PHOENIX - Top-ranked Nebraska had its 26-game winning streak snapped Saturday night in a shocking 19-0 loss to No. 17 Arizona State on the same field where the Cornhuskers won their second straight national championship in January.
The Sun Devils, routed by the Cornhuskers 77-28 last season, recorded three safeties in handing the Cornhuskers their first defeat since losing the 1994 Orange Bowl to Florida State.
It was Nebraska's first shutout since a 22-0 loss to Miami in the 1992 Orange Bowl, and its first regular-season loss since dropping a 19-10 decision to Iowa State on November 14, 1992.
It also was just the second regular-season shutout during coach Tom Osborne's 24-year tenure at Nebraska. Oklahoma beat the Huskers 27-0 in 1973, Osborne's first year as head coach in Lincoln.
Nebraska (1-1), which opened the season with a 55-14 win over Michigan State, committed three turnovers against Arizona State, which was a 24-point underdog.
Arizona State (3-0) pulled off the huge upset before a capacity crowd of 74,089 on a 91-degree night when the university honored former coach Frank Kush, who led the Sun Devils to undefeated seasons in 1970 and 1975. The Sun Devils capped their 1975 season by beating Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl, where the Cornhuskers won the national title last season by beating Florida 62-24.
In one the most anticipated games in Southeastern Conference history, the Gators (3-0) dominated from the outset, and the Volunteers (2-1) didn't have much of a chance despite shutting down Florida in the second half and making it close at the end.
Wuerffel had touchdown passes of 35, 10, 5 and 15 yards in the first 20 minutes, while Peyton Manning had an unthinkable four first-half interceptions. Manning came back strongly and completed 37-of-65 passes for 492 yards - all school records - and four touchdowns. Wuerffel was 11-of-22 for 155 yards.
After building a 35-6 halftime lead, the Gators allowed the Vols to come back as Manning threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Andy McCullough in the third period, and added fourth-quarter scores of 3 yards to Eric Lane with 8:01 left and 14 yards to McCullough with 10 seconds remaining. But Manning's first-half interceptions gave the Gators all they needed.
The game appeared headed to overtime, but Texas punter Mark Schultis squibbed a 22-yard punt that gave Notre Dame (3-0) the ball at its 43 with 59 seconds left. Autry Denson ran for 22 yards nd Ron Powlus hit Malcolm Johnson with an 11-yard strike to set up Sanson's kick.
Texas (2-1) led 24-17 and had momentum, but Notre Dame linebacker Lyron Cobbins intercepted a pass by James Brown that was tipped by Irish linebacker Kory Minor.
The turnover gave Notre Dame the ball at the Texas 34 with 6:47 left. The Irish had a first down at the Texas 4, but the Longhorns held and a Notre Dame offsides penalty forced a fourth-and-goal from the 6.
Notre Dame called an option play and Denson out-raced Texas linebacker Tyson King into the end zone, tying the game at 24-24 with 2:54 to play.
Prior to Cobbins' interception, the only turnover of the game, Texas was riding the inspired defensive play and the running of Ricky Williams.