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Toughest opening games in our history

Crazyhole

All-American
Jun 4, 2004
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This has to be near or at the top. Maybe the Penn st opener in 1983 would be on the same level.
 
Wish we were at the same level now as then, would make for a big-time matchup today
 
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At #1 Alabama 1978
Damn, just looked at Alabama's 1978 schedule:

They opened with three ranked opponents: vs. #10 Nebraska (W 20-3), at #11 Missouri (W 38-20), and vs. #7 USC (L 14-24).

That Missouri team would finish 8-4, but caused all sorts of heartbreak for our Huskers after we had beaten Oklahoma.

Strange days, too, when they played half their games in Birmingham instead of Tuscaloosa.

Alabama won the national title that season (partially thanks to us beating #1 Oklahoma and then Missouri beating us) with a win over #1 Penn State in the Sugar Bowl. USC would finish #2 in the polls, Oklahoma #3, Penn State #4.

Fun to look back on this history, thanks for the topic!
 
Damn, just looked at Alabama's 1978 schedule:

They opened with three ranked opponents: vs. #10 Nebraska (W 20-3), at #11 Missouri (W 38-20), and vs. #7 USC (L 14-24).

That Missouri team would finish 8-4, but caused all sorts of heartbreak for our Huskers after we had beaten Oklahoma.

Strange days, too, when they played half their games in Birmingham instead of Tuscaloosa.

Alabama won the national title that season (partially thanks to us beating #1 Oklahoma and then Missouri beating us) with a win over #1 Penn State in the Sugar Bowl. USC would finish #2 in the polls, Oklahoma #3, Penn State #4.

Fun to look back on this history, thanks for the topic!

I believe USC split the National title with Gump..
 
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