Where Football Polls and Metrics Have Nebraska Placed Going Into Week 3

Nebraska keeps pounding inferior teams and keeps moving up in nearly all of the national polls and rankings we monitor.

The Huskers took apart Bowling Green, 56-7 last Saturday, and national rankings, in knee-jerk fashion, saw the final score — and all of those points — and improved Nebraska’s ranking.

But not everybody. The Athletic 138 dropped the Huskers by one place and the Associated Press Top 25 still hasn’t given Nebraska a single vote.

But ESPN’s Football Power Index moved the Huskers to 20, from 23, and improved their odds to win eight games. FPI also has improved Nebraska’s odds to win six games, which would be bowl eligibility.

Each Wednesday, we’ll take a look at where six national polls and rankings place Nebraska’s football team.

The six polls and rankings we monitor are:

   * Associated Press Top 25
   * The Athletic 138
   * CBS Sports
   * USA Today Coaches Poll
   * ESPN’s Football Power Index
   * Massey Ratings

The Huskers improved to 31.3 in an average of five polls and rankings (the Huskers were unranked in the AP Top 25) we monitor. Last week, it was 32.6.

Nebraska’s best ranking is 20th by ESPN, and its worst ranking is 59th by The Athletic.

The Huskers play host to FCS North Dakota on Saturday (6:15 p.m., Big Ten Network).

Associated Press Top 25

Nebraska is not ranked in the AP Top 25 for the fourth consecutive week. The Huskers still haven’t received a vote.

Fifteen teams were among “others receiving votes” across America — but not the Huskers — including Pitt and Kansas State, who each received one vote.

Seven Big Ten teams are ranked in the Top 25, Ohio State dropping out of No. 1 after its stunning fourth-quarter breakdown and loss to Texas. And puzzling Oregon tumbled from 6 to 21 after its loss at Oklahoma State.

   4. Indiana
   6. Ohio State
   12. USC
   14. Penn State
   18. Iowa
   19. Michigan
   21. Oregon

Among “others receiving votes,” Washington is 26, and UCLA is 35. That’s nine Big Ten teams ranked above Nebraska, which is where things seemed to stand before the season began.

The Athletic 138

Nebraska is ranked 59th, by far its worst among the rankings we monitor and down one spot from last week. The Huskers finished 52nd last season.

Mozee carrying the ball — Nebraska running back Isaiah Mozee scores a touchdown against Bowling Green. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

CBS Sports

Nebraska improved to 41 from 42. The Huskers are ranked ahead of the following eight Big Ten teams:

   43. Illinois
   48. Maryland
   56. Minnesota
   60. Northwestern
   65. Wisconsin
   79. Michigan State
   94. Purdue
   101. Rutgers

Nebraska plays Michigan State, Maryland, Illinois and Rutgers from this group in 2026.

Nine Big Ten teams are ranked above Nebraska:

   5. Ohio State
   6. Indiana
   11. USC
   15. Penn State
   16. Oregon
   20. Michigan
   21. Iowa
   28. Washington
   30. UCLA

Nebraska plays Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, Washington and Iowa from this group in 2026.

USA Today Coaches Poll

Nebraska is among “others receiving votes” at 34, with 18 points. Nebraska was 36 last week with 11 points. The 25th-ranked team, Virginia, has 249 points. The USA Today panel consists of 72 coaches who vote, including Matt Rhule.

ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI)

Nebraska moved to 20 from 23, the Huskers’ best ranking among the polls and rankings we monitor. Nebraska made a significant jump in long-range odds. FPI projects Nebraska for 8.3 wins and 3.8 losses, up from last week’s 7.5 projected wins and 4.5 projected losses.

After consecutive 7-6 seasons, grabbing that eighth win would show progress for coach Matt Rhule’s program. The difference between 8-5 and 7-6 is only one game but significant in the psyche of the fan base.

Nebraska takes the field before the game against Bowling Green at Memorial Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Here are FPI’s odds for Nebraska’s season:

   * Chance of winning six games, which would make the Huskers bowl eligible: 95.8 percent (last week: 88.1 percent)
   * 8.3 projected wins and 3.8 projected losses (last week: 7.5 projected wins to 4.5 projected losses)
   * 3.0 percent chance of winning the Big Ten (last week: 1.2 percent chance)
   * 18.0 percent chance of making the College Football Playoff (last week: 9.9 percent chance)
   * 1.4 percent chance of making the national championship game (last week: 0.6 percent chance)
   * 0.5 percent chance of winning the national championship (last week: 0.1 percent)

Massey Ratings

Massey Ratings are a compilation of 40 different college football rankings. In the consensus of the 40 rankings, the Huskers moved up three places to 34th. Indiana is No. 1, followed by Texas, Notre Dame, Alabama and Georgia.

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