Well before researching a bunch for the game I created, I recalled UM's run defense being THE big deal in '97. While it was very very very good, the pass defense was the super-elite aspect of it, and if they payed Nebraska, especially '97 Nebraska, that pass D would become virtually meaningless.
As I've stated previously, when UNL finally "broke through" and started winning the big bowl games, it was against very good defenses which were strongest vs the pass. '94 Miami and '95 Florida are examples. '97 Michigan, in the game that never was, would have been another example.