Los Angeles — Frank Solich knew quickly that Miami was just too fast.
"We have speed, but we don't have Miami speed," Nebraska's coach said Friday. "I don't know of any other team in the country that has that kind of speed offensively or defensively."
Solich's Cornhuskers could not keep up with the Hurricanes in the Rose Bowl on Thursday night, when Miami beat Nebraska, 37-14, to win its fifth national title.
Nebraska finished a season with consecutive losses for the first time in 11 years.
"We've got a lot of things we need to work on and a lot of things we need to get better at," junior defensive end Chris Kelsay said. "It's just too bad that it's too late now. This year is over. It's done with."
Nebraska was routed by Colorado, 62-36, in its final regular-season game, then was out of the Rose Bowl by halftime as Miami built a 34-0 lead.
"I thought for the most part we were really pleased with their production, what they got done and how they went about things for many of the games," Solich said. "There were a couple there that just kind of blew up on us."
Nebraska (11-2) would have won at least a share of the national title with a win over the Hurricanes (12-0). Instead the Huskers finished at No. 8, the same as last year's team, which went 10-2.
Solich spent the month before the Rose Bowl defending the Huskers' right to be playing for a title. On Friday, he backed off.
"Were we a good enough football team to win a national championship? No," he said.
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