For the first time since 2016, Nebraska is in the AP Top 25.
The preseason Associated Press poll was released Monday morning and the Huskers checked in at No. 24.
The Huskers joined six other Big Ten teams in the preseason poll, which was topped by Ohio State at No. 5. Michigan came in at No. 7, Penn State at No. 15, Michigan State at No. 18, Wisconsin at No. 19 and Iowa at No. 20.
The last time Nebraska appeared in a preseason poll — Associated Press or Coaches— was in 2014 when it opened at No. 22 in both. Nebraska just missed out on the preseason Coaches Poll, released on Aug. 1, but received the most votes of any team outside the top 25. Head coach Scott Frost, who has a vote in the poll, did not include the Huskers in his ballot.
Nebraska’s entry into the AP top 25 marks the first time overall since Week 15 of the 2016 season, a run of 33 consecutive polls without the Huskers.
In July, Nebraska was tabbed as the favorite to win the Big Ten West by the unofficial media poll conducted annually by cleveland.com. In Frost’s second season, the Huskers will undoubtedly hope to get off to a hot start.
The season begins on Aug. 31 against South Alabama at home. The following week the Huskers go to Boulder, Colorado, for a road contest with the Buffs on Sept. 7. On Sept. 14, Nebraska faces Northerin Illinois and then opens Big Ten play against Illinois on Sept. 21 before facing Ohio State at home on Sept. 28.
By S&P+ projections, Nebraska is expected to win each of those first four games, with win probabilities of 68 percent or higher in three of the four. Doing so would set up a potentially massive matchup with Ohio State on Sept. 28 inside Memorial Stadium.
