In addition to this year's sixth-place finish, Nebraska was No. 4 in 1997. Nebraska and Texas lead the way in the Big 12 all-sports competition because they also spend the most money. Texas and Nebraska are 1-2 in athletic budgets, and spending money means better facilities and support programs, better coaches and the ability to recruit nationally. Football makes a lot of money for both Texas and Nebraska, but both schools have shown they're willing to spend money on all sports. There's a history of success.
Most kids like to come to a program where they can be successful.
While facilities and academic programs are nice, environment is often a determining factor when a young person is deciding where to attend school. College kids can manage to find fun almost anywhere, but there's a big difference between Austin and Lincoln. It's about going to a place where you can feel like a winner and be part of a tradition. Which explains why Southern football studs all want to visit Michigan. Since the inception of the Big 12, Texas has won the most conference titles with 24 and Nebraska is second with 21.