MINNEAPOLIS — The most-played series in major college football history, the bitter border-state rivalry between Minnesota and Wisconsin, is punctuated each year with a postgame ritual by the winning team that could be described as jubilant yardwork.
People are also reading…
- Kearney restaurant owner Carlos Godinez will be deported
- Nebraska spring football game live updates, score and highlights
- Where to watch the Nebraska football spring game: Time, TV channel
- Proposal to let nonresidents vote in Omaha, Lincoln elections advances in auditor oversight bill
- How to watch the Nebraska football spring game: Time, TV channel
- Grand Island man arrested for fifth DUI offense
- Nebraska softball triumphs over No. 7 UCLA in 4-1 victory
- Nebraska-Iowa basketball live updates, stats and highlights
- ICE detains Kearney entrepreneur with deep Nebraska ties
- Nebraska's Emmett Johnson receives national praise before NFL draft
- Think Lincoln has enough coffee shops? Think again — 2 more 7 Brews coming.
- New Grand Island restaurant offers Cuban buffet with Central American influences
- 1 adult, 4 juveniles charged for altercation following GISH student walkout
- Malmo Fire Department prepares to host 27th annual breakfast
- Movies and TV shows casting in Lincoln
Michigan defensive tackle Quinton Washington (76) and cornerback Courtney Avery (11) celebrate with the Little Brown Jug trophy Oct. 5, 2013, after the team's win over Minnesota in an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Tony Ding, Associated Press
Iowa defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne (96) celebrates with the Floyd of Rosedale trophy Oct. 25 after an NCAA college football game against Minnesota in Iowa City, Iowa.
Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press
Indiana's Mike Katic celebrates with the Old Oaken Bucket after defeating Purdue in a Nov. 30, 2024, NCAA college football game in Bloomington, Ind.
Darron Cummings, Associated Press
Texas punter Jack Bouwmeester (19) celebrates Oct. 11 with the Golden Hat after defeating Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman
UNLV pulls the Fremont Cannon trophy, awarded to the winner of the annual Battle of Nevada game, on the field after defeating Nevada in a Nov. 30, 2024, NCAA college football game in Las Vegas.
David Becker, Associated Press
TCU safety Bud Clark (21) celebrates Sept. 20 with the "iron skillet" after the team's win over SMU in an NCAA college football game in Fort Worth, Texas.
Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press
The 2024-2025 school year saw a growing number of students at campuses nationwide. Undergraduate enrollment was up by 3.2% in the spring of 2025, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. That increase is all the more noteworthy when you consider the current price tag for a college education—per the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of one year at a higher education institution clocks in at more than $38,000 in 2022-23. Still, college offers a valuable return on investment for many prospective students. An analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that in recent years, college grads earned a median of $80,000 per year, while workers with only a high school diploma earned a median of $47,000 per year.
With this in mind, the return on investment may be more apparent at some schools than others. Stacker compiled a list of the best colleges in America using Niche's 2026 rankings. All four-year schools in Niche's database were considered. Niche ranks colleges using various factors, including academics, admissions, finances, and student life. You can check out the full methodology here.
- Winston Tan // Shutterstock
Best colleges in America
![]()
Best colleges in America
The 2024-2025 school year saw a growing number of students at campuses nationwide. Undergraduate enrollment was up by 3.2% in the spring of 2025, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. That increase is all the more noteworthy when you consider the current price tag for a college education—per the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of one year at a higher education institution clocks in at more than $38,000 in 2022-23. Still, college offers a valuable return on investment for many prospective students. An analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that in recent years, college grads earned a median of $80,000 per year, while workers with only a high school diploma earned a median of $47,000 per year.
With this in mind, the return on investment may be more apparent at some schools than others. Stacker compiled a list of the best colleges in America using Niche's 2026 rankings. All four-year schools in Niche's database were considered. Niche ranks colleges using various factors, including academics, admissions, finances, and student life. You can check out the full methodology here.
- Winston Tan // Shutterstock
