Nebraska Ranked No. 1, USC No. 7

Here’s a new twist for Nebraska: For the first time in 13 years, the Cornhuskers will start the season as the No. 1 team.

Nebraska, looking for an unprecedented third consecutive national title, is the overwhelming No. 1 pick in the Associated Press’ preseason college football poll.

Since the AP started its preseason poll in 1950, Nebraska has opened at No. 1 four times without finishing that way. The last time was 1983, when the Cornhuskers went 12-0 before losing, 31-30, to Miami in the Orange Bowl.

The Cornhuskers received 50 first-place votes for 1,644 points, easily outdistancing No. 2 Tennessee. USC is ranked No. 7.

Northwestern, which lost to USC in January’s Rose Bowl, is ranked 18th, marking the first time the Wildcats have been ranked in the preseason since 1971, when they were 20th.

No team has gone wire-to-wire ranked No. 1. Like Nebraska in ‘83, Florida State came close in ’93. The Seminoles were No. 1 for most of the season, lost to Notre Dame, then beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to claim the title.

Florida State, last year’s preseason No. 1, is third, with Florida No. 4 and Colorado No. 5.