Season 49�s high expectations quickly were doused early in the season. After crushing the Sycamores of Indiana State 69-14, NSU were on the wrong end of a 54-22 thrashing at the hands of #2 Ohio State in Columbus. The Prairie Dogs suffered a hangover the following week with a near-death experience against Western Kentucky. In a high scoring shootout, NSU had just enough to outlast the Hilltoppers 54-52. That followed an embarrassing 30-24 home loss to 3-9 Vanderbilt. Despite the early stumbles, NSU won its first five conference but fell at UNLV and a resurgent Colorado State team 35-25 to finish tied for second in the conference after posting a win against 10-3 Air Force. With just two bowl tie-ins, NSU at 8-4 had to take a wait and see approach to continuing its bowl streak. It wasn�t to happen as the Prairie Dogs saw its 46 consecutive bowl bid streak end.
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Season 49
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
8-4, 5-2 MWC
69 @Indiana St 14
22 @Ohio St 54
54 Western Kentucky 52
24 Vanderbilt 30
38 @The Citadel 14
19 BYU 7
45 @Utah 14
52 New Mexico 17
41 Wyoming 14
14 @UNLV 27
25 @Colorado St 35
42 Air Force 19
Final Ranking: unranked
Season 50 opened with a renewed determination to begin another bowl streak. NSU came out firing on all cylinders as they opened the 50th Season of NSU football with a resounding 62-7 thumping of Montana and a 42-3 win at Indiana. The season almost derailed against Iowa, but Groza nominee Ewing connected on a short field goal on the final play following a 12-play drive to preserve a 12-10 win. NSU crushed 22nd Arkansas 52-14 and won its first four conference games. NSU narrowly escaped #24 Wisconsin prior to a showdown with unbeaten Colorado State. Despite the long rivalry, never before had both teams entered the game unbeaten this late in the season. Turnovers turned out to be the key as NSU jumped on the Rams and coasted to the 26-10 win to hand CSU its only loss of the season. With a national title bid on the line, NSU had to use overtime to defeat Air Force. That game cost the Prairie Dogs a shot at the national championship, but a bowl bid to the Fiesta was waiting at season�s end. NSU failed to contain the Sooner running game as Oklahoma took the bowl 38-29 as NSU finished at 12-1 and ranked #8 in both polls.
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Season 50
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
12-1, 7-0 MWC
62 Montana 7
42 @Indiana 13
12 Iowa 10
52 Arkansas 14
55 @BYU 27
44 Utah 0
63 @New Mexico 20
30 @Wyoming 6
48 Wisconsin 45
37 UNLV 6
26 Colorado St 10
31 @Air Force 24 ot
Fiesta Bowl
29 Oklahoma 38
Final Ranking: #8
Season 51 opened against highly ranked Florida State. Ranked #5 in the preseason NSU entered as a slight favorite but the home Seminoles had just enough to hold off the P-Dogs 20-17. NSU would cruise following that game on the backs of a solid defense that would end 5th in total defense and first in scoring D at season�s end. The Prairie Dogs met 17th ranked CSU in Fort Collins for the final time as conference foes. NSU struck first and handed the Rams a 37-14 defeat. The final MWC game for NSU was a convincing 44-14 win over 9-4 Air Force at Ab-Linc. NSU finished the season with a narrow 28-26 loss to Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. The 9th ranked Prairie Dogs ended the season at 11-2. Following the season, the Big 12 offered a conference invite to Nebraska State to replace departed Texas Tech. After long deliberations, NSU opted to take the invite and leave the Mountain West Conference, its home for 49 seasons.
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Season 51
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
11-2, 7-0 MWC
17 @Florida St 20
49 @Wisconsin 26
52 Northern Illinois 7
33 Illinois 14
63 East Washington 12
66 BYU 14
41 @Utah 19
44 New Mexico 16
38 Wyoming 7
34 @UNLV 0
37 @Colorado St 14
44 Air Force 14
Fiesta Bowl
26 Texas 28
Final Ranking: #9
Season 52 opened with many questions as to how NSU would fair in a large conference. But before those questions could be answered, NSU hosted its long time rival Colorado State in what could be considered the series best. A missed extra point cost the Rams dearly as NSU held on for a 27-26 win in the back and forth game. NSU handled Minnesota the next week before shocking Michigan in a 62-31 game. A 70-7 win over Tulsa was mainly overlooked as Big 12 loomed. In its first Big 12 test, NSU fought hard against league favorite Texas aTm but couldn�t top the Aggies in a 31-27 loss. NSU would even its conference record to 1-1 after defeating Iowa State, but NSU suffered a 42-35 loss to 4-8 Oklahoma State. The P-Dogs lost the following week at Missouri 41-28 but tacked on wins against Colorado and Baylor. Facing the league�s second toughest opponent, Texas, the defense that shined the previous year had no answers for the Longhorns as Texas claimed the 49-33 win. A win over Oklahoma landed NSU in the Independence Bowl where NSU fell to Florida 33-21 to end the season at 8-5 and just 4-4 in conference.
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Season 52
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
8-5, 4-4 Big 12 (South)
27 Colorado St. 26
45 Minnesota 30
62 @Michigan 31
70 Tulsa 7
27 @Texas A&M 31
28 @Iowa St. 14
35 Oklahoma St. 42
28 Missouri 41
45 @Colorado 3
66 Baylor 13
33 Texas 49
46 @Oklahoma 39
Independence Bowl
21 Florida 33
Final Ranking: NR, NR
Season 53 had several returning offensive players, including stand-out running back Todd. Todd entered on most Heisman finalist ballots and he didn�t disappoint. The All-American lead NSU to routs of Alabama and at Boston College before hitting a road block at Colorado State. The highly ranked Rams were ready for Todd and limited him to just a tad over 100 yards but it was enough as NSU held on for a another classic. NSU�s 14-10 win propel the Prairie Dogs to a renewed confidence level. NSU�s potent offense scored 40 or more in the next seven of eight games. Although Texas had dropped significantly from the season before, they had plenty of fight for NSU. In what looked like a huge upset, Weber saved NSU�s season with a 55-yard field goal on the game�s final play as the Prairie Dogs snuck past the Horns, 41-38. NSU handed league favorite Oklahoma its only loss then took down North champion Kansas State 30-10 to win the Big 12 title in NSU�s second year. The win gave #2 Nebraska State a chance at the National Championship against top-ranked Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. The dream season was left incomplete as the Razorback defense stymied the Prairie Dogs offense in a 21-10 win that dropped 13-1 NSU to fourth in the polls. Todd ended his season as the Heisman winner and stunned everyone by opting to return to NSU for a chance at becoming a national champion.
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Season 53
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
13-1, 9-0 Big 12 (South)
52 Alabama 29
52 @Boston College 24
14 @Colorado St. 10
51 Texas Tech 17
46 Texas A&M 21
50 Iowa St. 14
60 @Oklahoma St. 7
27 @Missouri 23
63 Colorado 21
61 @Baylor 28
41 @Texas 38
27 Oklahoma 14
Big 12 Title Game
30 Kansas St. 10
Sugar Bowl
10 Arkansas 21
Final Ranking: #4, #4
Season 54 was full of hype. The Prairie Dogs started the season as the third ranked team with the nation�s best running attack. Despite a slow start against Mississippi State, NSU cranked out the offense to overpower 24th Miami 42-7. But it was Auburn that showed the fire against NSU. The Tigers took the lead at halftime which burned the visiting P-Dogs. In a history-making quarter, NSU rallied for 49 third-quarter points to bury and stun Auburn 87-35. From that point on NSU was virtually unstoppable on either side of the ball. NSU annihilated Iowa State and Oklahoma State by a combined 132-0 and allowed just a total of 16 points against Missouri, Colorado and Baylor. NSU sent 8th ranked Texas reeling 38-24 and blasted 16th ranked OU 40-14. In one of the most anticipated Big 12 championship games, NSU crushed rival Nebraska 52-6 to earn a berth in the national championship game against a familiar foe. As for most of the teams� history, NSU slapped Air Force 48-14 to win the school�s fifth National Championship. Todd earned his second Heisman award by helping NSU to 328 yards rushing a game while the defense led the nation in total defense and scoring defense. Todd ended his career at NSU with an amazing 9,112 yards rushing with 118 yards. In all, Todd accounted for 10,883 total yards and 125 touchdowns to go with six tackles on defense.
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NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Season 54
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
14-0, 9-0 Big 12 (South)
73 Northern Illinois 14
20 Mississippi St 7
42 @Miami 7
87 @Auburn 35
41 @Texas A&M 20
67 @Iowa St 0
65 Oklahoma St 0
57 Missouri 7
57 @Colorado 3
65 Baylor 6
38 Texas 24
40 @Oklahoma 14
Big 12 Title Game
52 Nebraska 6
Orange Bowl
48 Air Force 14
Final Ranking: #1, #1
Season 55 opened with NSU ranked #1 in one poll and #3 in another. That changed immediately as rival Colorado State ended NSU�s winning streak 34-28. CSU would use that game to propel them to the national title game where they fell to Penn State. In another top game, NSU outlasted eventual #2 USC 49-30 to hand the Trojans their only loss of the season. After two no-contest wins to open conference play, NSU suffered an upset at the hands of the Cowboys of Oklahoma State, 38-35. NSU cruised again until a match-up with the Horns. In close bout throughout, the Prairie Dogs held off Texas 33-31, meaning the winner of the NSU-Oklahoma game would win the Big 12 South. The Sooners held the advantage the entire game and seemed to seal the deal when a fourth down attempt by NSU was short with just 0:33 left. Running the clock out, Oklahoma fullback House was stripped of the ball with NSU recovering the ball. With no time outs, NSU converted a 10-yard pass out play then set-up for a desperation heave. With just two seconds remaining, NSU QB Brewster fired a Hail Mary to Lacey. Lacey caught the ball just over the outstretched arms of the OU DB and sprinted the final 20 yards to the end zone as NSU stole the Big 12 title from OU and celebrated the longest final play in NSU history. NSU would face in-state rival Nebraska for the second straight year in the Big 12 title game and won going away, 45-27 to earn a bowl bid to the Orange Bowl, where NSU shut-out Florida State 10-0 to cap a 12-2 season and #3 ranking.
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Season 55
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
12-2, 8-1 Big 12 (South)
28 Colorado St 34
49 @USC 30
47 @Oregon St 14
42 Notre Dame 24
54 Texas A&M 0
73 Iowa St 7
35 @Oklahoma St 38
56 @Missouri 14
37 Colorado 3
59 @Baylor 0
33 @Texas 31
37 Oklahoma 35
Big 12 Title Game
45 Nebraska 27
Orange Bowl
10 Florida St 0
Final Ranking: #3, #3
Season 56 was hoping to see NSU pick up a third championship in three years. That seemed to be in order when NSU was unveiled as the preseason favorite in both polls. The season kicked off in good fashion as NSU defeated #17 Tennessee 39-10 before hosting Pitt. The Panther�s stunned the Ab-Linc Stadium by defeating the top-ranked Prairie Dogs 42-36. NSU took the next two non-conference games, including one against ranked Auburn. NSU wiped the first part of the conference schedule and geared up for a match-up with ranked Texas. In what many thought would be a tough game for the P-Dogs, it quickly turned into a laugher, knocking the Horns around in a 67-14 final. The game may have awaked fans in Oklahoma; it didn�t faze the Sooner players. In tough bout, Oklahoma dethroned the two-time Big 12 champs 22-16 to win the South. NSU fell to the Holiday Bowl where they downed 15th ranked UCLA 57-21 to end the season 11-2 and ranked #6 and #7.
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Season 56
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
11-2, 7-1 Big 12 (South)
39 @Tennessee 10
36 Pittsburg 42
58 @Michigan 24
46 Auburn 27
40 @Texas A&M 14
66 @Iowa St 7
52 Oklahoma St 20
53 Missouri 14
57 @Colorado 14
77 Baylor 42
67 Texas 14
16 @Oklahoma 22
Holiday Bowl
57 UCLA 21
Final Ranking: #6, #7
Season 57 featured a strong offensive team and solid defensive team which gave hope to NSU fans hungering for another championship run. NSU made short work of its non-conference slate, including a 65-7 thumping of ranked Southern Miss. The following week NSU pounced on fallen Texas aTm 69-21 and took the next two games. A resurgent Missouri team had no answers but plenty of turnovers for NSU as the Top 10 Tigers fell 57-0. To cap the regular season, NSU had to go through three ranked conference foes. The Prairie Dogs dismantled Texas then outscored Oklahoma 45-38 to win the South Division. North Champion Kansas State provided a great test for NSU as the Prairie Dogs held on to defeat K-State 41-38 and advance to the National Championship against USC. In what was thought to be a defensive game, NSU countered everything USC answer and found victory after a 42-40 shootout win, giving NSU its sixth National Championship and second in the decade. Both Penn State and Air Force ended the season also unbeaten but neither could steal a share of the title.
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NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Season 57
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
14-0, 9-0 Big 12 (South)
24 Indiana 6
24 @Pittsburg 0
42 @West Virginia 17
65 Southern Miss 7
69 Texas A&M 21
48 Iowa St 24
31 @Oklahoma St 0
57 @Missouri 0
52 Colorado 17
59 @Baylor 10
34 @Texas 9
45 Oklahoma 38
Big 12 Title Game
52 Kansas St 38
Sugar Bowl
42 USC 40
Final Ranking: #1, #1
Season 58 looked as if NSU would successful defend their title after NSU opened up the season with a sound 28-10 win over highly ranked Arkansas and a thumping of ranked Auburn. But the wheels suddenly came off as NSU suffered defeats at the hands of aTm, Iowa State and near defeats from downtrodden Oklahoma and Colorado. Baylor picked a key win over NSU for its season and Texas manhandled the Prairie Dogs 30-7. For the first time in many seasons, NSU had the chance to play spoiler as they handed National Championship game contender Oklahoma out of the title chase with a 44-19 win. The season pitted NSU and Florida State in the Tangerine Bowl. NSU defeated the Noles to cap the season at 9-4 and ranked #17 in both polls.
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Season 58
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
9-4, 4-4 Big 12 (South)
28 @Arkansas 10
51 @Mississippi St 7
52 @Arizona St 20
42 @Auburn 14
31 @Texas A&M 34
14 @Iowa St 28
31 Oklahoma St 25
42 Missouri 17
30 @Colorado 27
28 Baylor 27
7 Texas 30
44 @Oklahoma 19
Tangerine Bowl
49 Florida St 31
Final Ranking: #17, #17
Season 59 began on a sour note as Air Force sent the visiting Prairie Dogs home with a 27-7 defeat. NSU squeaked out wins over Indiana and Toledo before hammering aTm in the conference opener for both schools. Oklahoma State rebounded from its losing ways and drilled NSU by 20. Colorado also showed up the Prairie Dogs in a 34-9 easy win. NSU snuck past Texas before once again stunning the sixth ranked Sooners 31-28. Receiving the Alamo Bowl bid, NSU drew Ohio State and defeated the Buckeyes 41-24 to finish 10-3 and ranked as high as 7th and as low as 9th in the nation.
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Season 59
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
10-3, 6-2 Big 12 (South)
7 @Air Force 27
38 @Indiana 31
27 Toledo 24
52 Appalachian St 7
45 Texas A&M 7
41 Iowa St 17
21 @Oklahoma St 41
13 @Missouri 7
9 Colorado 34
55 Baylor 14
21 @Texas 18
31 Oklahoma 28
Alamo Bowl
41 Ohio St 24
Final Ranking: #7, #9
Season 60 opened with two ranked opponents in SMU and Miami. SMU ponied up a 42-20 thrashing of NSU but the Hurricanes couldn�t stop the P-Dogs� offense in a 31-13 win for NSU. Texas aTm highlighted its 3-9 season in the first game of the conference season, defeating NSU 33-24. The Prairie Dogs managed to edge out the rest of the down Big 12 conference to put itself in a position to steal the Big 12 South. Standing in the way was Top 10 Oklahoma. Despite the animosity from the last two defeats, the Sooners� coaching staff was stunned again as NSU trumped Oklahoma 21-17 to win the South and again deny the Sooners of a possible national title opportunity. The win set up the third Big 12 CCG match-up between Nebraska and Nebraska State. A win would put the once beaten Cornhuskers into the national championship game while NSU was seeking to play spoiler again. Nebraska struck first and held the narrow lead the entire game. But with just 0:18 left, NSU scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with the PAT. Nebraska held the ball first in OT and scored in just two plays. NSU was shutdown completely as the Prairie Dogs watched their in-state rival take the Big 12 Championship and later the National Championship over Louisville. The season ended at 11-3 with a ranking of #11 for NSU.
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Season 60
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
11-3, 7-2 Big 12 (South)
20 @SMU 42
31 Miami 13
48 @Michigan 17
69 Youngstown St 17
24 @Texas A&M 33
35 @Iowa St 24
58 Oklahoma St 28
27 Missouri 24
31 @Colorado 10
37 Baylor 14
35 Texas 30
21 @Oklahoma 17
Big 12 Title Game
24 Nebraska 31 ot
Cotton Bowl
45 Ole Miss 7
Final Ranking: #11, #11
Season 61 opened with national runner-up Louisville cruising past the host Prairie Dogs 52-34 to open the season at 0-1 for NSU. The Prairie Dogs would rebound with wins over Boston College and Purdue and took a high scoring shootout from Florida State, 65-55. After a 2-0 start in conference play, Oklahoma State once again bit NSU then the P-Dogs fell to 12th ranked Missouri. Wins against Colorado and Baylor ensured NSU of another non-losing conference record, but Texas tripped up NSU and Oklahoma exacted years of frustration on NSU, pummeling the Prairie Dogs 59-21. At season�s end, the Houston Bowl pitted NSU and UAB. The Blazers were overmatched as NSU demonized UAB 58-10 to finish 8-5 with another 4-4 conference record which left NSU unranked for the first time in nine seasons.
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Season 61
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
8-5, 4-4 Big 12 (South)
34 Louisville 52
31 @Boston College 20
48 @Purdue 14
65 Florida St 55
58 Texas A&M 21
49 Iowa St 0
21 @Oklahoma St 35
24 @Missouri 45
35 Colorado 21
36 @Baylor 14
27 @Texas 45
21 Oklahoma 59
Houston Bowl
58 UAB 10
Final Ranking: NR, NR
Season 62 opened with a pair of dominating road wins against Mississippi State and Florida. But longtime foe Colorado State took the first game of the season in Ab-Linc 41-31. Despite the loss, NSU looked to return to the conference title game and opened the league slate up with four straight. But 8-5 Colorado knocked off the Prairie Dogs 28-24 in Boulder. After taking out Texas and Baylor, NSU just needed to defeat Oklahoma to win the South title. OU won the first half convincingly to lead 24-7 at the break. NSU came out blazing in the third, scoring 24 points but the Sooner tacked on 21 of their own. Keeping the pressure on, NSU scored 28 in the final quarter to take the lead and looked to once again spoil the Sooners� season. But with 84-yard to go, OU�s Smith captured a Hail Mary and raced untouched for the 84-yard touchdown. The PAT put the game into overtime where all of a sudden the defenses woke up. Nebraska State went for a touchdown on 4th and goal at the one but was stuffed. OU ran three straight plays and kicked the game-winning field goal to post a 62-59 win. The game featured NSU�s Montgomery passing for 721 yards with 255 going to Hutchins. OU countered with 602 yards passing. NSU tallied 975 total yards while the Sooners accounted for 801 yards. The season ended with NSU capturing a thrilling 35-34 win over 11th ranked Georgia in the Cotton Bowl. Following the win, Head Coach John Edwards, JR. announced his retirement.
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Season 62
John Edwards, Jr., Coach
10-3, 6-2 Big 12 (South)
49 @Mississippi St 7
42 @Florida 7
31 Colorado St 41
49 Maine 27
48 @Texas A&M 24
48 @Iowa St 10
31 Oklahoma St 21
38 Missouri 21
24 @Colorado 28
51 Baylor 37
50 Texas 27
59 @Oklahoma 62 ot
Cotton Bowl
35 Georgia 34
Final Ranking: #12, #12
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