kickoff classic

Starting as a preseason bowl game at Giants Stadium in 1983, the Kickoff Classic aimed to match the previous season’s national champion team against new season’s no. 1 ranked college team (or at least a highly ranked opponent). The ambitious formula was achieved in year 1. The game was played before 71,000 fans as top-ranked Nebraska crushed the 1982 champion Penn State Nittany Lions, 44-6. But a pair of ridiculous remarks by Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer built skepticism among coaches that an extra game was wearing down participating squads. The Kickoff Classic was never quite the same again.