1971 McMNC: Nebraska Cornhuskers

AP Top 10: Final Record -- Key Bowl Results

1. Nebraska: 13-0-0 -- W, Orange, 38-6
2. Oklahoma: 11-1-0 -- W, Sugar, 40-22
3. Colorado: 10-2-0 -- W, Bluebonnet, 29-17
4. Alabama: 11-1-0 -- L, Orange, 6-38
5. Penn State: 11-1-0 -- W, Cotton, 30-6
6. Michigan: 11-1-0 -- L, Rose, 12-13
7. Georgia: 11-1-0 -- W, Gator, 7-3
8. Arizona State: 11-1-0 -- W, Fiesta, 45-38
9. Tennessee: 10-2-0 -- W, Liberty, 14-13
10. Stanford: 9-3-0 -- W, Rose, 13-12

What a season. A lot of undefeated teams late in the season (Nebraska, Oklahoma, Alabama, Penn State, Michigan), but only one survived to and through the bowl season intact. By the way, Toledo again went undefeated winning the Citrus Bowl, too -- finishing 14th in the AP poll.

Stanford ruined Michigan's perfect season by a point in the Rose Bowl; Georgia was undefeated on November 13 before suffering their only loss to Auburn; Penn State was undefeated until December 4 when they lost by 20 points on the road to Tennessee. And of course, Nebraska beat undefeated Oklahoma on November 25 and undefeated Alabama on January 1 -- perhaps making the best argument ever that the regular season is a tournament.

But I digress.

Nebraska is the clear-cut choice here, obviously: they had a 57% SOS rating and a perfect record. They eliminate the Sooners, the Buffs and the Tide by virtue of head-to-head wins. Has any #1 team ever defeated #2, #3 and #4 in the same season? Incredible, but the SOS is dragged down by 1-10 Missouri. Otherwise, the Huskers played six winning teams and defeated the AP trifecta above. Plus, they dismantled the Tide in the bowl game -- ouch!

Penn State is really the only other team who could pretend for this throne. Georgia didn't win the SEC, so they're out. And the Nittany Lions? With a 47% SOS rating, they don't cut the mustard. And try this for transitive fun: Nebraska beat Alabama by 32 points, and Alabama beat Tennessee by 17 points, and Tennessee beat Penn State by 20 points.

Nebraska was 69 points better than the only other team who could have been even mildly considered this year for the McMNC. The Huskers become only the second team to win back-to-back McMNCs, joining the 1947-48 Michigan Wolverines.

Congrats, Lincoln, NE.

McMNC Revisions
1. Nebraska
2. Oklahoma
3. Alabama
4. Penn State
5. Georgia

RUNNING SCORECARD:
Tennessee: +1938, +1942, +1950, -1951
UCLA: +1965
Arkansas: +1964
Mississippi: +1962
Washington: +1960
Iowa: +1956
Georgia Tech: +1952
Illinois: +1951
Michigan: +1947, =1948
Georgia: +1946
Purdue: +1943
Stanford: +1940
California: +1937
Pittsburgh: +1936, -1937
Nebraska: =1970, =1971
Syracuse: =1959
LSU: =1958
Texas A&M: =1939
Michigan State: -1952, +1953
USC: -1962, =1967, +1969
Ohio State: -1942, +1944, =1954, =1968
Oklahoma: +1949, -1950, =1955, -1956, +1957
TCU: -1938
Maryland: -1953
Auburn: -1957
Texas: =1963, -1969
Alabama: +1945, =1961, -1964, -1965
Army: -1944, -1945
Minnesota: -1936, -1940, =1941, -1960
Notre Dame: -1943, -1946, -1947, -1949, =1966