LINCOLN, NE — The University of Nebraska is officially recognizing its 1915 football team as national champions, solidifying a legendary season in program history. The decision is based on the team’s dominant performance and the historical context of college football during that era.
Prior to the modern BCS and College Football Playoff systems, national championships were often considered «mythical,» determined by various selectors and media polls.
The 1915 Cornhuskers, coached by the legendary E.J. «Jumbo» Stiehm, have a compelling and long-standing claim to the title. Contemporary sports editor Cy Sherman of the Lincoln Star declared the team «the champion football team of Uncle Sam’s domain,» a statement that has stood as a testament to their on-field superiority.
The 1915 Huskers, also known as the «Stiehm Rollers,» finished the season with a perfect 8–0 record. They overwhelmed their opponents by an average score of 35–5, and their season was highlighted by a significant 20–19 victory over a formidable Notre Dame team.
This remarkable season was part of an even larger 34-game unbeaten streak that the program maintained from 1912 to 1916.
The team’s success was anchored by star player Guy Chamberlain, a native of Blue Springs, Nebraska. Chamberlain was a consensus All-American and went on to become a member of both the College and Professional Football Hall of Fame, a rare and prestigious achievement.
The recognition of the 1915 national championship honors a team and a coach who laid a foundation for Nebraska’s enduring football legacy.