Osborne, who coached the Cornhuskers to three national football championships, replaces Steve Pederson — who was fired Monday, following Saturday’s embarrassing performance in a 45-14 home loss to Oklahoma State.
The Cornhuskers trailed, 38-0, at the half, and lost to the Cowboys in Lincoln for the first time in 20 years.
The OSU loss followed a 41-6 defeat at Missouri Oct. 6.
Nebraska has given up at least 400 offensive yards in four of its last five games.
“I want to do what I can at this point to continue in the pursuit of excellence that has been previously established,” Osborne, 70, said on the school’s Web site.
In addition to the three national titles, Nebraska won 12 Big Eight titles and one Big 12 title under Osborne from 1973-1997 — when the coach’s overall record was 255-49-3.
Osborne made no comment about current coach Bill Callahan.
Sat, Apr 14 Spring Game - - Memorial Stadium 12:30 p.m. Red - 38 - White - 0 (W)
NFL Network
Sat, Sep 01 Nevada 20 - Memorial Stadium 2:30 p.m. 52 - 10 (W)
ABC
Sat, Sep 08 Wake Forest 16 - at Winston-Salem, N.C. 11 a.m. 20 - 17 (W)
ESPN
Sat, Sep 15 USC 14 1 Memorial Stadium 7 p.m. 31 - 49 (L)
ABC
Sat, Sep 22 Ball State 24 - Memorial Stadium 11:30 a.m. 41 - 40 (W)
FSN PPV
Sat, Sep 29 Iowa State * 25 - Memorial Stadium 1:05 p.m. 35 - 17 (W)
Sat, Oct 06 Missouri * 25 17 at Columbia, Mo. 8:15 p.m. 6 - 41 (L)
ESPN
Sat, Oct 13 Oklahoma State (Homecoming) * - - Memorial Stadium 11:30 a.m. 14 - 45 (L)
FSN PPV
Sat, Oct 20 Texas A&M * - - Memorial Stadium 1:05 p.m.
Sat, Oct 27 Texas * - - at Austin, Texas 2:30 p.m.
ABC
Sat, Nov 03 Kansas * - - at Lawrence, Kan. TBA
Sat, Nov 10 Kansas State * - - Memorial Stadium TBA
Fri, Nov 23 Colorado * - - at Boulder, Colo 11 a.m.
ABC