Cornhuskers Get No Help From Playoff Rankings, Head to Wisconsin Saturday

As they sat back and enjoyed a bye week last week, things seemed to be falling into place for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Already parked right outside the Top Ten in the national polls, the Huskers looked poised to move up after four Top Ten teams lost in Week 11.

Sure enough, when the AP and USA Today Coaches polls were released this past Monday, there was Nebraska at #11, up four in the AP poll, up three in the coaches poll.

So it stood to reason that when the College Football Playoff Rankings were announced Tuesday, the Huskers were be up from their previous #13 ranking.

Not so fast.

Despite being 8-1, Nebraska dropped three spots, to #16, behind seven other teams with two losses each.

So why the curve ball from the playoff committee?

'The Voice of the Cornhuskers', Greg Sharpe, has an explanation:

The big question this week in Lincoln isn't about the polls though, it's about the status of Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah, who missed most of the Huskers win over Purdue two weeks ago with a sprained MCL in his left knee.

I asked Greg if Abdullah will play against the Badgers:

Nebraska's defense will have their work cut out for themselves Saturday in Madison, as they try to slow down the nation's top runner, Melvin Gordon.

Gordon has topped 100 yards in eight of Wisconsin's nine games this year, going over 200 yards twice.  He averages about eight yards and a carry and has scored 19 touchdowns so far.

Greg says he's as good as advertised:

Kickoff in Madison is 2:30pm Saturday.

Nebraska hosts Minnesota next Saturday.  Kickoff time has yet to be determined.

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