The most consistent college football team over the last decade - actually for the last three decades - has been Nebraska. Two weeks ago the Cornhuskers became the third major college football team to collect 100 victories in a decade, and with three more victories they'll grab the wins-in-a-decade record.
With an 8-0 record this year, the Huskers have assured themselves of an NCAA record 28th consecutive winning season. They have won at least nine games every season in the `80s and have contests against Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma left, and a bowl bid after that. Nebraska has lost just 17 times in the `70s for a .857 winning percentage.Wins in three of those games would allow Nebraska to break the record for wins in a decade held by Alabama, which won 103 times in the '70s. The only other team to win 100 games in a decade was Oklahoma, which had 102 victories in the `70s.
Despite their glossy record the Cornhuskers have captured just one national title, and it came 18 years ago. And it's not going to be easy this year. The Cornhuskers would have to beat Colorado this week, Oklahoma Nov. 18 and someone like Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.
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COUGARS CLOSE TO 100: BYU can join the elite 100 club with two more victories this season. The Cougars have a record of 98-26 during the '80s and with five games remaining (counting a likely bowl game), they'll almost certainly pass the century mark.
The Cougars also have the distinction of playing the most games in the '80s. Assuming they go to a bowl game for the 12th consecutive year, they will have played in 129 games, an average of 12.9 games per year. Most colleges never play more than 12 games a year, but the Cougars played an extra game in Hawaii every year but two during the 80s and and also got an extra game in 1985 when they played in the Kickoff Classic.
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TOUGH DECADE: So how have the other local schools fared in the 1980s? Well, it's likely that all three of Utah's other major colleges will end up with losing records in the '80s.
Utah had a chance to move to .500 with a win last week but dropped to 53-55-3 after the loss to Colorado State. Now the only way the Utes can finish above .500 in the '80s is to win all three of their remaining games.
Weber State came into this year with a good chance to finish above .500, but with its 1-7 mark stands 51-58 with three games left. Utah State, with only one winning record in the decade (6-5 in 1980), is 39-66-1.
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TRIVIA QUIZ: Which college has the most victories of all time? (Hint: It's not Nebraska)
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STAGG FACTS: When Utah State plays Pacific Saturday night, they will be playing in the recently named Amos Alonzo Stagg Memorial Stadium. Just last year the university decided to name the stadium after the famous coach who ended his long career at Pacific.
One of the little-known facts about Stagg, who is second on the all-time major-college winning list behind Paul Bear Bryant, is that he had losing records in two of his three coaching stints.
At Springfield in 1890-91 he went 10-11-1, and in 14 years at Pacific he was 60-77-7. His fine record of victories was largely built on his record at Chicago - 244-111-27 from 1892-1932 - and his longevity (he coached 56 years until he was 84; he lived to be 103).
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TRIVIA ANSWER: It's Michigan with 693. Nebraska ranks 6th with 625 after Notre Dame, Texas, Alabama and Penn State.
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SATURDAY'S PICKS: A clean sweep for the locals?
BYU 32, Oregon 24 - The Cougars have a history of bouncing back after bad losses.
Utah State 24, Pacific 19 - The Aggies stay in Big West title contention - for one more week.
Weber State 27, Eastern Washington 23 - After a dismal season, the Wildcats are overdue for a victory.