Season 114 began another era for NSU football with a refurbished Ab-Linc Stadium built around the old stadium with a more manageable 50,000-seat capacity. NSU opened the season against newcomer Georgia Southern for the first time in program history. The Eagles held tough early, but the play of Gary Bean and Jonathan Garcia was too much as NSU rolled to a 44-17 win. A near trip over Kent State would show that NSU still needed some work, but the Prairie Dogs opened the season 8-0 after a seven-point win over Nebraska. From there the season got tougher and three straight losses to conference foes put NSU almost out of the North race. A late field goal against Missouri and a Colorado loss put 4-4 Prairie Dogs into the Big 12 title game. Top-ranked Oklahoma had little trouble with NSU in a 27-14 win that sent NSU to the Insight Bowl against Michigan State. NSU rolled the Spartans to finish 10-4 and ranked #21 and #22 at season's end.
Code:
Season 114
Rob Wahkan, Coach
10-4, 5-4
44 Ga. Southern 17
42 La. Tech 14
21 @Kent St. 17
47 Army 20
45 @Kansas St. 14
42 @Kansas 28
21 Baylor 10
31 @Nebraska 24
34 @Texas aTm 35
18 Oklahoma St. 36
27 Colorado 30
31 @Missouri 28
Big 12 Title Game
14 Oklahoma 27
BCS Title Game
44 Michigan St. 24
Final Ranking: #21, #22
Season 115 saw a new backfield after the departure of Bean and Garcia. It also witnessed head coach Rob Wahkan step away from the playcalling and the Pistol offense. With new QB Teppen and RB Hall, NSU had some growing pains with the new personnel and new spread offense. NSU did open 3-0 with the help of a double-overtime win over Utah in game three. But a loss to Texas and a one-point loss to Nebraska sent the Prairie Dogs reeling to a four-game skid, the last coming in an overtime loss to Texas Tech. NSU knocked off both Kansas schools in back-to-back weeks, but a one-point loss to the Buffalos of Colorado ensured NSU of a losing conference record. With a win over Mizzou NSU was able to nab a bowl bid despite falling to a 5-7 Tulsa team in the final week of play. NSU faced Ohio in the International Bowl and defeated the Bobcats by nine to seal a winning record of 7-6 and 3-5 in conference play.
Code:
Season 115
Rob Wahkan, Coach
7-6, 3-5
42 N. Illinois 14
38 @BYU 24
26 Utah 2ot 19
28 @Texas 42
23 Nebraska 24
23 @Oklahoma 41
34 Texas Tech ot 41
21 @Kansas St. 20
54 Kansas 28
29 @Colorado 30
41 Missouri 27
38 @Tulsa 41
International Bowl
36 Ohio 27
Final Ranking: #NR, #NR
Season 116 was an odd season for a few reasons. NSU opened the season against mediocre South Carolina but the lack of the Prairie Dog defense made the Cocks look like all-stars. USC QB Carter recorded one of the best days ever for a NSU opposing QB by completing 21 of 24 passes for 475 yards and 6 scores to 0 ints en route to a 54-35 win. The following week NSU would travel and upset Boise State but another huge home loss to Florida State damped the season that even wins over Nebraska and Texas Tech wouldn't overcome. Optimism would resume after NSU upset Texas then the unthinkable. Top 5 ranked Oklahoma crushed the Prairie Dogs to the tune of 73-20 and handing NSU its worse home loss in history. It marked the first ever blocked punt for a touchdown against the Prairie Dogs as well. NSU would suffer another major home defeat to conference foe Colorado 44-16, making for one of the worst home stands in NSU history. While Ab-Linc was to friendly, the Prairie Dogs remained perfect on the road going 8-4 overall. The record was good enough for a Cotton Bowl trip which was as odd as the home season for NSU. The Prairie Dogs routed the 8-4 Razorbacks 70-14 for the school's most bowl points. Despite the home disasters, NSU finished ranked #23 and #25 at the end of the season.
Code:
Season 116
Rob Wahkan, Coach
9-4, 6-2
35 South Carolina 54
28 @Boise St. 27
31 Florida St. 45
35 @Nebraska 21
50 @Texas Tech 30
28 Texas 19
20 Oklahoma 73
33 @Missouri 14
35 Kansas St. 28
16 Colorado 44
59 @Kansas 28
48 @Northwestern ot45
Cotton Bowl
70 Arkansas 14
Final Ranking: #23, #25
Season 117 began on a high note as NSU started the season 3-0 including a win over in-state rival Creighton. But a sobering 48-15 loss at Stillwater would prove the defense still was not up to par. NSU would improve its record to 7-1 before a late season collapse. NSU would fall to rival Nebraska but it was the school's first loss to lowly Idaho that opened eyes to NSU's defensive woes. Those fears were confirmed in a 69-34 loss to Missouri in the season's final contest that included an insult-to-injury touchdown of 96 yards by Mizzou's Faqua on the game's final play. Coach Wahkan would suffer just his second bowl defeat in a 38-31 loss to Wisconsin in the Insight Bowl. The Prairie Dogs would find themselves unranked at the end of an 8-5 season.
Code:
Season 117
Rob Wahkan, Coach
8-5, 5-3
35 @Duke 7
31 @Cincinnati 26
49 Creighton 28
15 @Oklahoma St. 48
36 Texas aTm 17
48 @Colorado 6
42 @Baylor 25
56 Kansas 31
31 Nebraska 42
31 @Idaho 38
28 @Kansas St. 26
34 Missouri 69
Insight Bowl
31 Wisconsin 38
Final Ranking: #NR, #NR
Season 118 opened with a solid win over neighboring Iowa, but a 56-28 loss at Tennessee left NSU 1-1 on the season. NSU would take a close win over ECU but lost to Nebraska for consecutive times after winning five straight against their in-state rivals. NSU would regain its footing and win the next three conference games, but a five-point loss to Texas aTm would cost NSU the North title again. The Prairie Dogs would close out the season with five straight wins, including a surprisingly defensive 17-7 win over USC in the Holiday Bowl. The season was a highlight reel for standout recruit Lincoln Schoenrock. The star player played sparingly as a freshman but an injury forced him to redshirt his sophomore season. Schoenrock threw for over 3,000 yards with a 24-7 td to int ratio. As fans looked forward to seeing the SO(RS), the QB had other ideas and entered the pro draft. Strong safety Davis tied a school record for tackles in a season with 101 with 12 tfls and two picks, one of which he took back 102 yards for a score.
Code:
Season 118
Rob Wahkan, Coach
12-3, 6-2
42 Air Force 7
57 UTEP 28
54 @Washington 14
21 Indiana 49
28 @Texas 21
21 Nebraska 33
41 @Oklahoma ot 38
45 Texas Tech 35
44 @Kansas St. 48
45 Kansas 27
31 @Colorado 27
51 Missouri 34
Cotton Bowl
45 Alabama 3
Final Ranking: #11, #11
Season 119 was a good season for new QB Franklin. The Prairie Dog signal caller made huge strides during the season as NSU opened 3-0. But losses to resurgent Indiana (thanks to 8 NSU interceptions) and Nebraska made fans realize that he defense still had issues to address. On the offensive side of the ball, Franklin and his teammates were able to score an overtime win over ranked Oklahoma and Texas Tech in consecutive weeks. A high-scoring upset from Kansas State left NSU out of the conference championship game which went to 8-5 Nebraska. Against K-State, NSU's final drive ended inside the five-yard line but the coaches were unable to get a timeout called in time to make a play in the end zone. NSU responded with a solid 45-3 thumping of Alabama in the Cotton Bowl as the Prairie Dogs jumped to #11 in both polls after the win that left NSU 10-3 on the season.
Code:
Season 119
Rob Wahkan, Coach
10-3, 6-2
37 Iowa 10
28 @Tennessee 56
48 ECU 35
22 @Nebraska 30
48 Baylor 6
38 @Missouri 31
44 Oklahoma St. 16
32 @Texas aTm 37
45 Kansas St. 27
38 Colorado 21
56 @Kansas 44
41 @Virginia 21
Holiday Bowl
17 USC 7
Final Ranking: #12, #12
Season 120 saw the Prairie Dogs ranked #18 in the preseason polls and selected to win the North. To start, NSU had to get past the Hawkeyes to the east and the Eagles of Southern Miss in non-conference. However, it was San Jose State that provided the most problems in the early season. Despite the close call, NSU started the season at 3-0 and headed into the I-80 Showdown against the Cornhuskers. Highly ranked Nebraska scored quickly and claimed its fourth straight win in the series going away, 42-21. NSU would fall again on the road, this time at Texas Tech. NSU would respond the next week by clobbering 8th ranked Texas 36-3. Then the Sooners train-wrecked NSU’s plans to get back into the conference race. The Sooners were dominant and handed the Prairie Dogs their worst home defeat, 62-16. NSU would limp to two more wins over Missouri and Kansas State, but a two-point loss to Colorado put the pre-season North pick to 4-4 in conference play. NSU did manage to repay the Hoosiers with a 26-21 win and needed overtime to knock out an upstart Tulane team in the Texas Bowl to finish the season 9-4 and ranked #19 and #20 in the nation.
Code:
Season 120
Rob Wahkan, Coach
9-4, 4-4
37 Iowa 28
43 @Southern Miss 20
42 San Jose St. 34
21 @Nebraska 42
36 Texas 3
16 Oklahoma 62
41 @Missouri 20
31 Kansas St. 23
35 Colorado 37
52 @Kansas 19
26 Indiana 21
Texas Bowl
47 Tulane ot 41
Final Ranking: #19, #20
Season 121 almost ended before it began. NSU traveled to Fort Collins to face old nemesis Colorado State. NSU needed a two-yard touchdown by Lee to escape with a 41-37 win. NSU would be able to breathe easier the next two weeks against Hawai’i and Stillwater a 38-31 loser. NSU would need two overtimes to once again escape a loss, this time to the Aggies of aTm. NSU would head into lowly Baylor expecting an easy win as they prepped for an upcoming game against Nebraska. What the Prairie Dogs found was misery. NSU committed 8 turnovers in the game and forced none and watched Baylor produce its first win of the season in a stunning 48-36 win. NSU would go on to rout Kansas and upset the Huskers 18-14 and barely escape four-win K-State 21-17. That set up a winner-take-all game against Missouri for the North Division title. Despite Franklin’s dazzling 29-40, 497 yard day, the Prairie Dogs couldn’t withstand his 0-2 ratio in tds-ints in a triple overtime loss to the Tigers. The loss sent Missouri to the title game and NSU to the Holiday Bowl, where the team fell to USC 30-24 and out of the polls at 9-4 on the season. On the positive side, free safety Poe, a freshman, set a new team record with 103 tackles in a season.
Code:
Season 121
Rob Wahkan, Coach
9-4, 5-3
41 @Colorado St. 37
50 @Hawaii 24
35 Stanford 7
31 @Oklahoma St. 38
45 Texas aTm 2ot 38
45 @Colorado 28
36 @Baylor 48
73 Kansas 24
18 Nebraska 14
33 @Army 0
21 @Kansas St. 17
51 Missouri 3ot 54
Holiday Bowl
24 USC 30
Final Ranking: NR, NR
Season 122 saw a dramatic rebound for the Prairie Dogs. Picked 2nd in the North and 5th overall in the Big 12 in the preseason, NSU catapulted itself back into the polls with a dangerous gun slinging QB in Franklin. The senior saved his best season for last as the team jumped out to an easy 3-0 non-conference start. Facing the highly touted Cornhuskers, the two heated rivals battled down to the final minute, where kicker Cunningham connected on a 32-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining to give NSU the win over the Top 10 ranked Nebraska team. NSU would avoid disaster at Waco with a three-point win over Baylor and started the conference slate 4-0 before traveling to College Station to face aTm. NSU powered to a 24-7 halftime lead in that game. But Franklin was out of action in the second half due to injury and despite 5 ints by aTm, the Aggies battled back to tie the game in the fourth. Attempting to reach field goal range late in the game, NSU replace QB Smith fired a pass that was picked off and returned 51-yards for what would be the game-winning points for aTm. NSU would win out and earn the tie-breaker with NU for the right to beat Texas in the Big 12 title game. But it was Nebraska that would have the final laugh. Due to the aTm loss, Nebraska had passed NSU in the polls and kept the lead throughout the season and earned a spot in the BCS title game against unbeaten Cincinnati, where the Bearcats would win the national title. NSU would travel to the Fiesta Bowl against Big 10 champ Penn State. In an eerily similar game, a late 79-yard interception was returned by Penn State for the go-ahead points with just 0:43 seconds left. Trailing 35-34, NSU’s Franklin showed why he was selected the season’s Heisman trophy winner. Franklin found Lee for a huge gain that setup Cunningham’s 25-yard field goal on the final play to lift NSU 37-35 and to #3 and #2 in the polls. Franklin finished his season in the record books as the only Prairie Dog player to pass for over 5,000 yards in a season at 5,056 yds and a 46-17 edge in tds-ints. For his career, Franklin completed 729-1172 passes for 11,039 yards and 96 tds. He also added 1,457 yards on the ground for his career. He also tied the school record with Stephen at 298 completions in a season and his 729 completions in a career is also a record.
Code:
Season 122
Rob Wahkan, Coach
13-1, 8-1
50 Arizona St. 33
51 No. Illinois 33
28 @Georgia Tech 7
22 @Nebraska 21
51 Baylor 48
48 @Missouri 20
44 Oklahoma St. 21
24 @Texas aTm 31
59 Kansas St. 31
43 Colorado 37
45 @Kansas 14
52 Illinois 7
Big 12 Title Game
52 Texas 28
Fiesta Bowl
37 Penn State 35
Final Ranking: #3, #2
Season 123 saw Prairie Dog Nation invade the defending national champions Cincinnati in week one matchup of Top 10 teams. Graduation losses for the Bearcats were evident as upperclassmen-led NSU jumped on Cinci early on and coast to a 31-14 win. The following week also featured a Top 10 showdown as Miami came to Ab-Linc with a lofty #3 ranking. The game was an offensive showcase as NSU rang up 544 yards to Miami’s 472. But it was the Hurricanes that struck last with a three-yard scoring run with 0:28 left to win 52-49. Miami would use this win to propel themselves to a 14-0 national championship run. NSU would use Miami’s trick and use a late three-yard scoring run by Anderson with just 8 seconds remaining to knock off Nebraska in the I-80 Showdown 43-42 in a game that featured over 900 yards of offense, including 243 rushing yards by NU’s Hall. A trip to Norman would hand the Prairie Dogs its second loss of the season. In that one, OU’s Ferguson gouged the Prairie Dogs for a record 449 yards rushing and 5 tds. Then NSU had to struggle to get past 1-11 bound Texas Tech 25-24 on a two-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left to avoid the embarrassing upset. The North Division would once again come down between Missouri and NSU in the conference finale for both teams. NSU’s Thompson returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and Daniels scored from two-yard out with 15 seconds remaining for the 29-21 win and a trip to the Big 12 title game against Oklahoma State. As the theme for the year continued, NSU needed an 18-yard field goal on the game’s final play to pull out the 27-24 win and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and a rematch with Big East champion Cincinnati. As in the first game, Cincinnati’s youth was no match for NSU as the Prairie Dogs rolled to the 37-17 win to end the season 12-2 and ranked #4 and #7 in the polls. In the trophy presentation, NSU head coach Rob Wahkan announced his retirement. His record at NSU stands at 157 wins against 52 losses and an 89-42 conference record in 16 seasons.
Code:
Season 123
Rob Wahkan, Coach
12-2, 8-1
31 @Cincinnati 14
49 Miami 52
38 @Michigan St. 24
32 @Texas 28
43 Nebraska 42
24 @Oklahoma 41
25 Texas Tech 24
52 @Kansas St. 14
48 Kansas 0
48 @Colorado 20
29 Missouri 21
55 Minnesota 3
Big 12 Title Game
27 Oklahoma St. 24
Fiesta Bowl
37 Cincinnati 17
Final Ranking: #4, #7
Season 124 saw the ascension of Associate Head Coach Dana X. Bible, IV to Head Coach of NSU. His debut resulted in a 68-7 crushing of new FBS member Georgia Southern, who was forced into 12 punts for the day, a NSU record. Like the season before, NSU needed a final play field goal to survive against Middle Tenn. St and another close call against a down Ohio State team. But Bible’s debut in the I-80 Showdown was a letdown as Nebraska’s Crenshaw obliterated the Prairie Dogs defense for 318 yards and scoring runs of 77, 19, 72 and 1-yard in a 51-35 Husker win. NSU fell in back-to-back weeks to Texas and Oklahoma. NSU vented some frustration on Missouri 77-7 as a record nine different Prairie Dogs scored in the game (5 RBs, 4 WRs). Two weeks later, NSU would pull out one of its greatest comebacks against Colorado. Down 35-7 in the second quarter, NSU rallied with the help of three defensive scores to knock off the Buffs 45-42. NSU finished at 5-3 in the conference, but tied for first with CU taking the head-to-head. An Independence Bowl bid was awarded to NSU and a date with Auburn, where NSU would grind out a 45-13 win over the .500 Tigers to finish the season 10-3 and ranked #8 and #10. Free safety Poe, who managed just 65 tackles in his senior season, smashed the NSU record for tackles by amassing 349 career stops, well ahead of previous leaders Hawkins (S21-23) and Vaughn (S105-108).
Code:
Season 124
Dana X. Bible IV, Coach
10-3, 5-3
68 Geo. Southern 7
34 Mid. Tenn. St. 33
20 @Ohio State 17
35 Nebraska 51
46 @Texas Tech 26
22 Texas 37
27 Oklahoma 38
77 @Missouri 7
39 Kansas St. 10
45 Colorado 42
35 @Kansas 7
33 Central Florida 27
Independence Bowl
45 Auburn 13
Final Ranking: #8, #10
Season 125 saw NSU incorporate a ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ defense along with its high powered offense. NSU limited teams to just 15 ppg while scoring 43 themselves en route to a perfect 14-0 season and the National Championship in Bible’s 2nd season as head coach. NSU’s QB Douglas was perfect against Iowa at 10-10 142 yards and two scores before sitting out in the 3rd quarter. A match-up against preseason Top 10 ranked Oregon was a letdown as the Ducks limped into the game 0-2 and #23 Oregon was stymied 52-3 with just 134 yards of offense, due in large part to QB Benson being sacked 7 times. NSU would rally from 10 down in the 4th to beat Okie State and a game-winning field goal by Stewart to knock off aTm. In the I-80 Showdown, #5 Nebraska used two defensive touchdowns to take a late lead, but #2 NSU held on for the three-point win. NSU would lead Missouri just 14-10 in the 4th quarter, but a 28-point quarter secured the win. NSU would win the North and defeat #8 Texas in the Big 12 title game and earn a date to play unbeaten Cincinnati for the championship. The Bearcats, who had been #1 for most the season, was never able to get settled as NSU ran away with the 52-14 win. NSU featured two 1,000 yard rushers in Daniels and back-up Anderson.
Code:
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Season 125
Dana X. Bible IV, Coach
14-0, 9-0
52 @Iowa 17
42 Akron 23
52 @Oregon 3
31 @Oklahoma St. 24
27 Texas aTm 24
31 @Colorado 21
59 @Baylor 10
66 Kansas 6
24 Nebraska 21
42 Kansas St. 7
42 Missouri 10
45 Bowling Green 17
Big 12 Title Game
41 Texas 13
BCS Title Game
52 Cincinnati 14
Final Ranking: #1, #1
Season 126 was a chance to defend its National title, but standing in the way was #2 Florida. Top-ranked NSU traveled down to the Swamp to face the Gators for a Week 1 1 vs. 2 showdown. Florida would do just enough to pull out the win and force NSU to climb back up the ladder in order to defend its championship. NSU would make it to the I-80 Showdown ranked #4 after a couple of Top 5 upsets where #2 Nebraska was waiting. In a highly anticipated game, the Prairie Dogs dominated the Huskers and produced the series first shutout in a 33-0 win. In the game, Nebraska managed just 109 yards on offense while Crenshaw was limited to less than 100 yards for the second straight year after torching NSU for 300+ in his sophomore season. Baylor and Missouri were also held to under 150 yards each before NSU held on to defeat ranked Okie State and aTm. NSU would cruise the rest of the season, winning the Big 12 title game and using another upset to back into the BCS title game against unbeaten and top-ranked TCU. A nick-and-tuck game throughout, NSU grabbed the advantage on a Patterson field goal with under a minute to go. TCU struck back quick with a 52-yard pass and drove down the field in quick fashion with time running out. Facing 1 second on the clock at the 2-yard line, TCU’s Powers looked right and found Johnson again at two. Johnson snagged the ball at the two and leaned into the end zone prior to being tackled by NSU's Gaines for the game winning score, leaving NSU ranked #2 in both polls and a second away from a repeat National Championship.
Code:
Season 126
Dana X. Bible IV, Coach
12-2, 9-0
21 @Florida 24
35 FIU 20
51 EMU 17
33 @Nebraska 0
66 Baylor 13
39 @Missouri 3
38 Oklahoma St. 24
30 @Texas aTm 28
55 Kansas St. 28
41 Colorado 17
52 @Kansas 10
44 Memphis 14
Big 12 Title Game
31 Texas 17
BCS Title Game
39 TCU 42
Final Ranking: #2, #2
Season 127 began with NSU ranked #4 in the preseason. NSU had to hang on against Colorado State in the season opener and would finish the first two weeks with wins over two ranked team. NSU would take out Nebraska 41-28 before traveling to Lubbock against Red Raiders. NSU was shocked 45-42 in a loss that threatened to ruin the Prairie Dogs season. NSU would right the ship and along the way knock off unbeaten Colorado and earn the North Division title. An offensive shootout with aTm in the conference title game left #3 NSU waiting for the score of the SEC title game, where #2 Florida would fall to lowly ranked Arkansas that would send NSU back to the National Champion game. Facing Ole Miss, who was in the SEC title game thanks to a loss to Arkansas, would fall behind early on a 75-yard touchdown run by Roberts, NSU’s newest Heisman winner. A 61-yard touchdown pass from Beverly to Gibson put the game out of reach and NSU had won its second championship in three seasons.
Code:
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Season 127
Dana X. Bible IV, Coach
13-1, 8-1
31 Colorado St. 30
41 @Rutgers 24
30 @Stanford 7
73 North Texas 13
41 @Nebraska 28
42 @Texas Tech 45
56 Texas 24
34 Oklahoma 17
48 @Missouri 23
35 Kansas St. 7
45 Colorado 24
41 @Kansas 10
Big 12 Title Game
56 Texas aTm 44
BCS Title Game
31 Ole Miss 17
Final Ranking: #1, #1
Season 128 could have put NSU in a fourth straight national title game, but a defensive collapse saw Iowa collect over 500 yards of offense in a 56-42 win for the Hawkeyes. NSU needed double overtime to avoid a second straight loss to a Big 10 team in a 56-49 win over Michigan. With the national title a distant memory, NSU refocused itself and defeat 9 straight opponents, none of which were ranked. With a perfect 8-0 conference record, NSU headed into the Big 12 title game against it’s first ranked opponent since the Michigan game. In an odd defensive game, NSU and the Sooners were tied at 7 at halftime with an interception return for a touchdown a kickoff return by NSU’s Parker proving the only scoring. The offenses finally got going in the fourth as NSU took the lead on a 50-yard pass from Pickens to Fuller with 45 seconds remaining. OU would respond with a last ditch effort that ended with an 8-yard scoring pass with 15 seconds remain. Three incompletions later, OU had claimed the Big 12 championship in a game that featured six lead changes and a 35-point fourth quarter. In the Cotton Bowl, NSU would be out-yarded by Tennessee 412 to 374, but two goal line interceptions by Mills stopped the Vols from scoring in the second half as NSU went on to claim the 38-24 win to finish the season 11-3 and #18 and #14 in the polls.
Code:
Season 128
Dana X. Bible, IV, Coach
11-3, 7-2
47 @Utah St. 7
42 @Iowa 56
56 @Michigan 2ot 49
21 @Oklahoma St. 17
37 Texas aTm 36
34 @Colorado 17
28 @Baylor 14
38 Kansas 45
41 Nebraska 25
25 @Kansas St. 24
30 Missouri 27
42 Maryland 28
Big 12 Title Game
28 Oklahoma 31
Cotton Bowl
38 Tennessee 24
Final Ranking: #18, #14
Bookmarks