Unfortunately Iowa has a 2nd major university along with UNI (although thats minimal) that splits into that amount. Nebraskas probably has more fans despite the population difference if I had to guess.We have more people in Iowa by about 1.2 million but their NIL is jacked and we have shit.
What’s going on?
1) Google "NLS nebraska." They have an actual good ol' boys club that you become a member of for donors over a million bucks. It's a big status thing in nebraska. Kinda like being a member at Augusta.
2) Howard Hawks. Big time billionaire who owned an energy company before he croaked. If you see an athletics facility in Lincoln he paid for either all or part of it.
3) Only one football program in the state.
4) Much larger enrollment means more alumni, more alumni means larger donor base.
5) Donor base like most things nebraska-related is living in the 90s and still thinks their program is a relevant national title contender.
6) Way bigger corporate donor base vs Iowa. For some reason probably stemming back from when they were good, they have a big list of a lot of large companies shooting money at them. Werner, Runza, nebraska Furniture Mart, a bunch of large banks, etc..
7) They come from the B12 which was where the really big, oil magnate-esque, mega mega donors like Pickens held court. Texas A&M, Okie State, Texas, Oklahoma...all had literally billions thrown at them so they had to get in that mode too. I think a big part of it is a holdover from that. Iowa's never been in that situation or prominence before.
I work with a Kearney grad from O'Neill and an Omaha grad from Papillion. Both are rabid husker fans.View attachment 11564
Larger enrollment includes the satellite campuses. The flagship school in Lincoln is actually smaller than Iowa and Iowa State. Of course, a lot of the Omaha students are going to be big fans and supporters.
Does Nebraska have a UNI or even Drake like football program?In addition to the above, it can't be overstated about sharing the state with the clowns.
Add together Iowa's NIL with theirs and then you have a pile of money that might not equal nebraska's, but it's a whole lot closer.
Our state is diluted by having two programs.
No. Trev Alberts killed UNO's football program (high D2) a decade ago. Creighton has not had a football program since they played with leather helmets. Kearney and Wayne State have low level football programs, but those are more like Morningside type programs, IMHO. No Drake and certainly no UNI programs.Does Nebraska have a UNI or even Drake like football program?
Three div 1 programs adding UNI, and when they are good I could see them pulling more $$ but it would be a little inconsistent compared to Iowa or Iowa St, again depending on if UNI is in a good cycle of winning and contending.In addition to the above, it can't be overstated about sharing the state with the clowns.
Add together Iowa's NIL with theirs and then you have a pile of money that might not equal nebraska's, but it's a whole lot closer.
Our state is diluted by having two programs.