Factoid 25 - Nebraska is Fifth (Fourth) in Most Victories for a College Football Program *

Nebraska is fifth (fourth) in most victories for a college football program: they have 867. (There are four teams ahead of them, but two teams are tied for third, so depending on how you look at it, they could be fourth or fifth.) *

Nebraska started playing football in 1890. Getting an early start helps amass the number of victories. Their overall record is 867 wins, 357 losses, and 40 ties.* In Nebraska’s first season they went 2 -0 and for the next 27 years would have a winning record, except for one year, in 1899. In general, Nebraska has always had success, the biggest exception being a very long dry spell from 1942 to 1961 when losing seasons were the norm.

Ironically, Nebraska only won its first National Championship in 1970 with Bob Devaney as head coach, 80 years after the program was founded. They liked it so much they went ahead and won again the next year; of course, it helped that halfback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rogers was on both of those teams.

* - As of 11/21/2013