Husker Corner
Fansided

Nebraska Football’s Leap Into AP Poll Marks First Appearance Since 2014

By Oliver Vandervoort

Sep 17, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers safety Nate Gerry (25) celebrates after a tackle against the Oregon Ducks in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers safety Nate Gerry (25) celebrates after a tackle against the Oregon Ducks in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Nebraska football team finds itself in familiar yet recently unfamiliar territory.

2014. That’s the last time the Cornhuskers were ranked in the AP Top 25. Seems almost unbelievable doesn’t it?

The program that used to be a staple in the Top 10 has not been in the rankings for the better part of two years. Here’s hoping the stay in the polls is going to be a long one.

Whether or not this is a brief stay, or the beginning of yet another long run is up to Mike Riley and company. The good news is the Nebraska football team went from getting just 13 votes the first two weeks of the season, to ranking 20th in the country after its come from behind victory against the Oregon Ducks.

The leap into the AP Top 25 was just one of the many changes that occurred thanks to a rather strange weekend in college football. The Huskers are one of five Big Ten teams to find themselves in the rankings, though the number of conference squads in those rankings has remained at five.

That’s because the Iowa Hawkeyes, who were ranked 13th in last week’s rankings fell out entirely after losing to FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. Speaking of NDSU, whether it was meant as a joke, or the AP voters are just really easily impressed, the Bison received quite a few votes for the AP Top 25.

As a matter of fact, North Dakota State received 74 votes, which got them more than Boise State (69), Iowa (47), California (44), Oklahoma State (42), Notre Dame (32), Oregon (23), North Carolina (17), Georgia Tech (17), Central Michigan (16), South Florida (7), Western Michigan (6), Toledo (6), Maryland (3), Arizona State (3), and Virginia Tech (1).

Next: Nebraska Football Set For ‘Proving Ground’ Game Against Oregon Ducks

The Nebraska football team will look to move up in the polls next weekend when they travel to Evanston to take on Northwestern. While the Wildcats have struggled so far this season, beating Duke for their first victory, Northwestern has been a thorn in Nebraska’s side since joining the Big Ten.

Home/Nebraska Football