Miami Hurricanes Football: Five most important games in 2015

Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

5. Nebraska at Miami – September 19

Miami and Nebraska have a history that dates back to 1951, but it wouldn’t become an intense rivalry until the 1984 Orange Bowl, a game that would decide that year’s national champion. The Cornhuskers were the overwhelming favorite in that game, armed with their offense that averaged 50 points a game, they were expected to win handily. It didn’t turn out that way, Nebraska ended up losing the game 31-30 after a failed two point conversion in one of the most memorable games in college football history.

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Miami and Nebraska would spend the better part of the next decade slugging it out in games that would often hold national title implications. The Cornhuskers would get revenge for the 1984 bowl game in 1994, beating Miami in the Orange Bowl to win the championship. That game was considered a breakthrough game for Nebraska, they went on the win the national title in 1995 and 1997. Miami would beat Nebraska in 2002 to seal the deal on an undefeated season and another national championship.

Last year, the Cornhuskers ranked in the top 20 in both rushing offense and scoring offense. Miami was middle of the pack in terms of both scoring offense and points allowed by the defense, they’ll need to be better to stand a chance against Nebraska in their first test of the season.

Next: Florida State