Nebraska Football Picked 11th in Big Ten Preseason Poll: Is the Hype Over?
Nebraska football fans hoping for a breakthrough season under Matt Rhule got a dose of reality this week. The Huskers were picked to finish 11th in the Big Ten in the 2026 preseason media poll conducted by Cleveland.com. After three seasons of mediocrity, the benefit of the doubt has run out for a program that once claimed five national titles.
Under Rhule, Nebraska has gone 19-19 overall and returned to bowl eligibility in two of his three seasons. But in a conference that has produced the last three national champions with three different teams, the Big Ten has never been deeper. For a program with Nebraska's resources and expectations, 11th place is a clear signal that the status quo is no longer acceptable.
Where Nebraska Stands in the Big Ten
The Huskers are coming off back-to-back 7-6 seasons and will look to take the next step in 2026. But considering the compensation Rhule receives and the resources invested, expectations are rising as he enters his fourth year. Nebraska has gone 10-17 in Big Ten play since 2023. For a program that claims five national titles, that record simply does not measure up.
Theoretically, Nebraska is projected to be competitive in 2026. But the Huskers will face six programs predicted to finish ahead of them this fall. If the Big Red wants to exceed expectations, it will have plenty of opportunities to do so. Yet there is no denying it will be a tough road.
Big Ten Preseason Media Football Rankings
Here is the full preseason poll, with Nebraska's 2026 opponents in bold:
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Penn State
- Michigan
- USC
- Wisconsin
- Washington
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Michigan State
- UCLA
- Maryland
- Rutgers
- Northwestern
- Indiana
- Purdue
Is 11th Place Fair?
Considering the Huskers have won no more than four conference games in a single season since Rhule took over, an 11th-place finish is fitting. In 2025, Nebraska's 4-5 conference record tied it for 10th place. In 2024, the Huskers went 3-6 in Big Ten play and finished tied for 12th. Oddly enough, their best conference finish came in 2023. Despite another 3-6 record, NU tied for eighth in the overall standings while divisions were still in place.
Over the last three seasons, the Huskers have been a middle-to-lower-tier Big Ten team. Nebraska desperately wants to change that in 2026, but for now, their projection reflects what they have earned on the field. If the team believes it belongs higher, the only way to prove it is by winning more games.
What 11th Place Could Look Like This Fall
Dating back to 2023, teams that finished 11th in the Big Ten have generally been fringe bowl teams. Purdue went 4-8 (3-6 Big Ten) in 2023, Washington finished 6-7 (4-5 Big Ten) in 2024, and Northwestern, which Nebraska defeated in 2025, went 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten) last fall.
If the media's projection holds, the Huskers are likely looking at another season in that same range. At the high end, they will finish with the same record they have produced over the last two years. At the same time, they could be looking at four wins, something the program has not experienced since Scott Frost was fired in 2022.
With that in mind, this team needs more. Nebraska's goal should be to finish well above where it is projected. Failing to do so would raise even more questions about whether the progress Rhule has preached is truly translating into results on the field.
A Crowded Middle Tier
Ideally, the Huskers separate themselves from the middle tier of the Big Ten. Surpassing Minnesota (10th), Illinois (9th), Iowa (8th), and Washington (7th) would be a good start. None of those programs won fewer than eight games a year ago. For Nebraska, reaching that mark would be its highest win total since 2016.
Since joining the Big Ten, however, the Huskers have struggled to separate themselves from that group. In an era defined by NIL and revenue sharing, Nebraska's advantages in those areas need to start showing up in the win-loss column by the end of the year.
Against a schedule ESPN's FPI ranks as the 21st-most difficult this fall, that will not be easy. Even so, climbing into the upper half of the conference should be the expectation entering Rhule's fourth year.
What This Means for Iowa Fans
For Iowa fans, the poll confirms what many already know: the Hawkeyes (picked 8th) remain a solid step ahead of Nebraska in the Big Ten pecking order. The rivalry game between Iowa and Nebraska this fall will carry extra weight as both programs look to solidify their standing in the conference's crowded middle tier.
Stay tuned to Just The News Iowa for more updates on the Hawkeyes and the Big Ten as the season approaches.