Earlier on New Year's Day, the two top-ranked teams lost their bowl games: #1 Texas in the Cotton and #2 Ohio State in the Rose.
Ahead early, Nebraska rallied in the fourth quarter to win 17–12, capturing their first-ever National Championship.
On the final play of the third quarter, Buddy Lee threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Lance Chaffee to put LSU ahead 12–10.
[4][5][6][7] Undefeated Nebraska (11–0–1) was named national champion in the final AP poll, released after the bowls in January.
In the 1976 season opener at Baton Rouge, the top-ranked Cornhuskers escaped with a 6–6 tie after LSU's Mike Conway missed a 44-yard field goal in the closing seconds.