what are you talking about? what else are you going to compare the two teams by in 1997, if not by, the teams both of them actually played? are you going to say you are definitely better because you beat "fill in the blank", who UM didn't even play? or UM is better because they beat "fill in the blank" who Nebraska didn't even play? if common opponents means "jack diddly" -- then every other games on the schedule that either UM or Nebraska didn't play means absolutely nothing.
and UM went to the bowl game called "the grand daddy of them all" -- the Rose Bowl. that was the CFP for B1G teams before they made all the changes. and it wasn't UM begging in the media, like your coach Scott Frost did, and it wasn't UM's coach announcing before the bowl game he was retiring, so he could gain sympathy votes.
but hold onto the fact you were somehow the champs, as it is likely the last time you will ever be able to say that in today's CFB landscape, as Nebraska will NEVER be able to recruit with the elite programs. so the realistic goals for nebraska's football program is simply competing with their new rivals, Iowa and Wisconsin in the B1G West to see who will lose to the B1G East champ. (Worst move Nebraska ever made was coming to the B1G West -- the money may be nice, but it didn't help out the football program in any way, shape or form)