1971 Orange Bowl

1971 Orange Bowl
37th Orange Bowl
LSU Tigers Nebraska Cornhuskers
(9–2) (10–0–1)
SEC Big 8
12 17
Head coach: 
Charles McClendon		 Head coach: 
Bob Devaney
APCoaches
56
APCoaches
33
1234 Total
LSU 0390 12
Nebraska 10007 17
DateJanuary 1, 1971
Season1970
StadiumOrange Bowl
LocationMiami, Florida
MVPJerry Tagge   (Nebraska QB)
Willie Harper (Nebraska DE)
FavoriteNebraska by 7 points[1][2]
RefereeVance Carlson (Big Eight)
(split crew: Big Eight, SEC)
Attendance80,699
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersJim Simpson, Al DeRogatis
Orange Bowl
 < 1970  1972 > 

The 1971 Orange Bowl was the 37th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Friday, January 1. Part of the 1970–71 bowl season, it matched the third-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, champions of the Big Eight Conference, and the #5 LSU Tigers, champions of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Earlier on New Year's Day, the two top-ranked teams lost their bowl games: #1 Texas in the Cotton and #2 Ohio State in the Rose.[3] The Huskers were aware when they took the field that night that they could claim the top ranking in the AP writers poll with a victory. An LSU victory would likely have given Notre Dame the national title.

Ahead early, Nebraska rallied in the fourth quarter to win 17–12, capturing their first-ever National Championship.[3][4][5][6]

  1. ^ "Huskers, Steers favored". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 1, 1971. p. 13.
  2. ^ "Devaney eyes 3 TDs in Orange". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 1, 1971. p. 27.
  3. ^ a b Jenkins, Dan (January 11, 1971). "The one-day season". Sports Illustrated. p. 10.
  4. ^ "Nebraska claims national crown after Orange Bowl victory". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). January 2, 1971. p. 1B.
  5. ^ "Devaney wants top spot after victory over LSU". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. January 2, 1971. p. 15.
  6. ^ "Nebraska claims No.1 after Orange Bowl win". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 2, 1971. p. 6.