That Nebraska football had set aside its 19-0 loss at Arizona State, at least to some degree, was reflected in a 65-9 win against Colorado State in the third game of the 1996 season at Memorial Stadium.
In addition to the 65 points, the Huskers rolled up 628 yards of offense, including 476 rushing. So how about acknowledging the offensive line first? The starters included tackles Adam Treu and Eric Anderson, guards Chris Dishman and Jon Zatechka and center Aaron Taylor, the line’s anchor. Taylor, a junior, had moved to center from guard because of the departure of Aaron Graham and would return to guard as a senior, earning All-America honors both seasons and the Outland Trophy in 1997.
Thirteen back-up linemen saw action during the game.
Taylor was adjusting to center, along with new quarterback Scott Frost, who had gotten considerable criticism following the Arizona State loss, prompting Tom Osborne to say after the Colorado State win: “It’s sometimes unbelievable the expectations that are put on guys 18-19 years old.
“So I thought he (Frost) really responded well to the situation.”
Frost had said he would “shoulder all the blame” for the Arizona State loss. In any case, he stepped up against Colorado State, completing 13-of-18 passes, without an interception, for 143 yards and touchdowns to tight ends Vershan Jackson and Sheldon Jackson.
The one to Vershan, a 3-yarder, capped a 10-play, 62-yard drive on the game’s first series. The one to Sheldon, a 1-yarder, came on Nebraska’s first possession of the second half, a 13-yard drive set up by a Jamel Williams’ interception. Williams, a linebacker, returned the ball 29 yards.
Frost also rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
I-back Ahman Green was the leading rusher with 162 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. I-back DeAngelo Evans carried six times for 72 yards and a touchdown. And Jay Sims, also an I-back, carried six times for 64 yards and a touchdown.
There’s a pattern here. Nine Huskers scored touchdowns. The others were I-back Damon Benning, fullback Brian Schuster and wingback Shevin Wiggins, who returned a punt 43 yards with 1:08 remaining. Kris Brown kicked a field goal and five extra points. Ted Retzlaff (two) and Dan Hadenfeldt (one) also kicked extra points. Nebraska used 98 players.
Linebacker Jon Hesse led the defense with 13 tackles and a sack. Rush end Grant Wistrom, who missed the second half of the Arizona State game with a sprained neck, had seven tackles and a sack, and Williams had seven tackles and the interception.
Tackle Jason Peter also had a sack, and cornerback Ralph Brown had an interception.
Nebraska got the job done on both sides of the ball.
Though Colorado State had won back-to-back Western Athletic Conference titles under Coach Sonny Lubick, the Rams came to Lincoln with a 2-2 record, including a 48-34 loss to the Huskers’ final regular-season opponent, Colorado. Colorado State would finish the season 7-5.
Nebraska climbed one place in the Associated Press rankings, to seventh, with 16th-ranked Kansas State next on the schedule. The victory was the Huskers’ 32nd in a row at home and 700th all time. Only five other programs had 700 or more all-time victories, led by Michigan (758) and Notre Dame (740).
Third-ranked Penn State also reached 700 that day with a 23-20 victory over Wisconsin.
