Nebraska’s latest numbers suggest the program has more financial muscle than plenty of fans may have realized, and that’s a pretty encouraging sign for a team trying to climb.
The Athletic’s report on estimated NIL spending across 68 college football programs put Nebraska in the $31-35 million range. That lands the Huskers right alongside or ahead of Georgia, Oklahoma, Clemson and Penn State, while slotting them just behind Michigan, Florida, South Carolina and Auburn.
Among Big Ten programs, Nebraska checked in sixth out of 18 in the report.
That’s the kind of data point that should make Nebraska supporters feel better about where the program stands. The article also noted that coaches tend to downplay spending to “temper expectations and stop players from asking for more money.” Athletic directors, on the other hand, often have every reason to talk up the totals, since it helps show fundraising success.
There was one surprise in the broader picture: Georgia came out as the highest-performing program based on AP Top 10 results relative to NIL spending.
For Nebraska, though, the main takeaway is simpler. The resources appear to be there. That gives the Huskers a path to compete with the upper tier of the Big Ten and the top 15 or so programs in the country.
And this season could be where that investment starts to show.
Nebraska brought in at least 12 transfers who are either starting or directly contributing in 2026:
Owen Chambliss
Dexter Foster
Owen Stoudmire
Jahsear Whittington
Anthony Jones Jr.
Kwazi Gilmer
Dwayne McDougle
Paul Mubenga
Anthony Colandrea
Brendan Black
Tree Babalade
Victor Evans
The biggest name in that group is quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who could wind up being the “steal” of the transfer portal for the Huskers.
There is still a fair caveat here: Nebraska hasn’t exactly faced the toughest competition yet. At the same time, the Huskers have done what they were supposed to do against Ohio and Bowling Green.
North Dakota could be the stiffest test so far. After that, Matt Rhule and his staff will have plenty more chances to prove the program is moving in the right direction.
I’d take a higher ceiling over a lower floor every time.
In Other News...
Matt Rhule Just Lost Nebraskas Biggest Excuse For 2026
The numbers now line up with what Matt Rhule has been saying about Nebraskas place in the college football spending race. A new Athletic estimate of Power 4 roster values put the Cornhuskers at No. 18 nationally, with a valuation in the $31 million to $35 million range, a figure that suggests Nebraska is not being asked to chase elite competition with second-tier resources. It also slots the Huskers sixth in the Big Ten, behind the usual heavyweights such as Ohio State and Michigan.
For a program trying to climb back into national relevance, that matters because it trims away one of the easiest explanations for why the gap has remained so wide. Rhule has pointed to NIL as proof Nebraska can compete with top programs, and this latest valuation only strengthens that argument heading into 2026. The real question now is less about whether the money is there and more about whether Nebraska can turn that advantage into results on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Got A Promising Defensive Signal From Two Overlooked Names
Rob Aurich had a couple of encouraging names to point to this week, and neither came from the usual spotlight. The Nebraska defensive coordinator singled out walk-on linebacker Derek Wacker for the standard he brings every day, saying his reliability has made him a steady presence on special teams and a player the staff trusts because he does things the right way. Its the kind of praise that usually signals a coach leaning on effort, consistency and familiarity as much as raw production.
Aurich also pointed to Malcolm Simpson, a second-year player whose growth has started to show up in a more visible way. Simpson helped create a turnover when he forced a fumble that Wacker returned for a touchdown, and his climb has been notable given the labrum surgeries he has already worked through. Coaches have been impressed by what hes done in practice and on the scout team, and that attention has translated into more playing time as Nebraska keeps sorting out which young defenders are ready for bigger roles. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Future Schedule Just Added A Rivalry Fans Will Debate
Nebraskas future non-conference slate just got a lot more interesting, and not just because of the long lead time. The athletic department announced home-and-home football games with Notre Dame for Oct. 30, 2032, in Lincoln and Oct. 29, 2033, in South Bend, setting up the first meeting between the programs since 2001 and giving the Huskers another high-profile name to circle on the calendar.
The addition comes as Nebraska continues to reshape its non-conference schedule, including dropping Tennessee and replacing it with other Power 4 opponents in future seasons. For fans, the debate is already baked in: another marquee brand adds national appeal and ticket juice, but it also raises the usual questions about how much scheduling risk Nebraska wants to take on in an era when every game carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]