2005

Alamo Bowl Presented by Master Card | Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Nebraska 32 vs. #20 Michigan 28

Attendance: 62,016
TV Rating: 5.4
Team Payout: $3,300,000 combined

Offensive MVP: Cory Ross, RB, Nebraska
Defensive MVP: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
Sportsmanship Winner: Steve Breaston, WR, Michigan

Head Coaches: Nebraska: Bill Callahan, Michigan: Lloyd Carr
Final Records: Nebraska 8-4, Michigan 7-5

Game Recap

The No. 20 Michigan Wolverines nearly pulled off the improbable against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 2005 MasterCard Alamo Bowl.

Down by four with two seconds remaining, Michigan made a bid for one of the most exciting final plays in college bowl history. Michigan quarterback Chad Henne completed a short pass that started a chain of eight laterals and a near miracle. Coaches and players from both teams made their way onto the field mid-play thinking the game had ended as Michigan’s Tyler Ecker caught the eighth lateral and scampered up the sideline toward the end zone.

Nebraska cornerback Titus Brothers never quit on the play and knocked Ecker out of bounds at the Nebraska 13-yard line to secure the Cornhuskers’ 32-28 victory.

The national television broadcast of the 2005 MasterCard Alamo Bowl earned a 5.41 rating making it the most-watched college football game in ESPN history at the time.

Husker running back Corey Ross earned Offensive MVP honors for his 161 rushing yards, while Michigan cornerback Leon Hall was named Defensive MVP for his two interceptions and four tackles. Hall is the only Alamo Bowl player to be selected as MVP from a losing team.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

NEB: Nunn 52-yd pass from Taylor (Congdon kick)
MICH: Ecker 13-yd pass from Henne (Rivas kick)

Second Quarter

MICH: Massey 16-yd pass from Henne (Rivas kick)
NEB: Swift 14-yd pass from Taylor (Congdon kick)

Third Quarter

NEB: Congdon 20-yd FG
MICH: Manningham 21-yd pass from Henne (Rivas kick)

Fourth Quarter

MICH: Henne 7-yd run (Rivas kick)
NEB: Ross 31-yd run (Peterson pass from Taylor)
NEB: Nunn 13-yd pass from Taylor (Congdon kick)

Team Stats

Category	Michigan	Nebraska
First Downs	23	16
Net Yards Rushing/Att.	130/42	151/37
Net Yards Passing	270	167
Comp-Att-Int	21-43-1	14-31-2
Total Offense Plays	85	68
Total Net Yards	400	318
Avg. Gain Per Play	4.7	4.7
Possession Time	31:21	28:39
Third-Down Conv.	5/7 (29%)	4/16 (25%)

Individual Stats

Rushing (Att-Yds)

MICH: Hart 19-74; Henne 13-38; Grady 5-17; Bass 3-4
NEB: Ross 28-161; Lucky 1-3

Passing (Comp-Att-Int, Yds)

MICH: Henne 21-43-1, 270
NEB: Taylor 14-32-2, 167

Receiving (Rec-Yds)

MICH: Avant 8-71; Manningham 3-28; Bass 3-24; Hart 2-35; Massey 2-18
NEB: Nunn 4-91; Swift 3-31; Hardy 3-27; Ross 3-8