Notre Dame opened with four wins, but lost by four points to Missouri at home. In the regular season finale, the Irish lost 45–23 at rivalUSC, the eventual national champion. It was Notre Dame's first appearance in the Orange Bowl.
The two-time defending national champion Cornhuskers started the season top-ranked, but were upset by a late field goal in the opener, late at night at UCLA. They later tied Iowa State on the road and lost 17–14 to rivalOklahoma at home, their first loss on artificial turf. Nebraska was appearing in their third consecutive Orange Bowl.[2]
Ninth-ranked Nebraska was favored by two touchdowns.[1] The programs had last matched up over 24 years earlier, in October 1948.[2]
Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers scored on an 8-yard touchdown run as Nebraska took the lead. In the second quarter, Gary Dixon scored from a yard out to increase the score to 14–0. I-back Rodgers then found split end Frosty Anderson for a 52-yard touchdown pass and the Huskers led 20–0 at halftime.[4][7]
In the third quarter, Rodgers scored on runs of four and five yards as Nebraska built a 33–0 lead. Quarterback Dave Humm threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Rodgers as Nebraska led 40–0 after three quarters. Notre Dame finally managed six points on a touchdown from Tom ClementstoPete Demmerle against the Husker reserves to avoid a shutout.[4][7]
Although 1972 was a letdown season after two consecutive national championships,[11] the Huskers were the first to three-peat in the Orange Bowl and vaulted to fourth in the final AP pollat9–2–1. Rodgers scored four touchdowns and threw for another in his final collegiate game, and sat out the final twenty minutes. The final UPI coaches poll was released in early December, prior to the bowls, and had the Huskers ninth.
The 1972 season also was the only three-loss season in Parseghian's eleven years at Notre Dame and they fell to fourteenth in the final AP poll; the Irish rebounded in 1973 to finish 11–0 and win the national championship.
