Nebraska's root problem is their recruiting base. They only have 1.9 million people in the state and if you look at their 300 to 400 mile radius for HS football, it;s really weak. Coaches that excel - and depend on - strong recruiting (like Urban Meyer) would not even consider them
Osborne’s success seemed to stem from three areas:
1. being able to stash away developmental walk-ons who contributed as Jrs and Srs (make PED comments here)
2. Recruiting west coast JUCO kids with issues who couldn’t get into top schools out of HS. This radically changed in the 00s with USC and Oregon re-emerging. Top kids went there.
3. An easy Big 8/12 schedule that really only had Oklahoma with a pulse most years. Colorado and UT bobbed up and down in the 80s and 90s.
Once 1 and 2 dried up, they were toast. I suspect Osborne saw this coming and that factored into him stepping down.