I used to think Tennessee had an easier path to the top than Nebraska, but honestly I'm not so sure now.
Tennessee does have 2 things going for it that Nebraska does not. Nebraska has absolutely no in-state talent and is a poor geographic/cultural fit in their own conference. Tennessee is not oozing with in-state talent but has more than Nebraska does (
2020 Top Football Recruits in Nebraska), and obviously does not have a conference fit issue at all. Nebraska's recruiting issue today is that the Big 12 kids they used to recruit don't want to play in the Big Ten, and the Big Ten kids in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, etc. don't want to go to Nebraska. Their joining the Big Ten was great for them financially, but almost certainly makes recruiting harder. Their best option is to recruit nationally, but their brand isn't what it used to be. There are, of course, a lot of top recruits in SEC country that aren't considering Tennessee, but it's because we stink. That's different from not wanting to go to Tennessee because we stink plus we aren't in the SEC; that's what Nebraska's situation is.
Having said that, the best programs in the Big Ten West are Wisconsin and Iowa. Wisconsin is routinely a big overachiever and Iowa is solid pretty often. However, Ohio St, Michigan, Michigan, and Penn St are over in the other division. Because of that Nebraska arguably has a clearer path to a division title than Tennessee does at the moment.
The programs and fanbases remind me a lot of each other. Both fanbases show out even when the program stinks and I think a lot of their fans thought they could beat or at least be very competitive with Ohio St.