The final game of the 1972–73 bowl season, it matched the ninth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Big Eight Conference and the independent #12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, led by their respective hall of fame coaches, Bob Devaney and Ara Parseghian.
I-back Rodgers then found split end Frosty Anderson for a 52-yard touchdown pass and the Huskers led 20–0 at halftime.
Notre Dame finally managed six points on a touchdown from Tom Clements to Pete Demmerle against the Husker reserves to avoid a shutout.
[4][7] Although 1972 was a letdown season after two consecutive national championships,[11] the Huskers were the first to three-peat in the Orange Bowl and vaulted to fourth in the final AP poll at 9–2–1.
The final UPI coaches poll was released in early December, prior to the bowls, and had the Huskers ninth.