska | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
Nebraska lost after leading by 4 midway through the 4th. A Seminole defender stripped the ball from Nebraska IB Tyreese Knox as he ran in from the FSU 2, which set up a 97-yard FSU march for the winning touchdown with 3:07 left to play.

## Personnel
### Depth chart

Defense :
* FS
* Mark Blazek
* Tim Jackson
* Wendell Wooten
| OUTSIDE | INSDIE | INSDIE | OUTSIDE |
| Jeff Jamrog | Leroy Etienne | Steve Forch | Broderick Thomas |
| Jon Marco | Randall Jobmon | Doug Welniak | Mike Croel |
| Jeff Mills | Brad Ferguson | Chris Caliendo | Harlan Opie |
* SS
* Brian Washingtion
* Reggie Cooper
* Jeff Tomjack
* CB
* Charles Fryar
* Tahaun Lewis
* Marvin Sanders
| DE | NT | DE |
| Neil Smith | Lawrence Pete | Tim Rother |
| Lee Jones | Mike Murray | Ray Valladao |
| Paul Brungardt | Kent Wells | Willie Griffin |
* CB
* Lorenzo Hicks
* McCathorn Clayton
* Cartier Walker Jon Custard
Offense :
* WR
* Rod Smith
* Hendley Hawkins
* Morgan Gregory
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| Bob Sledge | Andy Keeler | Jake Young | John McCormick | Kevin Lightner |
| Derrick Green | John Nelson | John Nichols | John Roschal | Doug Glaser |
| Corey B Hudson | Mark Antonietti | Jeff Anderson | John Strasheim | Bill Bobbora |
* TE
* Todd Millikan
* Tom Banderas
* Keith Neubert
* WR
* Dana Brinson
* Richard Bell
* Von Sheppard
* QB
* Steve Taylor
* Clete Blakeman
* Gerry Gdowski
* RB
* Keith Jones
* Tyreese Knox Ken Clark
* FB
* Micah Heibel
* Bryan Carpenter
* Sam Schmidt
* Special teams
* PK Chris Drennan
* P John Kroeker

## Awards

| Award | Name(s) |
| All-America 1st team | John McCormick, Neil Smith, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas |
| All-Big 8 1st team | LeRoy Etienne, Steve Forch, Keith Jones, Kevin Lightner, John McCormick, Tim Rother, Neil Smith, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas |
| All-Big 8 2nd team | Tom Banderas, Charles Fryar, Bob Sledge, Rod Smith, Jake Young |
| All-Big 8 honorable mention | Mark Blazek, Lee Jones |

## NFL and pro players

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1987 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.
| Name | Team |
| Richard Bell | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Dana Brinson | San Diego Chargers |
| Ken Clark | Indianapolis Colts |
| Reggie Cooper | Dallas Cowboys |
| Mike Croel | Denver Broncos |
| LeRoy Etienne | San Francisco 49ers |
| Tim Jackson | Dallas Cowboys |
| Keith Jones | Cleveland Browns |
| Jeff Mills | San Diego Chargers |
| Keith Neubert | New York Jets |
| John Nichols | Salzburg Lions |
| Lawrence Pete | Detroit Lions |
| Tim Rother | Los Angeles Raiders |
| Von Sheppard | Coventry Jets |
| Neil Smith | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Steve Taylor | Edmonton Eskimos |
| Broderick Thomas | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Kenny Walker | Denver Broncos |
| Brian Washington | Cleveland Browns |
| Kent Wells | New York Giants |