Fundamentally I wonder what the difference is between Nebraska and Oklahoma when it comes to recruiting and ability to continue as a power football program. Is access to Texas the biggest differentiator right now?
Number of differences, proximity to Texas recruiting is a big one, climate matters.
Biggest difference is that Oklahoma and it's boosters are in the 2020's in terms of football, Nebraska is still back in the 1990's. Even if a coach wanted to drag Nebraska forward 10-15 years the fans and administration wouldn't let them. It is all about how "Dr. Tom would have done it," "The Nebraska tradition," "greatest fans in the world," " longest sellout streak," etc. etc.
You saw the game last night, what QB wants to play in that system when he has other options? They threw 19 times for 114 yards with 3 INTs and 3 sacks. Take the sack yardage off and the QB Sims almost ran for as many yards as he passed for.
Decent QBs dream about getting drafted into the NFL, not about running the triple option or some current version of it.
No QB and talented WRs don't want to come or if they do don't want to stay. Nebraska's top receiver had 3 catches for 56 yards. Kids in California and Florida look at that and think "That kind of numbers aren't getting me drafted, I'm going someplace where they are going to get me the ball.
Then it extends to offensive linemen. What did we see last night that looked like the Nebraska OL had anybody on track for the NFL?
Compare that to Oklahoma.
Sooners have multiple 1st round QBs in the league, multiple first and second day WRs in the league, a bunch of OL in the league. Kids see that and think "Where do I sign up?"