Jesus Is Bigger Than Football

In 2025, the Nebraska Cornhuskers opened their season with a hard-fought victory over Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. But it wasn't the final score that captured the nation's attention; it was what happened afterward.

Players and coaches from both teams gathered at midfield in a powerful display of unity, bowing together in prayer. This heartfelt moment echoes a tradition that began nearly 40 years earlier, when Nebraska's Stan Parker and Oklahoma's Spencer Tillman, two rival team captains, met the night before their 1986 showdown, prayed together, and led their teammates in the first known organized joint prayer in college football history.

What began as a quiet act of faith between two believers has become a popular tradition across the sport.

The 2025 post-game prayer stood out not only because of the large number of players and coaches who took part, but also because the University of Nebraska's video, titled "Bigger Than Football," quickly went viral, reaching millions.

Inspired by that moment, Kingdom Sports co-founders Ron Brown and Gordon Thiessen decided to create a series of seven short, impactful messages after each home game that address a simple yet profound question: Why is Jesus bigger than football? Because faith and the love of Christ will always be bigger than the game.

This booklet brings together those seven reasons: heartfelt, Scripture-filled reflections from the hearts of Coach Ron Brown and Gordon Thiessen.

RON BROWN is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions and a former Nebraska FCA Director. Ron is an assistant coach with the University of Nebraska football team, where he has coached for more than three decades. You can find his videos and books at kingdomsports.online.

GORDON THIESSEN has published or written more than three hundred books on sports and competition. He founded Cross Training Publishing to provide resources for Christian coaches and athletes. Gordon served 28 years with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Nebraska. His videos and Bible studies are available at crosstrainingpublishing.com