What do you get when you mix a big 24-3 win versus the Michigan State Spartans with two polls that have, all things considered, been very kind to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2011? You get the get the Huskers back in the top-10 in both the AP and Coaches Polls for the first time since their embarrassing blowout loss to the Wisconsin Badgers (who were victims of another heartbreaking loss on Saturday, by the way) a month ago, coming in strong at No. 9.
The squad also came in 10th in the latest BCS standings, creeping up dangerously close behind the South Carolina Gamecocks.
A day after Nebraska absolutely punished Michigan State, primarily with a defensive effort that they had desperately been hoping for all year long, the pride of Lincoln was rewarded with an impressive boost in both the AP, Coaches Polls and BCS. The rise couldn’t have possibly come at a better time, with the Huskers heading into the home stretch of their regular season schedule and more or less holding the key to their own destiny.
With games against the Northwestern Wildcats, Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan Wolverines still on the agenda, though, Nebraska can’t afford to take its foot off the gas. Victories to the end of the season will secure the team a berth in the conference championship against the best of the Leaders Division – a loss at any point more or less shatters that mission.
Check out the full top 25 for the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and BCS rankings below.
AP Poll:
Coaches Poll:
BCS: