A lot has changed since we were a "top program".
Back when I was considering colleges, (And I hadn't yet totally given up the sliver of a dream of playing some more), Nebraska had some mighty powerful draw..
We had Tom Osborn at the helm who even if you never met him, you still knew there was something magical about him and you'd be a better person by being around him.
We were one of the few teams on the two or three channels that brodcast college football.
We were usually in the hunt at the end of every year for the MNC and ALWAYS in a nice bowl.
ASU was a close second (choice) for me because I already had a brother living near Tempe.
95 %. of the girls living out here at the time had great bodies and seemed to wear halter tops constantly except for when they took them off while cliff diving behind you as you floated down the Salt River surrounded by small "mountains".
But their "winning legend" of a coach was sort of a hothead and I'd had enough of that at home.
It's probably a lot different for "Elite Athletes" who think they can play in the NFL, but there are so many more teams and games shown on TV that you no longer have to go to places with miserable weather to toil for 4-5 years to get yourself seen by pro scouts.
I started showing my scrawny 11year old Son the intricasies of Punting the other day..so he could eventually get a scholarship to DONU or his mom's tOSU, But ...the #1 criteria will probably be what school can get him further after his playing days are over, and hopefully a place where his old man can enjoy the scenery.