UCLA vs Nebraska 1972
The UCLA-Nebraska football rivalry is a historically competitive and intermittent series, with 14 meetings spanning from 1946 to 2024. Both teams have enjoyed periods of dominance, splitting the series evenly with seven wins each. Memorable moments include UCLA's stunning upset over top-ranked Nebraska in 1972, ending the Cornhuskers' 32-game unbeaten streak, and Nebraska's commanding victories in the mid-1980s, including a 42-3 win in 1984.
The rivalry reignited in recent decades with exciting matchups, such as UCLA's 2012 and 2013 victories showcasing high-powered offenses and Nebraska's triumph in the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl.
In 2021 UCLA accepted an invitation to the Big Ten Conference begging in 2024 they would meet Nebraska again, but this time in Big Ten play. In the 2024 match up UCLA narrowly defeated Nebraska 27-20 in Lincoln, further cementing the rivalry's future in the Big Ten Conference.
Game results[]
| Date | Location | Winner | Score | Notable Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30, 1946 | Los Angeles, CA | UCLA | 18-0 | First meeting between the two teams. |
| Sep 19, 1953 | Lincoln, NE | Nebraska | 32-7 | Nebraska evens the series with a decisive win. |
| Sep 18, 1965 | Lincoln, NE | Nebraska | 42-3 | Nebraska dominates with a strong offensive performance. |
| Sep 17, 1966 | Los Angeles, CA | UCLA | 14-10 | UCLA edges out Nebraska in a close game. |
| Sep 9, 1972 | Los Angeles, CA | UCLA | 20-17 | UCLA upsets #1 ranked Nebraska, ending their 32-game unbeaten streak. |
| Sep 29, 1973 | Lincoln, NE | UCLA | 9-6 | Defensive battle with UCLA securing a narrow victory. |
| Sep 10, 1977 | Lincoln, NE | Nebraska | 17-13 | Nebraska rebounds with a win at home. |
| Sep 23, 1978 | Los Angeles, CA | Nebraska | 42-10 | Nebraska's offense overwhelms UCLA. |
| Sep 24, 1983 | Lincoln, NE | Nebraska | 42-10 | Nebraska continues its winning streak against UCLA. |
| Sep 22, 1984 | Pasadena, CA | Nebraska | 42-3 | Nebraska's largest margin of victory in the series. |
| Sep 8, 2012 | Pasadena, CA | UCLA | 36-30 | UCLA wins in a high-scoring affair. |
| Sep 14, 2013 | Lincoln, NE | UCLA | 41-21 | UCLA secures a road victory with a strong second half. |
| † Dec 26, 2015 | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA (Foster Farms Bowl) | Nebraska | 37-29 | Nebraska wins the bowl game despite a 5-7 season record. |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Lincoln, NE | UCLA | 27-20 | UCLA's Kain Medrano returns an interception for a touchdown; Ethan Garbers throws for two touchdowns. |
† Postseason (Foster Farms Bowl)