Huskers move up in top-25 poll, Illinois enters rankings

The Nebraska football team’s first game of Big Ten play will officially be a battle of two top-25 ranked teams.

A week after debuting at 23rd in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll last week for the first time since 2019, the Huskers moved up a spot to 22nd in the updated version of the poll on Sunday.

Nebraska is 3-0 for the first time since 2016 after defeating Northern Iowa 34-3 on Saturday.

Related: Huskers 3-0 for first time since 2016 after 34-3 win over UNI

Next up for the Huskers is Illinois, who also entered the top-25 rankings on Sunday, debuting at 24th.

The Huskers and Illini will play Friday night at Memorial Stadium in what will be Nebraska’s third consecutive primetime game and fourth straight home game to start the season.

Nebraska has lost its last 24 games against ranked opponents since a win over Oregon in 2016. They’ll have a chance to snap that streak on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Five other Big Ten teams are ranked in the top-25 poll: Ohio State (No. 3), Oregon (No. 9), Penn State (No. 10), USC (No. 11) and Michigan (No. 18). The full AP top-25 poll is below.

1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Alabama
5. Ole Miss
6. Tennessee
7. Missouri
8. Miami
9. Oregon
10. Penn State
11. USC
12. Utah
13. Kansas State
14. Oklahoma State
15. Oklahoma
16. LSU
17. Notre Dame
18. Michigan
19. Louisville
20. Iowa State
21. Clemson
22. Nebraska
23. Northern Illinois
24. Illinois
25. Texas A&M