Through These Gates: August 2026

As the 2026-27 academic and athletics year approaches, we have a lot to live up to match last year’s achievements—on the field and off.

Last year was remarkable.  From Men’s Basketball’s Sweet Sixteen run to a Softball College World Series appearance; from our highest finish in two decades in the Learfield Directors’ Cup—a measurement of overall athletic competitive success—to selling more than 1.6 million tickets across all sports. From setting a fund-raising record to increasing our branded merchandise sales by 20 percent, 2025-26 was one to remember.

Our student-athlete GPA was a record 3.47 in the spring, with over 82 percent of our athletes earning a 3.0 or better and our department earned a Graduation Success Rate of 92 percent. While excelling in the classroom, our student-athletes gave more than 2,500 service hours to our communities. 

As we turn the page into the new year, we continue to expect great things competitively, academically and financially while facing the challenges on an ever-changing college sports landscape. The House settlement enters its second year and the debates over eligibility and a proposed federal solution remain uncertain.

However, at Nebraska, a new year means that a renovated Devaney Center awaits, the Big Red Rebuild work is ongoing as we prepare to raze the south and west seating bowls after the upcoming football season, and we debut Women’s Flag Football! We enter the year with 108 new scholarships as permitted under the House settlement, and within two years, that number will grow to 190 creating opportunities in sports that do not have revenue share allocations. By 2028, 90 percent of Nebraska student-athletes will be on full scholarships. Overall, this fall, we welcome 512 student-athletes from 39 states and 35 countries. Remarkably, 25 percent are first generation college students.

We have a responsibility to put our student-athletes in a position to succeed. Whether on the field, in the classroom, in their communities, and throughout their lives, success is demonstrated by the lifelong outcomes of our student-athletes. Winning on the field provides a great opportunity to prepare for that lifetime of success. At Nebraska, winning has always been, and always will be, a core tenant of the Nebraska experience.

In the current age of intercollegiate athletics, the ability to win is increasingly tied to the financial ability to recruit and retain student-athletes. As recently as 10 years ago, the most valuable dollar tied to winning was the dollar invested in a scholarship. Today, the most valuable dollar tied to winning is the dollar invested in a student-athlete either through revenue sharing or Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) opportunities. Even though our support in those areas has increased over 400 percent since my arrival at Nebraska in March 2024, we still must gain ground to stand equal with our Big Ten Conference peers. We already stand equal in other areas of investments including facilities, coaching, sports medicine and nutrition.   Eliminating this gap is one of our top priorities.

The Big Red Rebuild is well underway, with just over $72 million invested in work ahead of demolition after the football season concludes. The goals of this project are clear: protect and enhance one of the most important state buildings in Nebraska so it can serve future generations as it has served those in the past. The Rebuild will also create much-needed new revenue streams to position Nebraska with every competitive advantage when it comes to recruitment and retention of student-athletes.

The sale of alcohol in venues, the reseating of volleyball, the hosting of stadium concerts and shows, and now the Big Red Rebuild are just a few examples of growing new revenue streams to remain competitive. The job of every coach and each staff member in the department is to make sure the University of Nebraska has a viable path to every trophy we play for. This is the path we follow today and the path we will lead tomorrow. 

Our mission remains setting a standard that others aspire to achieve in every action we take and every decision we make. The opportunity to establish a standard is a gift few enjoy, and even fewer can accomplish.  We acknowledge and appreciate the responsibility Husker Athletics has to the state and to our alums, to be a standard bearer, to shine the most positive light on everyone associated with our state and our university while reminding everyone else why There Is No Place Like Nebraska.

GBR

Troy Dannen
Athletic Director