Yes, Virginia, There Once Was A (Virtual) Playoff, and Nebraska Won It

Many college football fans would prefer a post-season multi-team NCAA-managed playoff, rather than our current two-team BCS National Championship Game.  Some of us likely will survive to see that preference come to pass.

But others of us, those who have seen already the passing of dozens of seasons, may have to look to the past rather than the future to get a glimpse of a top-level college football playoff.

There once was a time when, through the coincidences of scheduling and the flexibility of the old bowl system, it just so happened that there was what amounted to a five-team playoff for the top spot of college football.  That time was 1971.

A quick glance back might give us an inkling of the excitement that may come from future playoffs, real ones.  In 1971, two of the five virtual playoff teams came from the old Big Eight Conference: Oklahoma and Nebraska.  The other three were all members of the Southeastern Conference: Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama.

In mid-November 1971, all five of these squads were undefeated and untied, and the following games were yet to be played:

Auburn - Georgia

Auburn - Alabama

Nebraska - Oklahoma

Auburn - Oklahoma

Alabama - Nebraska

That set of five games, especially when seen in the rearview mirror, amounted to a virtual playoff.

Actually, in 1971, seven major-college teams reached November with perfect records.  The other two were Michigan and Penn State, neither of which played any of the five named above.  But Penn State and Michigan would lose, to Tennessee and Stanford respectively, making moot their non-participation in the virtual playoff.

The 1971 virtual playoff began, we realize now, on Nov. 13.  Coach Shug Jordan's undefeated Auburn Tigers travelled to Athens and won against the previously-undefeated Georgia Bulldogs of Coach Vince Dooley. 

Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan threw for four touchdowns, thereby taking a giant step toward the 1971 Heisman Trophy.  Auburn thus moved to a virtual semifinal game against Alabama, which had a virtual bye.

On Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day, the first game of the virtual semifinal round was played in Norman, Okla.  Coach Bob Devaney's undefeated and defending national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers eliminated Coach Chuck Fairbanks' previously-undefeated Oklahoma Sooners, 35-31. 

In what is widely regarded as one of the best college football games ever, Cornhusker offensive coordinator Tom Osborne's I-formation outscored Sooner offensive coordinator Barry Switzer's wishbone. 

There were performances perhaps Heisman-worthy by Nebraska flanker Johnny Rodgers and Oklahoma running back Greg Pruitt, but the Heisman voting had already closed. 

Rodgers would win a Heisman during the following season, 1972.  As Big 8 champion, Nebraska went to the Orange Bowl.  Oklahoma accepted a Sugar Bowl bid.

The other virtual semifinal game, on the SEC side of the bracket, was played in Birmingham on Nov. 27 between Coach Bear Bryant's undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide and Coach Shug Jordan's undefeated Auburn Tigers.

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