The last time Nebraska started a season 1-3 was in 1957. It was Bill Jennings first year as head coach; the same Jennings who would be fired so that Bob Devaney could take over, finish with a head coaching career of 15-34-1, and the same Jennings who's most famous line was thus:
There is a desire in this state to do something big, like elect a President. But you can't feed the ego of the state of Nebraska with a football team.
The 1957 team finished with a 1-9 record, the worst record in school history.