1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 30–15 vs. LSU
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 4
AP	No. 5
Record	10–2 (5–2 Big 8)
Head coach	Tom Osborne (14th season)
Offensive scheme	I formation
Defensive coordinator	Charlie McBride (6th season)
Base defense	5–2
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ←  1985 1987  →

1986 Big Eight Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Oklahoma $	7	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
Colorado	6	–	1	–	0			6	–	6	–	0
No. 5 Nebraska	5	–	2	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
Oklahoma State	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Iowa State	3	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Missouri	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Kansas State	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Kansas	0	–	7	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1986 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	Source
September 6	7:00 pm	No. 11 Florida State *	No. 8	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	ABC	W 34–17	75,865	[1]
September 20	6:00 pm	at Illinois *	No. 6	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	WTBS	W 59–14	75,869	[2]
September 27	1:30 pm	Oregon *	No. 4	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 48–14	76,185	[3]
October 4	12:30 pm	at South Carolina *	No. 3	Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC		W 27–24	73,109	[4]
October 11	6:45 pm	Oklahoma State	No. 3	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	ESPN	W 30–10	76,041	[5]
October 18	1:30 pm	Missouri	No. 3	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 48–17	76,005	[6]
October 25	2:30 pm	at Colorado	No. 3	Folsom Field Boulder, CO (rivalry)		L 10–20	52,440	[7]
November 1	1:30 pm	Kansas State	No. 9	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 38–0	75,893	[8]
November 8	11:30 am	at Iowa State	No. 7	Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA (rivalry)	Raycom	W 35–14	48,007	[9]
November 15	1:30 pm	at Kansas	No. 6	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS (rivalry)		W 70–0	48,800	[10]
November 22	2:30 pm	No. 3 Oklahoma	No. 5	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)	ABC	L 17–20	76,198	[11]
January 1, 1987	2:30 pm	vs. No. 5 LSU *	No. 6	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	W 30–15	76,234	[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Roster and coaching staff

1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class G 68 Dan Bailey Jr TE 87 Tom Banderas Jr WB 18 Vance Behrens Jr WB 21 Richard Bell So QB 12 Clete Blakeman Jr WB 33 Dana Brinson So FB 24 Dan Casterline Sr C 54 Mark Cooper Sr FB Doug Dalton Jr TE 81 Mark Diaz Sr IB 22 Doug DuBose Sr OT 77 Jim Ernest So G 67 Ron Galois Sr SE 86 Jason Gamble So WB 8 Pernell Gatson Sr OT 73 Derrick Green Jr TE 84 Mike Hall Jr SE 82 Hendley Hawkins Jr FB 48 Micah Heibel Jr G 75 Mike Hoefler Sr WB 27 Jim Holscher Jr OT 70 Corey Bill Hudson Jr OT 64 Brad Johnson Sr IB 6 Keith Jones Jr FB 49 Ken Kaelin Sr G 65 Andy Keeler So IB 40 Jon Kelley Jr IB 34 Tyreese Knox So FB 41 Tom Lenneman Jr OT 57 Keven Lightner Jr OT 72 Rob Maggard Sr G 61 John McCormick Jr TE 43 Todd Millikan So QB 16 Jerry Mlinar Sr WB 4 Ray Nelson Sr C 63 John Nichols Jr OT 74 Stan Parker Sr IB 20 Terry Rodgers Fr SE 85 Robb Schnitzler Sr C 53 Jeff Sellentin Sr WB 2 Von Sheppard Jr OT 62 Bob Sledge So SE 88 Rod Smith Jr QB 9 Steve Taylor So OT 69 Tom Welter Sr IB 25 Jeff Wheeler So QB 15 Wendell Wooten So C 68 Jake Young Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 23 Mark Blazek Jr MG 58 Dave Bryan Sr CB 42 Mike Carl Sr S 45 Chris Carr Sr CB 31 Gene Chealey Jr CB 7 McCathorn Clayton Jr CB 28 John Custard So CB 32 Brian Davis Sr LB 47 LeRoy Etienne So LB 38 Steve Forch Sr CB 10 Charles Fryar So DT 84 Willie Griffin So DT 52 Danny Groskurth Jr LB 39 Blake Henning Jr CB 8 Lorenzo Hicks So DE 91 Tony Holloway Sr DE 80 Jeff Jamrog Jr DE 55 Randall Jobman So DT 98 Lee Jones Jr DE 93 Jon Marco So CB 17 Cleo Miller Sr LB 41 Marc Munford Sr MG 95 Danny Noonan Sr DE 94 Bump Novacek So DE 90 Harlan Opie Jr DT 97 Tony Palmer Jr LB 35 Kevin Parsons Sr MG 96 Lawrence Pete So MG 92 Sean Putnam So DT 78 Tim Rother Jr CB 26 Marvin Sanders So MON 3 Gary Schneider Sr LB 51 Pat Shaw Sr S 19 Bryan Siebler Sr DT 66 Kurt Skradis So DT 99 Neil Smith Jr DT 76 Chris Spachman Sr S 29 Dan Thayer Sr MON 11 Jeff Tomjack Jr DE 89 Broderick Thomas So DE 83 Brad Tyrer Sr LB 37 Doug Welniak Jr LB 24 Dante Wiley So MON 5 Brian Washington Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK 44 Gregg Barrios Fr PK 44 Chris Drennan So PK 1 Dale Klein Sr P 45 John Kroeker So P/PK 13 Craig Schnitzler Jr P 14 Jim Toner So	Head coach Tom Osborne    14th season    23rd year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Nebraska Coordinators/assistant coaches Charlie McBride    6th season as DC/DL coach    10th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Colorado John Melton    14th season as LB coach    25th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Wyoming Boyd Epley    18th season as S&C coach    18th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Nebraska George Darlington    DB coach    14th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Rutgers Milt Tenopir    13th season as OL coach    13th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Sterling Gene Huey    10th season as WR coach    10th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Wyoming Frank Solich    4th season as RB coach    8th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Nebraska Jack Pierce    8th year at Nebraska Dan Young    4th season as OL/K coach    4th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Reed Tony Samuel    1st season as OLB coach    1st year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Nebraska Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 2011-01-17

Depth chart

Defense FS Bryan Siebler Mark Blazek Chris Carr INSDIE INSDIE Marc Munford Kevin Parsons LeRoy Etienne Blake Henning Doug Welniak Dante Wiley MONSTER Jeff Tomjack Brian Washingtion Gary Schneider CB Charles Fryar Cleo Miller Jon Custard DE DT NT DT DE Tony Holloway Chris Spachman Danny Noonan Neil Smith Broderick Thomas Jeff Jamrog Tim Rother Lawrence Pete Lee Jones Brad Tyrer Jon Marco Danny Groskurth Sean Putnam ⋅ Steve Stanard CB Brian Davis Lorenzo Hicks Marvin Sanders Offense WR Robb Schnitzler Rod Smith Jason Gamble LT LG C RG RT Rob Maggard Stan Parker Mark Cooper John McCormick Tom Welter Keven Lightner Mike Hoefler Jeff Sellentin Ron Galois Brad Johnson Bob Sledge Jake Young John Nichols Andy Keeler Corey B Hudson TE Todd Millikan Tom Banderas Willie Griffin Mark Diaz WR Dana Brinson Von Sheppard Pernell Gatson QB Steve Taylor Clete Blakeman McCathorn Clayton RB Keith Jones Tyreese Knox Terry Rodgers FB Ken Kaelin Micah Heibel Doug Dalton Special teams PK Dale Klein P John Kroeker

Game summaries

Florida State

Florida State at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Florida State	7	7	3	0	17
•Nebraska	0	10	14	10	34

• Date: 1986-09-06
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Game attendance: 75,865

This was the first ever night game at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's loss to FSU in Lincoln the previous year was avenged when the Cornhuskers came back from a halftime deficit, outscoring FSU 24–3 and holding the Seminoles to −2 yards in the second half.

Illinois

Nebraska at Illinois [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Nebraska	28	10	14	7	59
Illinois	0	7	0	7	14

• Date: 1986-09-20
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
• Game attendance: 75,865

The outcome of this game was more or less sealed from the very first play, as Illinois QB Chris Lamb threw an interception that Cornhusker CB Brian Davis returned for a touchdown, and Nebraska never looked back.

Oregon

Oregon at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Oregon	7	0	0	7	14
•Nebraska	14	21	13	0	48

• Date: 1986-09-27
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Game attendance: 76,185

Oregon made the first strike, but Nebraska then ran away from the Ducks, scoring 48 unanswered points, though the Cornhuskers suffered the loss of WB Von Sheppard to injury and saw PK Dale Klein's consecutive PATs streak ended at 60.

South Carolina

Nebraska at South Carolina [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Nebraska	10	3	0	14	27
South Carolina	0	7	3	14	24

• Date: 1986-10-04
• Location: Williams–Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
• Game attendance: 73,109

Nebraska survived a scare in Columbia, escaping with a victory due to recovering a Gamecock fumble with two minutes left to play to set up the go-ahead touchdown, and then intercepting a throw by South Carolina QB Todd Ellis at NU's 10 yard line with just 10 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Oklahoma State	0	10	0	0	10
•Nebraska	14	7	9	0	30

• Date: 1986-10-11
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Game attendance: 76,041

Nebraska continued their string of domination over Oklahoma State in the second ever night game at Memorial Stadium, extending their win streak over the Cowboys to 25.

Missouri

Missouri at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Missouri	3	0	0	14	17
•Nebraska	0	20	21	7	48

• Date: 1986-10-18
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Game attendance: 76,005

Missouri scored first on a 29-yard field goal, but Nebraska owned the show for the rest of the game, scoring six straight touchdowns on their way to the win. Nebraska PK Dave Klein beat the Cornhusker career FG record of 22 when he extended his total to 24 in this game.

Colorado

Nebraska at Colorado [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska	0	0	7	3	10
• Colorado	7	3	0	10	20

• Date: 1986-10-25
• Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado
• Game attendance: 52,440

Unranked Colorado stunned the #3 Cornhuskers, holding Nebraska to its lowest rushing yard total in eight years and ending Nebraska's 18-year winning streak against the Buffaloes.

Kansas State

Kansas State at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Kansas State	0	0	0	0	0
•Nebraska	17	0	14	7	38

• Date: 1986-11-01
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Game attendance: 75,893

The hapless Wildcats suffered Nebraska's wrath following their loss to unranked Colorado the week prior, as the Cornhuskers romped in the snow at Memorial Stadium and shut out Kansas State while allowing them just 106 total yards of offense.

Iowa State

Nebraska at Iowa State [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Nebraska	7	0	14	14	35
Iowa State	0	14	0	0	14

• Date: 1986-11-08
• Location: Cyclone Stadium, Ames, Iowa
• Game attendance: 48,007

Nebraska struck first but then seemed to flame out, as Iowa State sent the Cornhuskers to the locker room behind 14–7 at halftime. After a rousing pep talk from Coach Osborne, the Cornhuskers stormed back in the 2nd half for the win.

Kansas

Nebraska at Kansas [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Nebraska	21	14	21	14	70
Kansas	0	0	0	0	0

• Date: 1986-11-15
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas
• Game attendance: 48,800

Nebraska absolutely crushed Kansas in Lawrence, handing the Jayhawks their worst-ever loss and posting the biggest Cornhusker shutout since a 100–0 smashing of Nebraska Wesleyan in 1917.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Oklahoma	7	0	0	13	20
Nebraska	7	3	7	0	17

• Date: 1986-11-22
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Game attendance: 76,198

The #5 Cornhuskers, flying high after their 70–0 shutout against Kansas the previous week, looked ready to upset the #3 Sooners, but it was not to be. Oklahoma found the end zone twice in the 4th quarter to tie the game, and forced a Nebraska punt with 1:22 remaining. After grinding back down the field, and with just 9 seconds remaining, Oklahoma PK Tim Lashar made a 31-yard kick to split the uprights for the win, handing the Sooners their 2nd consecutive Big 8 Championship title.

LSU

Nebraska vs LSU [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Nebraska	0	10	7	13	30
LSU	7	0	0	8	15

• Date: 1987-01-01
• Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Game start: 2:40 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 76,234

Main article: 1987 Sugar Bowl

Nebraska's 25th bowl appearance saw the Blackshirts setting two new bowl-game records by holding LSU to just 32 net rushing yards and 10 first downs as the #6 Cornhuskers rolled up the win over the #5 Tigers.

Rankings

See also: 1986 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
AP	8	6	6	4	3	3	3	3	9	7	6	5	6	6	5
Coaches															4

Awards

^[13]

Award	Name(s)
All-America 1st team	Danny Noonan
All-America 3rd team	Tom Welter
All-America honorable mention	Broderick Thomas, Keith Jones, Rob Maggard, John McCormick, Marc Munford, Stan Parker, Chris Spachman
Sophomore All-America 1st team	Broderick Thomas
Sophomore All-America honorable mention	LeRoy Etienne
Big 8 Athlete of the Year	Danny Noonan
All-Big 8 1st team	Keith Jones, Danny Noonan, Broderick Thomas, Tom Welter, Marc Munford
All-Big 8 2nd team	John McCormick, Brian Davis, Rob Maggard, Todd Millikan, Stan Parker, Rod Smith

NFL and pro players

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1986 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents. ^[14]

Name	Team
Richard Bell	Pittsburgh Steelers
Dana Brinson	San Diego Chargers
Brian Davis	Washington Redskins
Doug DuBose	San Francisco 49ers
LeRoy Etienne	San Francisco 49ers
Keith Jones	Cleveland Browns
Marc Munford	Denver Broncos
Danny Noonan	Dallas Cowboys
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
Brian Washington	Cleveland Browns
Tom Welter	St. Louis Cardinals

References

1. "Big second half lifts No. 8 Nebraska". The Kansas City Star. September 7, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Huskers take fight out of Illini". Lincoln Journal Star. September 21, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Huskers not awesome but whip Oregon". The Grand Island Independent. September 28, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Nebraska keeps second-half cool, fouls up Gamecocks' upset plans". Omaha World-Herald. October 5, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Cornhuskers tip Cowboys, stay perfect". The South Bend Tribune. October 12, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Third-ranked Cornhuskers overwhelm Missouri, 48–17". The Des Moines Register. October 19, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Colorado springs upset, defeats Nebraska". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 26, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Snow proves bigger problem for NU than Wildcats, 38–0". The Daily Nonpareil. November 2, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Huskers shatter ISU's dream, 35–14". The Courier. November 9, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Nebraska rolls 70–0 over Kansas". The Tampa Tribune-Times. November 16, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
11. "It comes to pass for Sooners". The Daily Oklahoman. November 23, 1986. Retrieved April 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Huskers take all the growl out of Tigers". Lincoln Journal Star. January 2, 1987. Retrieved November 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
13. 1986 Husker Honors
14. "All Time NFL Huskers". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2009.