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Barring any unexpected flips or sudden change of hearts in the final 24 hours, Nebraska won't be signing players from Texas on Wednesday. That hasn't happened since 1983.

This is, perhaps, not a complete surprise given coach Mike Riley's commitment to canvass the entire country for prospects — declining, at least publicly, to label any particular region as a higher priority than another (besides the immediate 500-mile radius). There will be 14 different states represented when NU announces its 2016 recruiting class Wednesday.

And it's a fine group of prospects. Just none are from Texas.

I can't help but flash back to five years ago.

Feb. 3, 2011. That was the day that five players from Texas signed letters of intent to play football at Nebraska. It was the fifth straight year that an NU class had at least five Lone Star State natives.

It was also the first day then-coach Bo Pelini was asked about the potential recruiting impact of the Huskers' move to the Big Ten. Nebraska's Big 12 membership officially was set to expire in a few months. Would NU's brand — its relevance — fade away in Texas?