TGHusker
New member
Just brainstorming here - which can be dangerous - don't destroy me for thinking out loud here - I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. I've always been supportive of the move to
the Big 10. This post isn't a post saying we should go back to the Big 12 but I give reasons why it might be a good option in today's reality. Much has changed since 2012.
We left the Big 12 to join the Big 10 for obvious reasons in 2012.
1. At the time there was no security - half the league was looking to join the Pac 12. We did the right thing in 2012 based on the reality at that time.
2. It has been great financially for us. Big 12 still cannot match the financial benefits we have in the Big 10.
3. Greater TV exposure
4. Better for our academics
HERE COMES THE "BUT MONKEY" - the argument for leaving the Big 10: But today's realities have changed.
1. The Big 10 has become a huge nationwide conference which makes it harder to have true rivals.
2. The conference seems to be the most scandal filled conference of them all.
3. The Big 12 has survived and has gotten stronger.
4. The Big 10 seems to have a collective chip on their shoulders against Neb.
5. Outside of volleyball, where has Nebraska excelled from a competitive point of view?
6. It seems that the new reality is one in which we are the little brother to programs found in better recruiting areas and with more money - OSU, Michigan, PSU, USC, UCLA and to a lesser extent Oregon and Wash.
For financial reasons - I know the boat has floated and won't be reversed. The money is the reason to stay and the reason we won't leave. It takes a lot of money to compete in modern day college football and athletics as a whole.
Why today's Big 12 would be a better fit:
1. From a competitive point of view, it seems that we would have had a better opportunity to reach the playoffs if we were in the Big 12 - even though there will be fewer teams selected in comparison to the Big 10 & SEC.
2. We'd be playing with other schools that have the same recruiting disadvantages that we have.
3. We would be the only 'blueblood' program in the Big 12, - thus hold the image as 'the premier program in the conference. In the Big 10 we are one of many 'blueblood" schools.
4. Our tradition would give us recruiting advantages over the other Big 12 programs.
5. Rivalry: It is easier to have true rivalries with neighbors.
6. Better to be the big fish in a 'smaller' conference than a middle to small size fish in the big conference
The best Option:
1. The Rhule turns us into a winner again whereby in 4-5 years, we can compete wt the other bluebloods for the Big 10 championship and be competitive again in the NC race..
What I hope happens if the best option above doesn't occur:
I hope P5 football programs will break from the NCAA and form a league similar to the NFL. Nebraska could then be placed in a division and conference which is more regional in scope. Nebraska, the Iowa schools, Kansas schools, Okla schools, Mo, Minnesota, and Wisc for example being grouped to together in the Midwest region. OU would have a recruiting advantage but outside of that we would be pretty competitive with everyone else from a recruiting standpoint. Neb, Iowa, ISU, Mn, Wisc, KS, KSU, OU, OkState, Missouri
All of this would help with recruiting and also help the budget as travel expenses would be cut. As it stands right now, Nebraska is fortunate to be in the 'middle' geographically in the Big 10. The costs to travel will still go up substantially as we start traveling to the west coast. While it is great to play programs like USC and UCLA - we really don't have much in common with them and the competitive juices just isn't the same as playing one of our regional rivals.
This is my brainstorm. If you could design a college football alignment of the future, what would it look like?
the Big 10. This post isn't a post saying we should go back to the Big 12 but I give reasons why it might be a good option in today's reality. Much has changed since 2012.
We left the Big 12 to join the Big 10 for obvious reasons in 2012.
1. At the time there was no security - half the league was looking to join the Pac 12. We did the right thing in 2012 based on the reality at that time.
2. It has been great financially for us. Big 12 still cannot match the financial benefits we have in the Big 10.
3. Greater TV exposure
4. Better for our academics
HERE COMES THE "BUT MONKEY" - the argument for leaving the Big 10: But today's realities have changed.
1. The Big 10 has become a huge nationwide conference which makes it harder to have true rivals.
2. The conference seems to be the most scandal filled conference of them all.
3. The Big 12 has survived and has gotten stronger.
4. The Big 10 seems to have a collective chip on their shoulders against Neb.
5. Outside of volleyball, where has Nebraska excelled from a competitive point of view?
6. It seems that the new reality is one in which we are the little brother to programs found in better recruiting areas and with more money - OSU, Michigan, PSU, USC, UCLA and to a lesser extent Oregon and Wash.
For financial reasons - I know the boat has floated and won't be reversed. The money is the reason to stay and the reason we won't leave. It takes a lot of money to compete in modern day college football and athletics as a whole.
Why today's Big 12 would be a better fit:
1. From a competitive point of view, it seems that we would have had a better opportunity to reach the playoffs if we were in the Big 12 - even though there will be fewer teams selected in comparison to the Big 10 & SEC.
2. We'd be playing with other schools that have the same recruiting disadvantages that we have.
3. We would be the only 'blueblood' program in the Big 12, - thus hold the image as 'the premier program in the conference. In the Big 10 we are one of many 'blueblood" schools.
4. Our tradition would give us recruiting advantages over the other Big 12 programs.
5. Rivalry: It is easier to have true rivalries with neighbors.
6. Better to be the big fish in a 'smaller' conference than a middle to small size fish in the big conference
The best Option:
1. The Rhule turns us into a winner again whereby in 4-5 years, we can compete wt the other bluebloods for the Big 10 championship and be competitive again in the NC race..
What I hope happens if the best option above doesn't occur:
I hope P5 football programs will break from the NCAA and form a league similar to the NFL. Nebraska could then be placed in a division and conference which is more regional in scope. Nebraska, the Iowa schools, Kansas schools, Okla schools, Mo, Minnesota, and Wisc for example being grouped to together in the Midwest region. OU would have a recruiting advantage but outside of that we would be pretty competitive with everyone else from a recruiting standpoint. Neb, Iowa, ISU, Mn, Wisc, KS, KSU, OU, OkState, Missouri
All of this would help with recruiting and also help the budget as travel expenses would be cut. As it stands right now, Nebraska is fortunate to be in the 'middle' geographically in the Big 10. The costs to travel will still go up substantially as we start traveling to the west coast. While it is great to play programs like USC and UCLA - we really don't have much in common with them and the competitive juices just isn't the same as playing one of our regional rivals.
This is my brainstorm. If you could design a college football alignment of the future, what would it look like?
