Look, let’s be real for a second. If you grew up in the 90s watching Tom Osborne’s teams steamroll through the Big 12, the current state of Nebraska and Big Ten life probably feels like a fever dream you can’t wake up from. It’s been over a decade since the move. You’ve heard all the talking points. People say Nebraska lost its soul when it left the Oklahoma rivalry behind. Critics claim the Huskers traded trophies for television revenue.
They aren't entirely wrong. But they're missing the bigger picture of what's happening right now in Lincoln.
The truth is, Nebraska didn't just join a conference; it entered a meat grinder. The Big Ten isn't a league where you can just out-muscle people with a superior walk-on program and a few local farm kids anymore. It’s a multi-billion dollar arms race. Honestly, the Huskers are finally starting to figure out how to drive the car they bought back in 2011.
The Brutal Reality of the Move
When Nebraska officially joined the Big Ten in 2011, there was this arrogant assumption that they’d just walk in and take over. "They play slow, Big Ten football," we thought. "We have speed."
Then 2012 happened. Wisconsin hung 70 points on the Huskers in the Big Ten Championship game. 70. That was the moment the "Blue Blood" delusion started to crack.
Since then, the road has been bumpy. You look at the stats and it's tough. According to recent data from The Athletic, Nebraska’s athletic department is valued at roughly $1.06 billion—fourth-best in the entire Big Ten. They have the money. They have the $84.1 million football budget, which sits in the top tier nationally, even ahead of schools like Ohio State and Georgia in pure operating costs.
But money doesn't buy wins in a conference that now stretches from New Jersey to Los Angeles.
The Matt Rhule Factor
We have to talk about Matt Rhule. He’s the first coach since Bo Pelini who seems to actually get the Big Ten. He isn't trying to recreate 1995. He’s trying to build a professionalized college program.
The 2025 season was a perfect example of the "almost there" phase. Nebraska finished 7-6, a record that looks mediocre on paper but felt different. They were competitive. They beat UCLA 28-21 in a game where freshman sensation TJ Lateef had to step in for an injured Dylan Raiola. They fought. Then, of course, they lost the Las Vegas Bowl 44-22 to Utah.
That’s the Nebraska and Big Ten experience in a nutshell: flashes of brilliance followed by a sobering reminder of the gap that still exists.
It Isn't Just About Football
If you only watch the Saturdays in Memorial Stadium, you’re missing the part where Nebraska is actually dominating the Big Ten.
Volleyball. While the football team struggles to find its footing, John Cook’s (and now Dani Busboom Kelly's) squad is basically the New York Yankees of the conference. In 2025, the Huskers swept the Big Ten title. They didn't just win it; they annihilated people. They finished the regular season 28-0. They held Penn State to a .011 hitting percentage in a blackout game at "The Bob."
That is what Big Ten dominance looks like. It’s the standard the rest of the athletic department is desperately trying to meet.
The New Rivals: USC, Oregon, and Beyond
The Big Ten is growing. Again.
With USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington now firmly in the mix, Nebraska’s path doesn't get easier. In 2026, the schedule is a gauntlet. The Huskers have to host Washington and Ohio State, then travel to Oregon.
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- 2026 Home Slate: Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Washington
- 2026 Away Slate: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Oregon, Rutgers
The "Heroes Game" against Iowa remains protected. It’s the one game every year that feels like a real, gritty rivalry, even if Iowa fans still like to pretend they don't care. (They care. Trust me.)
The Money and the Future
Why does this move still matter in 2026? Because the Big 12 is a shell of what it was, and the Big Ten is one of the two "Super Conferences" that will survive the coming NCAA reorganization.
Commissioner Tony Petitti is currently pushing for four guaranteed College Football Playoff slots for the Big Ten. If that happens, a 9-3 or even a 10-2 Nebraska team becomes a playoff lock. In the old days, you had to be perfect. Now, you just have to be "Big Ten Good."
There are even whispers—reported by insiders like Brett McMurphy—that the conference could expand to 20 teams by 2030, potentially poaching North Carolina or Virginia from the ACC. Nebraska is no longer a big fish in a small pond. They are a shark in an ocean of sharks.
Why Fans Should Stay Patient (Sorta)
It’s hard to tell a fan base that has sold out 400+ consecutive games to "be patient." You’ve been patient for twenty years. But look at the infrastructure.
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- The Facilities: The $165 million North Stadium expansion is world-class.
- The Quarterback Room: Having Dylan Raiola and TJ Lateef on the same roster is a wealth of talent Nebraska hasn't seen in decades.
- The Revenue: The Big Ten media deal ensures Nebraska never has to worry about the lights staying on.
Nebraska’s identity used to be "winning or bust." In the Big Ten, the identity is shifting toward "sustainable relevance." It’s not as sexy as a national title, but it’s the only way back to the top.
What's Next for the Big Red?
If you're looking for a sign that things are changing, watch the 2026 recruiting class. The Huskers are already landing guys like Keoni Williams and Gabby DiVita for volleyball, and the football recruiting trail is heating up with national-level prospects who don't care about what happened in the 90s—they care about the NFL development they see under Rhule.
The transition to the Big Ten was a shock to the system. It broke the program for a while. But as we head into 2026, the "New Nebraska" finally looks like it belongs in the room.
Actionable Insights for Husker Fans:
- Monitor the 2026 Schedule: Keep an eye on the Oregon and Ohio State games; these are the litmus tests for whether Rhule’s "Process" is actually closing the talent gap.
- Support the Non-Revenue Sports: Volleyball is the gold standard, but watch the growth in basketball under the new Big Ten scheduling format which now includes 20 conference games and West Coast trips to UCLA/USC.
- Focus on the Trenches: The Big Ten is won at the line of scrimmage. Watch for Nebraska's developmental stats—specifically sack differential and rushing yards per carry—rather than just the final score.
The era of complaining about the move is over. The era of competing in the most powerful conference in America has finally, truly, begun.