By Ralph D. Russo
The Associated Press

SHREVEPORT, La. - Eli Manning has yet to decide whether to return for his senior season at Mississippi. He sure looked NFL ready in the Independence Bowl.

Manning threw for 313 yards and a touchdown to lead the Rebels to a 27-23 victory over Nebraska on Friday night.

Manning was 25-for-44 for Ole Miss (7-6) and became the school's career passing leader in what could be his final college game. The junior said he has no timetable for making a decision.

"I'm going to look at some things and see how it all works out," said Manning, selected the offensive player of the game.

He has 6,519 career yards passing, surpassing Romaro Miller's mark of 6,311.

One Rebel who says he's staying put is coach David Cutcliffe, who tried again to put an end speculation that he is planning to leave to fill the coaching vacancy at Kentucky.

"I don't know where all that talk comes from," Cutcliffe said. "I'm looking forward to recruiting and building our program here at Ole Miss. I'm staying at Ole Miss."

While the Rebels were salvaging their season, Nebraska's 40-year streak of winning seasons ended.

The Cornhuskers managed just one offensive touchdown on Jammal Lord's pass to Matt Herian in the second quarter. Josh Brown kicked three field goals and DeJuan Groce had a 60-yard punt return for a score.

The Cornhuskers (7-7) had finished above .500 every year since 1961, when they went 3-6-1. Their seven losses this year are their most since going 3-7 in 1958.

"We accomplished some things this season, but obviously we have some work to do to get ready for next season," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. "We have a strong nucleus of kids coming back next season and we all are looking forward to getting back to work."

Nebraska was No. 8 in the country after a 3-0 start this season. But the Cornhuskers startling demise prompted Solich to make sweeping changes to his coaching staff after the regular season.

Solich fired his defensive coordinator and two other defensive assistants and said he will hire an offensive coordinator next season. Solich has acted as his own offensive coordinator since taking over for Tom Osborne in 1998.

"We were well prepared for this game. Our coaches did a great job of getting us ready to play," said Nebraska defensive end Chris Kelsay, who had two sacks and was defensive player of the game.

Nebraska had its option working in the first half with 207 of its 262 yards on the ground.

But Ole Miss adjusted in the second half and held Nebraska to 97 yards and no touchdowns. Lord had 176 total yards to give him 2,774 on the season, breaking Eric Crouch's single-season school record set last year.

"We knew coming into the game we were going to have to adjust to their offense," Ole Miss linebacker Eddie Strong said. "I could tell they weren't as physical as they were in the first half."

The win enabled the Rebels to avoid their first losing season since 1996.

Ole Miss took its first lead of the game four plays after a curious play call by Nebraska.

On a fourth-and-12 from their own 35, the Cornhuskers faked a punt, letting upback Judd Davies throw a pass that fell incomplete. The play was an audible called at the line by Davies.

Toward Sanford went over the top for his second 1-yard touchdown run of the game moments later to give Ole Miss a 24-20 lead with 3:24 left in the third.

Brown's third field goal of the game, a 29-yarder, made it 24-23 with just under eight minutes left.

But Jonathan Nichols made a 43-yarder with 4:30 left and Nebraska never threatened after that.

The Cornhuskers and Rebels took turns scoring touchdowns in a 28-point second quarter.

Lord's first completion of the game went for a 41-yard touchdown to Herian that made it 10-0.

Manning then got Ole Miss on the board with an 11-yard TD pass to Kerry Johnson.

Groce pushed the Cornhuskers' lead to 17-7 with his fourth punt return for a touchdown of the season, tying an NCAA record.

Manning needed a little more than a minute to answer, driving the Rebels 88 yards on nine plays, the last a TD run by Sanford that made it 17-14 at the half.