Cornhusker Let-Downs: Nebraska Football's Five Most Disappointing Losses

Everybody in Nebraska looks forward to fall. The weather cools down, the leaves change color and Nebraska Cornhusker football begins. Every week, Nebraskans glue themselves to their TV sets and watch their Cornhuskers.

Football is so deeply rooted in Nebraskan life, it's almost scary. People in Nebraska host parties for Husker games, plan wedding dates around game days, and watch hours of pregame coverage to get ready for the game.

The passionate fans and generous boosters have allowed Nebraska to become one of the most glorious programs in college football. Nebraska cranked out three national championships in the nineties, ranks high on the all-time college football wins list, has seen nearly 300 consecutive home games sell out, and has been the launching pad for many NFL players.

There have been many disappointing moments in Nebraska football history, as well. Nebraska has seen coaching changes, repeated player arrests, Lawrence Phillips, and many disappointing losses. Here are the five most disappointing losses in Nebraska football:

5. Texas Tech, 2004. 2004 was Nebraska's first season with Bill Callahan's West Coast Offense. To say that there were growing pains would be an understatement. The Cornhuskers went into Lubbock, Texas and got embarrassed on national television. The final score was 70-10, and it was every bit as ugly as that score would indicate.

4. Florida State, 1994. Nebraska nearly shocked the world by defeating Florida State in the 1994 Orange Bowl. Nebraska entered the game as the fresh-faced underdogs, but couldn't pull off the victory. Questionable officiating led many across the country to sympathize with Nebraska. Those feelings of sympathy would evaporate over the next year as Nebraska players ran into trouble with the law and the program became viewed as a 'Thug Factory.'

3. Colorado, 2001. Nebraska appeared headed to a perfect season in 2001. They were ranked number one in the country and only had Colorado in their way. Colorado had already been beaten twice and Nebraska was favored by 17points. Nebraska gave up nearly 400 rushing yards and 62 points. To make matters worse, it was a featured game on ABC the day after Thanksgiving.

2. Iowa State, 1992. In 1992, Husker fans could see the program becoming a national power. When the team went to play Iowa State, they had just defeated Colorado and Kansas (both top ten teams) by huge margins. The Iowa State game figured to be a walk in the park, but the Huskers were handed a shocking 19-10 defeat.

1. Arizona State, 1996. Nebraska strolled into the desert in Tempe, Arizona having won 26 straight games. They left the desert humiliated, 19-0. The Huskers were beaten from pillar to post by an Arizona State team that featured Pat Tillman and Jake Plummer. Jake Plummer would later say that the two N's on Nebraska's helmet stood for 'nineteen and nothing.' Ouch!