Washington arrived in Lincoln in late September 1998 ranked ninth in the Associated Press poll and left with a reminder of what Nebraska looked like at full speed. The second-ranked Huskers rolled to a 55-7 win, the kind of lopsided result that even Washington coach Jim Lambright couldn’t help but admire afterward.
“It was Nebraska. It was colored red,” Lambright said. “That was a very impressive win from a team that, under Frank Solich, is just right in step with (Bob) Devaney and (Tom) Osborne.”
For Solich, that kind of praise had to land exactly the way he wanted. Nebraska had never beaten a top-10 opponent by 48 points before, and it did it in front of 76,372 fans without scoring in the fourth quarter. Backup fullback Willie Miller finished off the Huskers’ eighth touchdown, a 1-yard run with 6 seconds left in the third period.
Nebraska barely needed its passing game. The Huskers attempted only nine throws, eight by Bobby Newcombe and one by Monte Christo, while pounding out 434 rushing yards on 68 carries.
The final total: 527 yards of offense. “my all-time low, I think,” Solich said. “We really didn’t have to throw that many passes.
It’s always difficult for a receiver to not get the ball thrown his way, but when you’re hustling downfield and blocking like ours did today, then you have the chance at big plays.”
The ground game got a major boost from the return of Newcombe and I-back DeAngelo Evans. Newcombe had missed two games with a knee injury suffered in the opener, while Evans hadn’t played since the 1996 Big 12 Championship Game after a pelvic injury that required two surgeries, then a knee sprain that knocked him out of fall camp and Nebraska’s first three games.
Evans looked like a difference-maker immediately. He ran 13 times for 146 yards and three touchdowns. Newcombe added 79 yards and three scores on 14 carries, and I-back Correll Buckhalter also found the end zone on the ground.
Nebraska set the tone on its opening possession, when Newcombe capped an 11-play, 82-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. He completed the only pass on the series, a 12-yarder to split end Matt Davison. On the Huskers’ next possession, Evans ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run on the first play, his fourth carry of the game.
The offensive line drew its share of credit too. “I was certainly pleased with the job the offensive line did, blocking up front,” Solich said.
Defensively, Nebraska kept piling on. Defensive tackle Jason Wiltz, back from injury himself, intercepted a Brock Huard pass and returned it 22 yards to set up Evans’ second touchdown late in the first quarter, a 14-yard run.
Evans scored again 4 minutes into the second quarter on a 19-yard run, and Buckhalter added a 3-yard touchdown before Washington finally got on the board. By halftime, Nebraska was ahead 35-7.
The Huskers’ defense did plenty of damage beyond the scoreboard, holding Washington to 273 total yards, including 97 on the ground. Wiltz, rover Joe Walker and rush end Chad Kelsay all had interceptions. Kelsay, linebacker Eric Johnson and defensive tackle Loran Kaiser recorded sacks, while nose tackle Steve Warren and cornerbacks Erwin Swiney and Khari Reynolds recovered fumbles.
Solich used 103 players in improving to 4-0 in his first season as head coach. Nebraska stayed No. 2 in the AP poll behind preseason No.
1 Ohio State. Washington slipped to 20th, then fell out of the rankings after a 31-38 loss to Arizona, and finished the season 6-6.
Going into the game, Solich said the goal was confidence. The Huskers got it, and then some, with Newcombe and Evans back in the mix.
In Other News...
Tony Whites Rough Start Is Changing How Nebraska Fans See His Exit
Tony Whites first season away from Nebraska has not gone the way he or Florida State hoped, and the early returns have only made his old stop in Lincoln look better in hindsight. The Seminoles have struggled defensively in 2026, giving up plenty of yardage and points in recent games, and the criticism has followed White as the unit has failed to settle in.
A rough sequence of performances, including one particularly odd moment against SMU that spread quickly on social media, has only sharpened the contrast for Nebraska fans. With Rob Aurich now in place as the Cornhuskers new defensive coordinator, the bar is clear - Nebraska is trying to build on what White left behind, even as his exit is looking a little different now than it did when he first walked out the door. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Is Testing How Safe Nebraskas 2026 Class Really Is
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For Nebraska, the encouraging part is that Florida State has not made much headway so far. Demontagnac did not make the visit he was expected to take, while Aliu has been to Tallahassee but is still pledged to the Huskers. Hill remains in the picture too, which means this is less a finished battle than an early test of how sturdy Nebraskas class really is. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Brings A Quarterback Edge Bowling Green's Numbers Can't Explain
Anthony Colandrea gave Nebraska a clean, efficient afternoon in its 49-21 win over Ohio, finishing 18 of 32 for 275 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He added 23 rushing yards and another score, and the overall performance drew an 84.3 Pro Football Focus grade, the kind of outing that helps steady an offense and keep the Cornhuskers on schedule.
Bowling Greens Jay Kastantin posted a very different line in the Falcons 20-13 loss to Tarleton State, completing 24 of 30 passes for 262 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The raw numbers were solid enough, but his 61.8 PFF grade points to a gap Nebraska will be watching closely as it looks to press any advantage at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]