Nebraska is still listed as a CFB blue blood. That is a great accomplishment and an elite group. Most searches bring up the following programs:
Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas, USC, and Nebraska.
But upon further review of the list, there is only one program that stands out for not performing at an elite level for nearly 3 decades. No blue blood has had a drought even remotely close to Nebraska.
Everyone has a different definition of elite level, but here are some items I would consider some worthy accomplishments of a blue blood program:
- National Championship winner
- National Championship runner-up
- Conference Championship winner
- Conference Championship runner-up
- CFB Playoff contender
- Bowl game appearance 80% of the time
- Consistently ranked in top 25 final with periodic top 10 finishes
- 3 losses or less 50% of the time
Based on these, Nebraska is not even in the running compared to the other blue bloods in most any of these categories.
So, the age old question - will Nebraska ever reach the levels outlined above again?
I don’t think they ever will. Devaney set a great foundation and Osborne brilliantly used advantages to create an amazing system of consistency (weak conference, long time solid coaches, early focus on S&C - arguably with a little enhanced help, partial qualifiers, vast walk-on program, etc). Many predicted when TO retired that Nebraska football would never be the same. I vigorously disagreed at that time, but have to admit they have been right for nearly 3 decades.
I would be interested if anyone thinks Nebraska will turn the tide back into a consistent winning program?
Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas, USC, and Nebraska.
But upon further review of the list, there is only one program that stands out for not performing at an elite level for nearly 3 decades. No blue blood has had a drought even remotely close to Nebraska.
Everyone has a different definition of elite level, but here are some items I would consider some worthy accomplishments of a blue blood program:
- National Championship winner
- National Championship runner-up
- Conference Championship winner
- Conference Championship runner-up
- CFB Playoff contender
- Bowl game appearance 80% of the time
- Consistently ranked in top 25 final with periodic top 10 finishes
- 3 losses or less 50% of the time
Based on these, Nebraska is not even in the running compared to the other blue bloods in most any of these categories.
So, the age old question - will Nebraska ever reach the levels outlined above again?
I don’t think they ever will. Devaney set a great foundation and Osborne brilliantly used advantages to create an amazing system of consistency (weak conference, long time solid coaches, early focus on S&C - arguably with a little enhanced help, partial qualifiers, vast walk-on program, etc). Many predicted when TO retired that Nebraska football would never be the same. I vigorously disagreed at that time, but have to admit they have been right for nearly 3 decades.
I would be interested if anyone thinks Nebraska will turn the tide back into a consistent winning program?
