Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman driving on Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.

When many think of the state of Nebraska, the first thing that comes to mind for some is the bright red N that resembles the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Others might think of the vibrant bluejay that stands for Creighton University. 

With both schools being powerhouses in their conferences, UNL in the Big Ten, and Creighton in the Big East, it’s harder to compare the two because they don’t usually play the same teams. As a solution, you always have to look at head to head matchups, and see how substantial the win/loss was.

Throughout middle schools, and high schools in Nebraska, there are always Nebraska super fans, as well as Creighton super fans, and sometimes they have disagreements. Some will look at the statistics to prove their point of who’s better, while others just base it off of their opinion/which team they like more.

“Nebraska’s better because we have a bigger and stronger fan base,” sophomore Zach DeVeney said. “We also have one of the best college football teams to ever exist, the 1995 squad.”

While DeVeney says this, it is hard for Creighton fans to respond because the Bluejays don’t have, and have never had a football team, so it’s hard to compare them in this regard.

Later on, DeVeney added, “Nebraska volleyball is also better and is nationally ranked, unlike Creighton.” While he is correct in this statement, many could compare other sports such as basketball. 

Just this past year, the Bluejays men’s basketball team defeated the Cornhuskers 89-60, in a highly anticipated game. As well as this Creighton victory, the Bluejays men’s baseball team defeated the Cornhuskers once again, in a 3-0 season sweep.

“I cheer for the Huskers when it is football and volleyball season, but when it’s basketball, I’m all in on the Bluejays,” sophomore Landon Wolf said. “I don’t really have a favorite team in general, I just root for the state of Nebraska to be successful in college sports.”

While Wolf’s point is good, like DeVeney’s, it doesn’t help us decide which college is Nebraska’s “athletic university.” 

Since I am a fan of the Bluejays, and don’t have a favorite college football team, it’s hard for me to say that the Cornhuskers are the best athletic college in Nebraska. Also, since the Husker football team has really struggled for the past 5 years, it’s even harder for me to say that UNL football is a huge factor in the debate, because the Bluejays don’t have a football team, and who knows how good they would be if they did.

This argument between Creighton or Nebraska will continue for as long as the university’s stay afloat, but there will never be a 100% correct answer. Both colleges are getting better every year, and the debate will always be based on personal opinions. 

Unfortunately for Bluejays fans, the Cornhuskers take the throne for the best athletic university in Nebraska, because of what they’ve done in the past. However, it is very possible that in the near future, Creighton takes the throne.