I get what you're saying, but if it's the weather, I personally have never understood that.
The weather in Minnesota for football season is ideal until about mid-November. Having covered football in South Florida and in Gainesville, I can honestly say I don't understand how anyone could ever be comfortable there until mid-November when the season is ending. That written, 20 million people have chosen to live in Florida, so who am I to say they're wrong?
Admittedly, too, because of population numbers and the importance of high school football in hot-weather states, a great number of the best high school football players come from hot-weather states such as Florida, Texas and the rest of the American South. I'm not sure why they don't enjoy a nip in the air as they're playing football, but that's the way it is.
Minnesota, actually, should be much better than Nebraska at attracting top-level players. It's a much more populous state, and like Nebraska, it's the only Division I (FBS) game in town.