Cornhusker Case Competition | Nebraska Business Honors Academy | Academics | Business

2025 Cornhusker Case Competition

Thank you for your interest in representing your institution at the 2024 Cornhusker Business Case Competition hosted by the Nebraska Business Honors Academy. This is a competition for students by students. Undergraduate teams eager to apply their analytical and problem-solving skills to a business case are invited to compete!

October 9-10, 2025
Registration will open August 1, 2025 | Early Bird Registration through September 1: $250

Important Information

Team Composition

Teams of 4-5 undergraduate students

Prizes

As a recognition for excellence, top teams win the following cash prizes split evenly between team members:

1st Place:

$3,000

2nd Place:

$2,000

3rd Place:

$1,000

Case Information

This business case competition, hosted by Nebraska Business Honors Academy students, will challenge competitors to tackle a complex and evolving industry: casinos. Teams will apply a broad set of skills and present to different audiences. Teams will be in the shoes of a hypothetical casino operator. They will be given a budget and must decide on the location and operational structure of a brand-new casino. They will need to balance traditional in-person gambling with emerging trends such as online gaming, virtual reality experiences, and entertainment-based attractions. Additionally, teams must outline a plan for responsible gambling initiatives, including anti-gambling addiction education and community engagement efforts.

Pre-Competition Work

The first week of October, participating teams will be sent a case overview packet which will include details on the case, presentation expectations, and other required final deliverables. All case deliverables, supporting documents and presentation will be required to be returned by Sunday, October 5 at 11:59 p.m.

Tentative Competition Schedule

DAY 1 \| Thursday, October 9 \| Howard L Hawks Hall, Nebraska City Campus *Casual University Apparel
5-6 p.m.	Social Hour and Optional Tours

DAY 2 \| Friday, October 10 \| Howard L Hawks Hall, Nebraska City Campus *Business Professional Dress
8:15 a.m.	Check In
8:30-9 a.m.	Opening Remarks
9:15-11 a.m.	Presentation 1 (All Teams)
11 a.m.- 12 p.m.	Lunch
12 p.m.	New Case Information Released
12:15-1:15 p.m.	Teamwork Time
1:15-3 p.m.	Presentation 2 (All Teams)
3-3:30 p.m.	Break
3:30-4:45 p.m.	Final Presentation (Top 4 Teams)
5-5:30 p.m.	Awards

2024 Cornhusker Case Competition

View the 2024 Case

Winners

First Place: University of Texas - Austin

Second Place: University of Iowa

Third Place: University of Texas - Dallas

Travel Accommodations

Each visiting team is responsible for their own hotel and travel accommodations.

Location

Howard L. Hawks Hall

730 N 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68588

Hotel

We have partnered with the Graduate Hotel to offer teams a discounted rate. Enjoy the convenience of staying close to campus and saving some money. Book your discounted rooms by October 3.
Book Now

Air Travel

Destination: Lincoln Municipal Airport (LNK)

4 miles to City Campus
Visit go.unl.edu/airport-transportation for ground transportation and car rental options

Destination: Omaha Municipal Airport (OMA)
About 65 miles from campus or around an hour drive. Here are some options for getting from OMA to your visit in Lincoln:

Car Rental
Shuttle from Omaha airport to Lincoln will be provided upon request. Please email erin.burnette@unl.edu

Drive

When you drive to Lincoln, you'll have many options for parking near campus.

Explore UNL Parking Explore Lincoln Activities

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a successful team?

The most competitive team will have a group of students who possess the skills to analyze information critically, move quickly and deliberatively, and consider feedback from the judges.

What should I expect?

This is a competition for students run by students. We promise you a minimum of two presentations. You will also get two sets of feedback from the judges. Judges will be comprised of both faculty and industry representatives.

What does my registration cost cover?

Registration costs cover Thursday evenings networking social which includes heavy appetizers and desserts, Friday’s lunch, and other associated programming costs.

Do I have to be a business major to be on a team?

No, we welcome all majors to participate.

Who will the judges be?

A combination of industry professionals and faculty. Throughout the competition you will have the opportunity to receive both written and verbal feedback from the judges.