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The AP preseason Top 25 poll was released on August 19, 2024, and for the second consecutive year, the Nebraska Cornhuskers received zero votes. The omission underscores the program’s ongoing rebuild under head coach Matt Rhule, who enters his second season after a 5–7 campaign in 2023.
A Tough Road Ahead: Five Ranked Opponents
Nebraska’s regular-season schedule features five teams that made the AP preseason cut: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No. 6 Indiana, No. 17 Washington, and No. 22 Iowa. That’s the most ranked opponents on a single Nebraska schedule since 2016. The Huskers will face four of those five on the road, with only Iowa visiting Lincoln.
The opening five games — vs. UTEP, at Colorado, vs. Northern Iowa, at Illinois, and vs. UCLA — include no preseason ranked teams. That gives Rhule a chance to build momentum before the gauntlet begins. However, the lack of a ranked win in the early stretch could also hurt Nebraska’s AP polling chances later.
Why Zero Votes? A Look at the Context
Receiving zero votes means no AP voter believed Nebraska was among the top 40 or so teams in the country. While the Huskers have a history of preseason hype (they were ranked in the preseason poll in 2018, 2019, and 2020), the past three seasons have eroded that goodwill. Nebraska went 4–8 in 2021, 4–8 in 2022, and 5–7 in 2023. The program has not played in a bowl game since 2016 and has not finished with a winning record since 2016.
Rhule’s first season showed flashes of defensive improvement, but the offense struggled with consistency and quarterback play. Jeff Sims transferred to Arizona State, and the QB competition between Heinrich Haarberg, Chubba Purdy, and true freshman Dylan Raiola remains unresolved entering fall camp. Raiola, a five-star recruit, has drawn national attention, but true freshmen rarely vault a team into the rankings immediately.
Exclusive Perspective: Comparing to Other Unranked Power Five Teams
Nebraska is not alone in receiving zero votes. Other notable Power Five programs that went vote-less include Arizona State, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and Rutgers. But among Big Ten teams, only Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, and Michigan (ranked No. 9) earned votes. That leaves Nebraska in the second tier of a conference that has expanded to 18 teams.
One AP voter, who spoke to KLKN on condition of anonymity, said: “Nebraska has the talent to be a fringe top-25 team, but they need to prove it on the field. The schedule is brutal, and the quarterback situation is a question mark. Voters are in wait-and-see mode.”
What This Means for Nebraska’s Season
The zero-vote preseason poll is a reality check, but it also provides Rhule with a motivational tool. “We don’t control what others think of us,” Rhule said in a recent press conference. “We control our preparation and our performance. The rankings will take care of themselves if we win games.”
Nebraska’s first chance to change the narrative comes on August 31 against UTEP. A strong start — especially a win at Colorado in Week 2 — could generate early buzz. But the true test will be the back half of the season, when the Huskers face four ranked teams in a six-week span.
Historical Context: Nebraska’s Fall from Grace
Nebraska has not been ranked in the AP Top 25 since October 2020, when the Huskers were No. 20 before losing to Iowa. That’s a streak of 31 consecutive poll weeks without a ranking. The program’s last preseason ranking was in 2020 at No. 14. The current zero-vote status is a low point, but not unprecedented: Nebraska also received zero preseason votes in 2021 and 2023.
Looking Ahead
The Big Ten schedule is unforgiving, but Nebraska’s roster has improved through transfers and recruiting. If the offensive line stabilizes and the QB position delivers, the Huskers could surprise. A bowl-eligible season (6 wins) would be a step forward, and a 7- or 8-win season could put them back on the AP ballot.
For now, the message is clear: Nebraska has to earn its way back into the national conversation. The zero-vote preseason poll is a reflection of recent results, not a judgment of potential. The season starts September 1, and the Huskers have 12 opportunities to prove the voters wrong.
