Big 12 Football: 3 schools the conference needs to consider adding
By Dante Pryor
3. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Some people say that you cannot come home again. Granted, it’s not always easy when you’ve been away for some time. You grow up and mature; sometimes you outgrow home. That is not the case for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The Huskers do not seem to fit in the Big Ten. It could be the region — Nebraska is in the Midwest and Big Ten teams reside in the Great Lakes — or it could be they do not have any natural rivalries in the conference. Iowa could be, but with heated in-state rival Iowa State, that would be a difficult rivalry to cultivate.
The return of rivalries is the primary reason for Nebraska to come back to the Big 12. With Nebraska coming back to the Big 12, they could renew their rivalries with both Texas and Oklahoma.
For the Cornhuskers, a geographic return to the Big 12 could up the ante in recruiting; something Nebraska has struggled with since joining the conference. In the Big 12, knowing you get to play Oklahoma and Texas every season still matters to many players who grow up in that part of the country.
The truth is, Nebraska needs the state of Texas. Lincoln is not the easiest place to recruit to, but a return to Big 12 country could help.