Kenny Larabee, NRG Media
An unofficial poll of Big Ten media tabbed the Nebraska football team as 11th in the conference heading into the 2026 season. The poll, taken a day before Big Ten Media Days opens in Chicago, picks Ohio State as the preseason favorite, with Oregon in second and defending national champion Indiana in third. All three are on the Cornhuskers’ schedule this year.
The poll is usually a fair barometer of Nebraska’s prospects for the year. Since it began in 2011, when the Huskers joined the conference, Nebraska has finished within two spots of where it was picked every year except two: 2019 and 2024.
Big Ten Media Days begins in Chicago Tuesday. The Huskers, including coach Matt Rhule, will be among the featured teams on Thursday.
BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
1-Ohio State
2-Oregon
3-Indiana
4-USC
5-Michigan
6-Penn State
7-Washington
8-Iowa
9-Illinois
10-Minnesota
11-Nebraska
12-Wisconsin
13-UCLA
14-Northwestern
15-Maryland
16-Michigan State
17-Rutgers
18-Purdue