Lyndon B. Johnson was president, anti-Vietnam rallies raged across the nation and O.J. Simpson was setting NCAA rushing records at Southern Cal. The year was 1968, and Nebraska’s football team lost its homecoming game.

It has since collected 30 consecutive homecoming triumphs, the last three being shutouts.

The team’s innumerable records, five national championships — 300 straight weeks ranked in the AP football poll and 30 straight bowl appearances — attest to one thing: Nebraska is one of the very few perennially elite college football teams.

So it is that Iowa State’s resurgent program rumbles into Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, daring to believe — in light of Nebraska’s historical supremacy — that they can vanquish the Huskers, tradition and ghosts of second halves past.

“They believed they could play with them, and they believe they can play with anybody,” Nebraska head coach Frank Solich said of the Cyclones. “If anything, I think the [Kansas State] game increased their confidence.”

Last Saturday’s 38-14 demolition of Oklahoma State did little to tarnish the Huskers’ gleaming image. At halftime, the Cowboys had eked out a meager 44 yards rushing and failed to complete a pass, falling behind 31-0.

Both of Oklahoma State’s touchdowns came in the final six minutes of the game.

“Defensively, we’ve been pretty steady,” Solich said. “Last week’s fourth quarter is not indicative of how they’ve played.”

Sophomore quarterback Eric Crouch helms a talented but inconsistent Husker offense that starts strong but fades as the game wears on.

Crouch wrested the starting job from highly-touted junior Bobby Newcombe in the third game of the season and leads the Huskers in rushing, passing and total offense.

“Eric is one of the top players in the conference in terms of touchdowns produced,” Solich said.

Crouch was particularly impressive a week ago, generating 206 yards in total offense and two touchdowns.

“There are a lot of things I can improve on,” Crouch said. “But I think last week was one of the best games I’ve ever had.”

Newcombe, a pre-season Heisman Trophy contender, has since voluntarily moved to wingback. He remains the team’s back-up quarterback.

“Bobby gets stronger every game,” Solich said.

Junior Correll Buckhalter splits time with junior Dan Alexander at “I-back.” Against Iowa State, Solich plans to try Alexander at the fullback position as well.

“[Starting fullback] Willie Brown’s playing well, but he’s been banged up a little bit,” Solich said. “There’s no question Dan Alexander will block you as well as anyone in the country.”

Crouch’s favorite aerial target, sophomore tight end Tracey Wistrom, is the team’s chief big-play receiver and averages 31.2 yards per reception. Junior split end Matt Davison has snared 12 passes for 165 yards.

“Tracey’s making unbelievable catches,” Crouch said. “He pretty much catches anything in his vicinity.”

Senior “rover” (safety) Mike Brown leads the team in tackles with 35 and anchors a solid defense that ranks third (tied with Minnesota) nationally. Junior linebacker Carlos Polk has tallied 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks and senior linebacker Julius Jackson leads the team with three interceptions.

With all the apparent success and superlative talent, the Huskers have still struggled at times. On the surface, Nebraska appears invulnerable, but scratching away the veneer reveals some flaws and imperfections.

The Huskers held a wobbly 7-0 lead against Iowa at halftime, sputtering against an anemic Hawkeye squad that struggles mightily just to get first downs.

A lackluster offensive effort allowed upstart Southern Mississippi to take the Huskers to the wire, 20-13. Nebraska managed a relatively paltry 185 yards of total offense and were literally rescued by the defense.

Also troubling to Nebraska’s coaches and players was Oklahoma State’s second half rushing total of 143 yards.

Mental mistakes, penalties and poor tackling plagued the Huskers in the fourth quarter, and they can ill afford such breakdowns against an Iowa State ground attack that leads the nation at 328.3 yards per game.

“We’ve not shown that we’re as disciplined as we need to be,” Solich said.

The Huskers, to a man, had nothing but praise for Iowa State. The Cyclones possess great quickness, improved athletes and an offensive line that is “very good and very big,” Solich said.

“They’re probably the best all-around team we’ve faced up to this point,” Solich said. “It will be a struggle to do a lot of things effectively.”

The Huskers’ primary concern, according to Solich, Crouch and Brown, is the nation’s leading rusher, Darren Davis.

“Without question, he’s one of the best in the country,” Solich said. “He may be the best in the country.”

Davis or not, Brown believes the Huskers’ defense will rise to the occasion.

“We want to come in and establish every week that you’re not going to be able to run on us,” he said. “This defense is always ready.”

Mutual respect and good-natured challenges aside, the Huskers evince a pure confidence that can at once charm and intimidate.

On Saturday night, the Cyclones, with all their raw emotion, hunger and fledgling confidence, will show college football if they’re merely jousting with windmills or upsetting the balance of power.