Oct. 15, 1994

No one could have conceived in August 1994 that Nebraska’s national title hopes would rest on the shoulders of 5-foot-11 walk-on quarterback Matt Turman.

But that’s exactly what happened on Oct. 15, 1994, when the former Bishop Neumann standout made the only start of his Husker career.

Coming into the season, Turman was third on the depth chart. But Tommie Frazier was sidelined because of blood clots, and his backup, Brook Berringer, had suffered a collapsed lung the week before against Oklahoma State.

So Turman got the start against the 16th-ranked Wildcats in Manhattan, Kansas. It wasn’t flashy, and he mainly handed the ball to Lawrence Phillips, but the No. 2 Huskers won 17-6 and continued their quest for a national championship.

“Coming down here, I thought it (a win) was a 50-50 proposition,” NU coach Tom Osborne said.

— Julie Koch