▁Sch edule ▁ ▁R oster ▁and ▁co aching ▁staff ▁ ▁Game ▁summar ies ▁ ▁Louisiana ▁Te ch ▁ ▁U AB ▁ ▁California ▁ ▁Washington ▁ ▁Oklahoma ▁State ▁ ▁Texas ▁A & M ▁ ▁Kansas ▁ ▁Missouri ▁ ▁Texas ▁ ▁Iowa ▁State ▁ ▁Kansas ▁State ▁ ▁Colorado ▁ ▁Arizona ▁ ▁Rank ings ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁season ▁First - year ▁Head ▁Co ach ▁Sol ich ▁was ▁new ▁to ▁the ▁job ▁title ▁but ▁still ▁in ▁his ▁element , ▁after ▁having ▁served ▁as ▁an ▁assistant ▁in ▁varying ▁capac ities ▁with ▁Neb r aska ▁since ▁ 1 9 7 5 . ▁Sol ich ▁completed ▁his ▁inaug ural ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁final ▁record ▁of ▁ 9 – 4 ▁( 5 – 3 ), ▁after ▁having ▁lost ▁much ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁national ▁championship ▁team ' s ▁talent ▁to ▁gradu ation . ▁ ▁Non eth eless , ▁Neb r aska ▁finished ▁tied ▁for ▁ 2 nd ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁Big ▁ 1 2 ▁North ▁Division , ▁and ▁tied ▁for ▁ 4 th ▁conference - wide . ▁ ▁The ▁season ▁was ▁concluded ▁by ▁# 1 4 ▁Neb r aska ▁falling ▁to ▁# 5 ▁Arizona ▁ 2 0 – 2 3 ▁at ▁the ▁Hol iday ▁Bowl . ▁ ▁Awards ▁ ▁NFL ▁and ▁pro ▁players ▁The ▁following ▁Neb r aska ▁players ▁who ▁participated ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁season ▁later ▁moved ▁on ▁to ▁the ▁next ▁level ▁and ▁joined ▁a ▁professional ▁or ▁semi - pro ▁team ▁as ▁d raf te es ▁or ▁free ▁agents . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Neb