The decision is yet to be made, Ewald revealed, as Alberts continues to evaluate the opportunity presented to him. The news comes as a surprise to Nebraska's executive-level athletic department staff, who were caught off guard by the potential departure of their key leader.

If Alberts were to accept the position at Texas A&M, he would be replacing Ross Bjork, who recently departed to join Ohio State as their athletic director. Alberts, who signed a contract extension until 2031 in July last year, would owe Nebraska a significant sum of $4.120 million in damages if he were to resign in 2022. His current annual base salary stands at $1.7 million.

Alberts has a strong affiliation with Nebraska, having been an All-America linebacker for the Cornhuskers' football team in the early 1990s. Following a successful football career, including being the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft, Alberts transitioned into athletic administration after working as a TV college football analyst. He served as the athletic director at Nebraska-Omaha before joining Nebraska in July 2021.

During his tenure at Nebraska, Alberts took on the task of rejuvenating the football program, which had faced challenges in recent years. He made the crucial decision to dismiss coach Scott Frost in 2022 and brought in Matt Rhule as his replacement. Additionally, Alberts spearheaded fundraising efforts for a $175 million football building and announced plans for a $450 million renovation of Memorial Stadium.

The possible departure of Alberts would mark the third high-profile exit from Nebraska's university system. President Ted Carter left last August to assume the presidency at Ohio State, and his replacement has not been named yet. Furthermore, Ronnie Green, the former chancellor of the flagship Lincoln campus, announced his retirement 15 months ago, with Rodney Bennett taking over as his successor last summer.

As of now, there has been no response from Alberts regarding the speculations surrounding his decision. Nebraska and Texas A&M await a final verdict from the athletic director, who faces an important choice that could shape the future of both universities' athletic programs.