1997 DISPUTED NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

[@piechy]

Michigans defense would’ve thumped that Nebraska offense.

[@danschwartz1950]

Not disputed in the eyes of football purists. Coaches poll favored Michigan until Tom Osborne announced his retirement after 25 years in hopes of getting some of the coaches to change their vote and it worked. Six coaches changed their vote after his retirement announcement. AP didn’t fall for it and held firm. Michigan was the best team and we would have welcomed that playoff match. Score one for Coach Osborne - took one for the team.

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

Nebraska fans feel the same.

[@snakyYT]

Michigan could barely win their nat championship game. Nebraska smashed Tennessee. Make this clear you guys shouldnt even had part of that damn trophy. Oh and AP voted before nebraska even played.

[@solrosenberg3803]

@@snakyYTNebraska lost to Missouri.

[@solrosenberg3803]

@@MarkRogersVOCFBNebraska lost to Missouri.

[@snakyYT]

@solrosenberg3803 don't know what your talking about. They were 13-0

[@whocares-ej2cl]

Michigan wins that game. They would only need 17 points for that defense to close the deal

[@Ean9881]

I’m fairly certain that when the numbers were calculated in the coaches poll, the ONLY way Michigan didn’t end #1 was because ONE SEC (fulmer) voted them OUTSIDE the top 5

[@louispapp7722]

Nebraska got the Coaches poll only because Osborne said he was retiring a week before the bowl game.

[@solrosenberg3803]

There’s nothing to dispute. Nebraska lost to Missouri that year. Case closed.

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

Yes. Nothing to dispute. It’s a split national championship.

[@solrosenberg3803]

@@MarkRogersVOCFB Nope. Nebraska got a runner up trophy, since they lost to Missouri,

[@soonerthrawn1362]

I think the coaches gave Tom Osborne the split bc it was rumored he was retiring and he did

[@scottm.842]

No they gave it to him because Nebraska was the better team.

[@darrylw9171]

That’s exactly what happen

[@machineunit]

Michigan and Nebraska should play for the Natty Trophy and whoever wins each year gets to claim the 97 Natty until the next game where the claim is up for grabs again.

[@BenBouren]

Genius🧠

[@StevenNeidlein]

michigan owns nebraska 8-4 in the series all time

[@siberiancajun]

That's a cool idea.

[@StevenNeidlein]

Nebraska should of lost to both Missouri and Colorado you know that Colorado team michigan stomped also michigan played 5 ranked teams and had 1 of the hardest schedules in the nation along with the best defense in the nation drops mic 🎤

[@scottm.842]

The Big Ten got exposed in the bowls and the schedule was fluffed up. Nebraska had a 17 point lead in the 4th quarter on the road against a rival Colorado. You guys almost lost at home to a 7-5 Iowa team. Missouri would have beat you guys on that day with how they were ready to play.

[@snakyYT]

Michigan could barely win their nat championship game. Nebraska smashed Tennessee

[@lindseysummers5351]

Michigan's strength of schedule was ranked 32nd. Nebraska's was 41st. Tennessee played the toughest schedule in the country.

[@brandonm6052]

Husker fan here for the content, no hatred on your pick as we don’t know what would’ve happened.

[@StevenNeidlein]

LMAO what nebraska almost lost to mizz and colorado clown michigan rolled colorado that year 1997 Michigan All Pro- 11 Pro Bowls- 33 1997 Nebraska All Pro- 0 Pro Bowl- 1 also michigan was ranked # 1 in the AP poll

[@alexkain8564]

Michigan barely got by Ohio St and Washington St that season. Don’t act like Michigan didn’t have any close calls. They also barely beatba mediocre Iowa team

[@StevenNeidlein]

​​@@alexkain8564 Nebraska should of lost to both Missouri and Colorado you know that Colorado team michigan stomped also michigan played 5 ranked teams and had 1 of the hardest schedules in the nation along with the best defense in the nation drops mic 🎤

[@alexkain8564]

@@StevenNeidlein I would take that Nebraska defense over the Michigan defense. Also, Nebraska was up big before Colorado had a really nice comeback. Missouri put up a really good fight in Columbia but Nebraska was right with them the entire game. Michigan’s defense would have had their hands full trying to stop that option attack for a full four quarters

[@snakyYT]

Michigan could barely win their nat championship game. Nebraska smashed Tennessee. Make this clear you guys shouldnt even had part of that damn trophy. We would smash the crap out of you.

[@benkreifels7150]

At the end of the day Nebraska and Michigan ranked top 5 in most defensive categories, butttt Michigans offense was outside the top 40 in most offensive categories (Nebraska was #1 in every categorie outside of passing) In the hypothetical matchup I think Nebraska wins by 20-30

[@whoroger89]

I really enjoy this content

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

Appreciate that Brion. I love producing these videos. Gotta find the interest out there though.

[@blackflame91]

The game that was stolen from my childhood. I remember my parents trying to explain to me why Michigan and Nebraska didn't play for the title--it just didn't make one bit of sense to me. I knew there needed to be a BCS/CFP at 7 years old! Oh well...Go Blue!

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

And it still doesn't make sense.

[@raytant]

The Big 10 and Pac-10 at the time thought they were better than everybody else and refused to give up the rose bowl for years. That's why that happened. Sadly, it deprived the SEC, Big East, ACC, Big-8 and SWC from beating the living hell out of them for decades.

[@j_r_3404]

Vegas favored Nebraska by a full touchdown and xtra point(-7). That's all you need to know. Michigan was a great team, but only on defense. Would have been a slugfest, but Nebraska would have won by double digits in the end.

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

And the Vegas point spread favorite loses 25-30% of the time. So that proves nothing.

[@ionlybringthistoyoubecause1783]

@@MarkRogersVOCFB 70% passed any test I've ever taken, Mark.

[@solrosenberg3803]

Nebraska lost to Missouri.

[@bobhirdes6725]

Michigan and Nebraska had two common opponents in Colorado and Baylor, Michigan beat Colorado 27-3 and Nebraska won 27-23 with Colorado driving for the winning score. Michigan beat Baylor 38-3 and Nebraska beat Baylor 49-21. Michigan's defense was the best in the country in 1997 and is why Michigan would have beaten Nebraska in a head to head match up. Michigan had a lot more players on that 97 team play in the NFL. Michigan held Washing St who averaged 42 points a game to a season low 16 points. Michigan's defense is why they would have beaten Nebraska. Nebraska needed a miracle kick deflection to stay unbeaten. I could go on and on.

[@Tee-Ess]

I agree. The only mitigating factor is that UM beat Colorado and Baylor at home and Nebraska beat them on the road. Nonetheless, the margin of victory is much bigger for Michigan and Michigan would have thumped Nebraska H2H. If only both Michigan and Nebraska were as good now....

[@randyfisher8485]

Dude know your college football....97 Nebraska would've beaten Michigan by 2 touchdowns...which most think easily,Michigan had the #1 def but their off was like 80th an Nebraska #1 off an #3 def!Michigan be lucky score 10 points...I agree with most Huskers by 2 scores!3rd national title in 4 yrs..tbh should've been 4 in 5 as they man handled FSU in the 93 title game just watch it for yourself!Huskers were used to playing for championships

[@randyfisher8485]

Bob know your stats....just like everyone I've talk to the Huskers wouldve beat Michigan by 2 TDS or more...yeah Michigan had the #1 Def but like the 80th ranked off as Nebraska had the #1 Off an #3 ranked def an Again the best offensive line in the country an lived playing the big games which Michigan only 97.At season end in the Bowls Michigan barely beat terrible Wash state team with a horrible QB Which Nebraska throttled #3 Tennessee with Peyton Manning 42-17...was 42-9 when walk ons came in but that was last game that Tennessee team would lose next couple yrs.Even Michigan fans I've talked to said samething Nebraska would've wore em down like always an put it away in the 2nd half..

[@dannyhuskerjay]

It doesn’t matter about how you play at the beginning. It’s how you play at the end. Nebraska dominated Texas a&m 54-15 and Tennessee with Peyton manning 42-17. Where Michigan barley got by Washington state. At the end of the season Nebraska was playing dominant football. Where Michigan had to have a game winning drive to win in the rose bowl.

[@_cali187x_3]

How is it that these two teams were the only 2 undefeated teams in the country but didn’t play each other in the national championship ? How tf did that happen

[@tripplebrown2132]

Because of the contract that the big10 was under would not have allowed them (michigan) to play nebraska.

[@soonerthrawn1362]

The Missouri kick game the ball kick game great

[@atlsooner85]

Not a fan of either team, but blowing out the number 3 team (Tennessee) with Peyton Manning. Gives Nebraska the nob for me. Considering Missouri vs Nebraska, and vs were big time conference games during the original big 12, I'm not gonna fault them, and Michigan never had a Dominant win like Nebraska vs an 11-1 Kstate team.

[@raytant]

First, the Orange Bowl was the Bowl Alliance National Championship game. The AP or UPI, one of the two who had committed to do so, had to vote for the winner of the game as #1. Second, I watched in person Nebraska dismantle Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. I have watched countless national championship teams in person over the years. Michigan played a very weak schedule. Don't look at who they played that was ranked; look at the statistical rankings of the teams they played. Nebraska would have snapped Michigan in half, and I wish they had been able to do it.

[@zanevance3785]

The end of the season tells the tale. No comparing Tom Osborne and Lloyd Carr because virtually no one compares with Osborne. 255-49 and never failed to win 9 games. The offense was steamrolling at the end of the year against really good teams. Michigan rushed for 42 yards at HOME against OSU with 189 yards of total offense and punted ELEVEN times.... and won by 6. A 5 point win over Washington State speaks for it's self. Florida State jackhammered OSU 31-14 in the Sugar Bowl and the Big 10 went 2-5 in Bowl games. What is rampant now was already in progress then. The SEC went 5-1 with 2 head-to-head wins over the Big 10. Only their champion, Tennessee lost to.....Nebraska who had 409 yards rushing. That Tennessee team wouldn't lose again for two years and became the 1998 National Champions. 1998 Washington State went 3-8. Woodson's great (though Manning should have won the Heisman), but he wouldn't have been defending passes. He would have had a rolling assortment of receivers, running backs, tackles and guards chop blocking him all night. All topped with the Nebraska team facing how to send Osborne out in his last game. The Tennessee game gives you a snap shot. The fact that the guys who coach the game picked Nebraska is also enormous. Pardon me if I don't trust the media.

[@j_r_3404]

And Vegas had Nebraska favored by 7 in a hypothetical matchup against Michigan. Vegas and everyone with a brain knew Nebraska was better. Much better.

[@ionlybringthistoyoubecause1783]

SEC usually trash in bowl games outside the tippy top. Florida State lost to an FCS school recently, Ohio State hasn't lost to a non P5 team in 30 years. Nothing about that enate period in time is rampant now at all...

[@zanevance3785]

@@ionlybringthistoyoubecause1783 Except for the fact that the SEC has won 13 of the last 17 National Titles and 3 times had BOTH teams playing in the title game. Except for the fact that in the last 43 years the SEC has won 20 titles while the Big 10 has won 2 1/2. Except for the fact the SEC was 3-1 head-to-head against the Big 10 in Bowl games this year. Florida State was at it's peak from 1987 - 2000. Their fall off doesn't take away from the fact that in 1997 they illustrated the football dominance necessary to be great in the South. They blew out a team that Michigan barely beat, but supporters claimed justified their outrage of splitting the title. My point was/is that Nebraska's utter dominance of the SEC Champion while Michigan sputtered by Ryan Leaf and the supporting Bowl performance by the Big 10 vs the SEC nails the coffin of this debate shut.

[@StevenNeidlein]

​@@zanevance3785Nebraska should of lost to both Missouri and Colorado you know that Colorado team michigan stomped also michigan played 5 ranked teams and had 1 of the hardest schedules in the nation along with the best defense in the nation drops mic 🎤

[@StevenNeidlein]

Nebraska should of lost to both Missouri and Colorado you know that Colorado team michigan stomped also michigan played 5 ranked teams and had 1 of the hardest schedules in the nation along with the best defense in the nation drops mic 🎤

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

Nebraska was the better team. Beating Washington State by five while Nebraska destroyed the #3 Tennessee team is why the coaches voted for Nebraska. The media voted for Michigan, because they love to hype "The winningest Program In History!"

[@HiFi5280]

Nebraska got a 5th down before winning in ot to an unranked Missouri team. The both played Colorado and Baylor that year. Michigan beat CU 27-3 and Baylor 38-3 while Nebraska beat CU 27-24 and Baylor 49-21. It would be epic but I think Michigan wins that game

[@j_r_3404]

​@@HiFi5280 Nebraska did NOT get a 5th down... You're thinking of Mizzou and Colorado in 1990. You already proved you don't know what you're talking about.

[@StevenNeidlein]

Nebraska should of lost to both Missouri and Colorado you know that Colorado team michigan stomped also michigan played 5 ranked teams and had 1 of the hardest schedules in the nation along with the best defense in the nation drops mic 🎤

[@snakyYT]

​@@StevenNeidlein your forgetting one thing. Washington state was like 15th ranked team. Oh and Nebraska had a damn good offense and one of if not the best defense in 1997. We whopped Tennessee. Cant mic drop a statement that can be argued.

[@StevenNeidlein]

@@snakyYT MICHIGAN had the top ranked defense that year michigan was elite in 1997

[@brettjern3264]

So teams didn't even play a national championship until 1998?

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

Correct

[@brettjern3264]

@@MarkRogersVOCFB I knew something like that was going on when 3 teams won it in 1970. So in my opinion the only real national champions are from 1998 and after. Thanks for the reply.

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

@@brettjern3264 Of course. We produced a serious on disputed national championships. Here is one. I would like to hit a ton more. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIWvY6WOpbugn6M

[@jaretbray]

@@brettjern3264Nebraska won it 1970. OSU and Tennessee lost their bowl games.

[@mattjohnson2664]

There was nothing disputed about the 97 title. The coaches handed to their poll to Tom Osborne because he was retiring. Everybody knows they couldn't have beaten Michigan. They go lucky to even beat Missouri that year.

[@shawn-zx9xt]

You must have missed the end of the season.

[@mikeseibert4889]

Bro I would of picked Michigan to win the whole thing and if they had played Nebraska I think Michigan would of whooped there ass

[@StevenNeidlein]

LMAO what nebraska almost lost to mizz and colorado michigan rolled colorado that year 1997 Michigan All Pro- 11 Pro Bowls- 33 1997 Nebraska All Pro- 0 Pro Bowl- 1 also michigan was ranked # 1 in the AP poll

[@mikeseibert4889]

@@StevenNeidlein You idiot that's what I'm saying Michigan should have won the National Title outright not splitting it with f##king Nebraska and yea the year 1997

[@mikeseibert4889]

And I think the best team ever is the 2001 MIAMI HURRICANES!!!!!!!!!!

[@moonbot7613]

Can’t wait to hear all the Wal-Mart Wolverines reasoning. Nebraska would of won 42-28 in my opinion. Go rewatch the ass whooping Tennessee got and you’ll see the Huskers were rolling at the time.

[@bobhirdes6725]

That’s one fucking game you moron. Nebraska knew they had to thump Tennessee to even have a shot at slitting the title. Nebraska won the very biased coaches poll by two fucking points when coaches have biases. The real recognized associated press poll pulls a lot more weight and respect and National recognition. Nebraska would have NEVER scored 42 points vs Michigan and anyone who thinks that is a complete fool.

[@blankname6629]

That Michigan defense kicked everyone’s ass. The Michigan offense scored enough that they would have beaten Nebraska no doubt. I have a hard time believing that simple Nebraska offensive scheme would have been able to move the ball on that Michigan defensive front. That defense had like 7 future nfl players and I am not even including Charles Woodson in that count.

[@blankname6629]

@@bobhirdes6725 completely agree Michigan beats Nebraska by probably two tds in a low scoring affair probably 28-14 something like that

[@machineunit]

And what about Washingto who was averaging over 40 a game, Michigan held them to 16. And Michigan had waaaaay better wins against common opponents, Baylor and Colorado.

[@moonbot7613]

@@bobhirdes6725 WTF do voters in polls have to do with a head to head match up? How can you claim they NEVER would have scored 42 and how did you come to that? An average lowa team hung 24 on Michigan.

[@123slasher.16]

😂

[@benjamingoetz2085]

Anyone who thinks Michigan was the better team is out of their mind. Nebraska would have rolled them, just like they did to Tennessee

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

and 7-5 Mizzou? and 5-6 Colorado? and 5-6 UCF?

[@dannyhuskerjay]

@@MarkRogersVOCFBend of the season Nebraska beat Texas a&m 54-15 and Tennessee 42-17. Where Michigan was almost beat by Washington state. It’s how you play the final game of the season. Not in season games

[@StevenNeidlein]

Nebraska should of lost to both Missouri and Colorado you know that Colorado team michigan stomped also michigan played 5 ranked teams and had 1 of the hardest schedules in the nation along with the best defense in the nation drops mic 🎤

[@benjaminwatkins1305]

Peyton was robbed from that Heisman trophy no disrespect to Charles Woodson but everyone hates the VOLS go VOLS

[@blazingfire8225]

Lmao I’m sorry but how do you make this stupid of a pick. Just based on schedule and how dominant each team was, Nebraska absolutely clears. I’m pretty sure this d rider is a slight Michigan fan but I have no clue how you pick Michigan just because of the game against Missouri. That was your only point, Nebraska pretty much dominated everybody else except for Colorado who was #8 in the country at the time. And plus in the bowl games Nebraska dominated the #3 team In the country while Michigan had a “flukish” game against Ryan leaf lmao.

[@StevenNeidlein]

LMAO what nebraska almost lost to mizz and colorado clown michigan rolled colorado that year 1997 Michigan All Pro- 11 Pro Bowls- 33 1997 Nebraska All Pro- 0 Pro Bowl- 1 also michigan was ranked # 1 in the AP poll

[@jimbachman3344]

Nebraska destroyed Peyton Manning and Tennessee. Tennessee’s opponents finished 8-1 in bowl games. All but one was a blowout. Michigan’s opponents were 1-4 in bowl games. All blowout losses..

[@solrosenberg3803]

Nebraska lost to a 7-5 Missouri team. Your blathering is moot.

[@huskerdee1431]

Nebraska by a mile

[@bobhirdes6725]

No not Nebraska by a mile who needed a miracle deflection to stay unbeaten. Vs a 7-5 Missouri

[@huskerdee1431]

@@bobhirdes6725 Michigan also struggled against a 7-5 Iowa team, and Nebraska played a Conference championship game. The Nebraska pipeline would have handled the Wolverines in 1997 just like we handled Peyton Manning

[@bobhirdes6725]

@@huskerdee1431 no ignorant huskier fan, Michigan didn’t struggle and didn’t need a miracle deflated pass to save their unbeaten season. Michigan and Nebraska played two common opponents in 1997 season and without question Michigan beat Colorado and Baylor much more easily than Nebraska did. Colorado and Baylor didn’t even score a effing touchdown vs the Wolverines! You are blinded by your husked fandom and you won’t even listen to reason. Michigan would have beaten Nebraska because Michigan had the Superior defense period! Sit back, relax and sip on a cup of STFU!

[@StevenNeidlein]

@@huskerdee1431 LIES THAT MICHIGAN DEFENSE WOULD OF SHREDDED NEBRASKA

[@StevenNeidlein]

Nebraska should of lost to both Missouri and Colorado you know that Colorado team michigan stomped also michigan played 5 ranked teams and had 1 of the hardest schedules in the nation along with the best defense in the nation drops mic 🎤