The Nov. 1961 day Nebraska didn't make a first-down

If Iowa can play defense against Nebraska Friday in Memorial Stadium the way Colorado did 50 Novembers ago, the Hawkeyes will shock the world.

On Nov. 18, 1961, the Colorado Buffaloes played the Cornhuskers in Lincoln. Nebraska lost, 7-0. It had 33 total yards. And zero first-downs.

The only reason the game was close on the scoreboard is because the Buffaloes lost four fumbles and missed three field goals. Colorado got inside the Nebraska 38-yard line on six different drives without scoring. The game was played in a wet snow storm. The field was a mud pit. This is a pretty good snippet from Huskermax.com:

According to the Denver Post, the stadium caretaker complained to NU coach Bill Jennings before the game that the coach should never allow any practice sessions on the stadium turf. “Which do you want, a good football team or a good field?” Jennings asked. The groundskeeper's retort: “It's a hell of a note when you don't have either one.”

Not-so-good football times in Nebraska. The Huskers lost to Oklahoma 21-14 the following week to end the season 3-6-1, and Bill Jennings' era as coach was over. The good times began the following season and went on and on and on. Bob Devaney replaced Jennings. Nebraska went 9-2 in '62, with a 36-34 win over Miami in New York's Gotham Bowl.

The Huskers proceeded to have winning seasons every year up to 2002, and have an all-time record of 855-348-41.