Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Through a renewed focus on academic excellence and student success, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln made significant strides in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report college ranking.

Announced Sept. 24, the ranking elevates Nebraska’s flagship, land-grant university to No. 152 nationally, up seven spots from No. 159 one year ago. Among all public institutions in the United States, UNL advanced its place in the top 100, moving up three places to No. 81.

“From enrollment and student retention to research funding and national rankings, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is gaining incredible momentum as we press forward into an extraordinary future,” Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett said. “These successes are a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff to fostering an environment of excellence.”

The U.S. News & World Report ranking also tracked growth in academic areas where UNL has recently made significant facility investments. The College of Engineering jumped 11 spots to No. 71 nationally among programs where the highest degree offered is a doctorate. And, the College of Business showed a considerable gain in undergraduate business programs (up nine spots to No. 53) and rose in undergraduate economics instruction (up two places to No. 143).

Both colleges offer cutting-edge facilities — Hawks Hall for the College of Business, as well as Kiewit Hall and the remodeled Scott Engineering Center for the College of Engineering — which have been a draw for first-year students.

Lance C. Pérez, Fred Hunzeker Dean of Engineering, credited a collective effort to move the college forward in national perception. That effort includes $115 million raised to build Kiewit Hall; expanded scholarship opportunities, including the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy and the Kiewit Scholars program; 68 new faculty hires in the last six years; increases in research funding; and greater levels of career excellence by engineering graduates.

“Our recent significant investments have generated a real excitement around Nebraska Engineering, capturing greater attention nationally,” Pérez said. “However, the true heart of our success lies in our dedicated staff and faculty. Their relentless commitment to this being a place where every person and every interaction matters is propelling our college and students toward greater achievements.”

In the College of Business, the ranking coincides with a record-breaking 11.1% increase in first-year business majors, with notable growth in accounting, actuarial science, business and law, and finance.

Update 10/8: Nebraska is running away from the pack and has what could be an unsurmountable lead in the blood donation drive. In one week we went from 46 donors to 530. Let's keep it up. Here are the top 5 leaders as of this morning.

University

Lives Saved

Donors

Nebraska

1590

530

Michigan

399

133

Wisconsin

375

125

Indiana

357

119

Purdue

333

111

In the first week of competition Nebraska is ahead in the Abbott/Big Ten Blood Drive competition. We are on top of the leaderboard with 46-and-counting blood donations logged. There is $1 Million Dollars on the line for the winning school to advance student or community health.


Students, alumni and fans can donate blood on behalf of Nebraska at blood centers across the country; donation totals will be tracked live at BigTen.Org/Abbott throughout the campaign.

Participants receive a free one-month subscription to B1G+ streaming service and are entered to win two tickets and a trip to the Big Ten Football Championship Game.

The competition comes at a time when the U.S. is experiencing one of the biggest blood shortages in a generation, in part due to the fact that the number of younger donors has declined sharply in recent years. The initiative aims to inspire young people to become life-long donors to ensure a stable blood supply, especially as older adults become unable to donate.


The X's and O's

"The We Give Blood Drive" blood donation competition will run during the college football season, from Sept. 26 through Dec. 6, with the winner announced at the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis.

So, how would you rank the current top ten?  It's easier to drop teams than to move teams up.

It always seems like a bunch of teams "don't look that good" but then who replaces them?  They don't look very good either often as not.

We have Texas at 1 and Oregon at 2, fair enough, and then it gets ..., murky.  Do you penalize teams for ugly wins?  I would, but several top tenners had ugly wins, PSU/Bama/UGA/Tenn.  BYU and A&M move up?  Ole Miss lost too.  LSU?  Clemson?

Atlanta Global Spotlight Drives Soaring Interest in Buckhead Condo (thedillonbuckhead.com)

Each year, the Economist Intelligence Unit assesses cities worldwide for their livability and publishes the highly anticipated Global Liveability Index. This report evaluates over 173 cities based on 30 indicators, including stability, healthcare, culture, environment, and education. Atlanta’s rise to 29th place globally—up four spots—is a testament to its impressive recent progress. The city's infrastructure benefits from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest, and an extensive transportation network that links its dynamic neighborhoods. Forbes highlights that Atlanta's stability, combined with its rich cultural heritage and vibrant arts scene, has positioned it as a highly desirable location for both residents and businesses.

This stuff is mostly subjective and weighted obviously.