Steinkuhler attended the University of Nebraska, where he won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top offensive lineman, in 1983.
He is, along with fellow Nebraska Cornhuskers Rich Glover, Dave Rimington and Ndamukong Suh, one of only thirteen players to have won both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award.
Steinkuhler is also remembered for being the player who picked up quarterback Turner Gill's intentional fumble in the 1984 Orange Bowl and ran it 19 yards for a touchdown in a play dubbed the "Fumblerooski".
In 1999 Steinkuhler was selected as a third-team offensive guard by Sports Illustrated in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team".
The starters were Jim Parker of Ohio State and John Hannah of Alabama, the second-team consisted of Bob Suffridge of Tennessee and Bill Fischer of Notre Dame and the other third-team player was Aaron Taylor of Nebraska.
Steinkuhler was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers on this All-Century Team 85 man roster; the others being Glover, Johnny Rodgers, Rimington, Tommie Frazier and Taylor.