After being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999, Osborne was elected to Congress in 2000 from Nebraska's third district as a Republican.

Osborne was named Devaney's successor in 1973, and over the next 25 years established himself as one of the best coaches in college football history with his trademark I-formation offense and revolutionary strength, conditioning, and nutrition programs.

Osborne's first job at the university was counselor in the Selleck Quadrangle, where he oversaw a floor of freshmen football players.

Nebraska defeated LSU 17–12 in the Orange Bowl on New Year's night and finished first in the post-bowl AP Poll.

Nebraska won the national title again in 1971, becoming the first champion ever to defeat the next three teams in the final AP Poll (Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alabama).

Devaney stepped down as head coach after the 1972 season to concentrate on his duties as athletic director, and named Osborne his successor.

Using Osborne's trademark I-form option, Nebraska led the nation in rushing several times in the 1980s and 1990s, due to the efforts of players like Jarvis Redwine, Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier, Calvin Jones, Ahman Green, and Lawrence Phillips.

5 Miami to cut the Hurricanes' lead to 31–30, but rather than kick the extra point to tie (which would have won the national title for NU), Osborne opted to attempt the two-point conversion and go for the win.

However, Gill's pass attempt was tipped away in the end zone, giving hometown Miami the victory and their first national championship.

After Florida State drove to retake the lead 18–16, Nebraska hit a quick downfield pass to get one last field goal attempt as time ran out, which sailed wide.

The next year, Osborne finally earned his first title as head coach, defeating Miami in the Orange Bowl.

The next year, the Cornhuskers roared through the regular season, winning every game by at least 14 points and shattering offensive records.

[4] Osborne announced his retirement late in the 1997 season, selecting longtime I-backs coach Frank Solich to succeed him.

The stadium nearly doubled in size during his three decades on NU's coaching staff, a reflection of Nebraska's increased national prominence in that time.

Osborne was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.

Osborne appointed himself interim head coach so that he could perform recruiting duties while remaining in compliance with NCAA rules.

On December 19, Nebraska removed the interim tag from Osborne's title and announced he would remain athletic director through June 30, 2010.

[22] Osborne officially resigned on January 2, 2013, after returning to Lincoln with the football team following their participation in the Capital One Bowl.

[27] The Lincoln Journal Star analyzed the race: While Osborne captured populous Omaha and Lincoln, Heineman sealed his victory in rural counties and key population centers in western and central Nebraska's critical Republican battleground ... it was the political impact of two gubernatorial vetoes that appeared to lift [Heineman] into a late surge, especially in Osborne's congressional district.

Heineman's opposition to Class I rural school reorganization and the granting of resident college tuition rates to the children of illegal immigrants cut into Osborne's support.