Nebraska Football: A once-proud program in decline

For years, Nebraska was considered one of the top college football programs in the country. The Cornhuskers won five national championships and produced a long line of All-American players. But today, Nebraska is struggling to keep up with the competition. The Huskers regularly lose to Sun Belt teams and are bottom dwellers in the Big 10. The reality is that no one wants to play in Nebraska anymore. Five-star athletes don’t come from Nebraska, and five-star players who come from elsewhere now stay home and play in the SEC. The landscape has changed, and the best school in the Great Plains is now North Dakota State. Nebraska should enjoy the past.

What happened to Nebraska football?
It’s been a long time since Nebraska was a college football powerhouse. The Cornhuskers used to be a mainstay in the top 25 rankings, but now they rarely crack the top 50. So, what happened? How did Nebraska fall so far so fast?

There are a number of factors that have contributed to Nebraska’s decline. First and foremost, the competition has gotten much stiffer in recent years. The Big 10 and big football markets have passed the Huskers by. Programs like Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State have raised the bar for what it takes to be a national contender, and Nebraska just hasn’t been able to keep up. Secondly, high school athletes in Nebraska are not talented enough to compete against Big 10 or SEC athletes. In recent years, even some of the state’s top recruits have chosen to play their college ball elsewhere, opting for programs in warmer climates or with newly established traditions. Finally, money has become a major factor in college football recruiting, and Nebraska simply doesn’t have the same deep pockets as teams like Alabama or Ohio State.

Nebraska football used to be one of the most feared programs in the country. This was due to the opening of doors to African American athletes. But today, athletic players don’t have to come to Nebraska to get a chance. The Cornhuskers are nothing more than an also-ran. They’re stuck in mediocrity, and there’s no easy way out. If anything, things will only get worse before they get better. So enjoy the past, Nebraska fans, because those days may never come again.