Despite Bye Week, Cornhuskers Might Crack Top Ten in FBS Playoff Rankings

For the second time this season, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have an open date on their schedule, but this bye week will be anything but boring for the Huskers.

Several key games, including Michigan State - Ohio State, Arizona State - Notre Dame, and TCU - Kansas State, could have a direct impact on the Huskers status in the national polls, even landing #13 Nebraska in the Top Ten, if the right teams win and lose.

With the potential of a trio of teams ahead of them in the FBS Playoff Rankings, Nebraska (8-1) could find itself as one of only ten teams in the nation with a lone loss heading into the final three weeks of the regular season.

I asked the 'Voice of the Cornhuskers', Greg Sharpe, about the prospects of Nebraska moving into the Top Ten without even setting foot in the field this weekend:

Win number eight of the year came last Saturday, 35-14 against Purdue in Lincoln.

The game saw the Huskers turn the ball over three times, and lose starting running back Ameer Abdullah early to a knee injury.

But the Nebraska defense picked up the slack in the victory that still wasn't big enough for some in 'Husker Nation':

As for Abdullah, he benefits most from the week off this weekend, and all signs point to number eight taking the field in Madison against the Badgers next Saturday:

That game in Wisconsin Saturday kicks off a season-ending stretch of three-straight games for the Huskers with the other teams currently deadlocked atop the Big Ten West Division standings.

I asked Greg about what should be a very entertaining last month of the regular season:

Nebraska is back in action next Saturday at Wisconsin.  Kickoff time has yet to be determined.

Catch all of the Cornhusker action all season long on ESPN 99.1.