A case can be made that Nebraska athletics would be much better off in the new Big 12
Not saying it should or would happen but hear is the argument for it :
1. Kansas State example. The Big 12 has become stable. They will likely get media yearly income appx
30 million less than Big 10 money. ( 80 million versus 50 million) . The average fan will never be able to even see or notice
the difference. Why? Because Nebraska starts 10 million down to begin with as it hands appx 10 million over to the
academic side in some kind of socialized give away program. Nebraska does not get any state tax revenues
that a K- State gets so the difference between the 30 minus 10 plus K State additional govt support narrows the
financial gap pretty quick. Nebraska is ahead but not enough for the average fan to ever notice.
2. Big 12 programs like Kansas have enough to completely renovate their stadiums and facilities. So obviously
these schools have money to keep up. Most Big 12 programs have as nice or better facilities than Nebraska
as of right now. I understand the academic benefits of the Big 10 but Nebraska is an outcast once we lost
our AAU membership. Again, sports fans don’t really care either way.
3. Nebraska could almost immediately join Kansas State as a big fish in a smaller pond rather than dwelling in the
lower third of the Big 10 hoping for the scrapes of a 6 win Detroit bowl while K State plays in New Years 6
bowls against Alabama?
4. Once USC and UCLA ( who just got their 5 star QB) join the Big 10 and the west division is gone we are further
removed from being nationally competitive.
5. So Nebraska with all its Big 10 revenue is not outrecruiting these Big 12 schools now or in the foreseeable future.
Our new facility won’t make that much of a difference as most kids just want to win and are only at a school one or
2 years rather than 4 or 5.
6. For Nebraska to consistently win a Big 10 championship we must go through Ohio State, Michigan, USC, PennState
UCLA, not to mention Wisconsin , Iowa , Illinois, etc who have all been kicking our ass.
7. Meanwhile, Kansas State must figure out how to beat Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, BYU etc.
They are poised to be a top 2 or 3 team easily and playing for championships EVERY year.
Good bowls and high rankings
8. So you may argue that Nebraska get to be in a more prestigious conference with so called Marquee games.
who really cares if your losing all the time.
9. So to sum things up, Nebraska might win an outright conference Big 10 championship once every
25 to 30 years…..assuming lighting strikes. In the Big 12 I believe we could join Kansas State and TCU
in running the league and getting out Texas recruiting ground back. We may play fewer marquee games where
we are simply cannon fodder for the big boys or play more MEANINGFUL games in the Big 12 for actual
trophies and bowl games.