COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NATION : Revived Nebraska Faces West Virginia

Nebraska, ranked No. 4 in the preseason Associated Press poll and one of the national championship favorites this season, takes on No. 24 West Virginia today in the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium.

Haunted by a history of big-game flops, the undefeated Cornhuskers entered the last Orange Bowl as 17-point underdogs to top-ranked Florida State, then outplayed the Seminoles before losing, 18-16, when a last-second field-goal attempt sailed wide.

“I think the Orange Bowl changed the public perception of Nebraska,” said offensive tackle Rob Zatechka. “It didn’t change us, but it changed what people thought about us.”