Nebraska projected to finish 11th in the Big Ten in preseason poll

The annual Big Ten Preseason Poll from Cleveland.com was released earlier this week. Nebraska placed just outside the top 10 in the poll, projected to finish 11th.

Projections were based on points compiled by Cleveland.com, with Ohio State receiving the most at 540 and Purdue the fewest at 45. Nebraska is nestled between the two, with 246 points. This is 39 points higher than Wisconsin, which sits in 12th place, and 22 points below Minnesota.

In the top 10, six opponents await Nebraska this upcoming season. The teams are Ohio State (No. 1, 540 points), Oregon (No. 2, 527 points), Indiana (No. 3, 509 points), Washington (No. 7, 366 points), Iowa (No. 8, 365 points) and Illinois (No. 9, 364 points).

The ranking report also addressed Nebraska's expectations for the upcoming season, with head coach Matt Rhule's record standing at 19-19 through three seasons, including a 10-17 conference record. It also discussed Rhule's two-year contract extension, which ties him to the program through 2032, stating that Nebraska has hope in the head coach.

Under Rhule, Nebraska ended a nearly 10-year bowl game drought and produced back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in over a decade. Now, as provided in the report, hopes of success this season rely on UNLV transfer and Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Anthony Colandrea.

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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska projected to finish 11th in the Big Ten in preseason poll