The Nebraska softball team cracked the preseason top-25 rankings in both major polls opening tied for 20th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and coming in 21st in the NFCA/USA Today poll.
Nebraska enters the preseason polls for the first time since 2007. The Huskers are coming off a 41-14 record and a #21 final ranking in both polls last season. Nebraska returns eight starters.
Nebraska was one of just two Big Ten teams to appear in the poll, as Michigan is #15 ranking in the NFCA poll and tied for 16th in the ESPN.com poll. Ohio State and Northwestern also received votes in the ESPN poll.
The Huskers’ open the 2012 season on Feb. 9 against Washington at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Nebraska opens its season with back-to-back games against top-15 teams, as the Huskers’ second game comes against Arizona, which earned a No. 8 preseason ranking in both polls.
NFCA poll
1 Arizona St.60-6
2 Florida 56-13
3 Alabama 53-11
4 California 45-13
5 Oklahoma 43-19
6 Missouri 53-13
7 Baylor 47-15
8 Arizona 43-18
9 Stanford 42-17
10 Georgia 51-14
11 Oklahoma St.42-20
12 Washington 37-16
13 Kentucky 40-16
14 Tennessee 49-12
15 Michigan 53-6
16 Oregon 42-16
17 Texas A&M 44-15
18 Texas 46-10
19 UCLA 36-19
20 Houston 44-18
21 Nebraska 41-14
22 LSU 40-18
23 La.-Lafayette 51-11
24 Tulsa 46-15
25 Louisville 38-20
USA Softball poll
1. Arizona State (19) 60-6
2. Alabama 53-11
3. California 45-13
4. Florida (1)56-13
5. Missouri 53-10
6. Oklahoma 43-19
7. Baylor 47-15
8. Arizona 43-18
9. Tennessee 49-12
10. Stanford 42-17
11. Oregon 42-16
12. Georgia 51-14
13. UCLA 36-19
14. Washington 37-15
15. Texas A&M 44-15
T16. Michigan 53-6
T16. Oklahoma State 40-20
18. Kentucky 40-16
19. Texas 46-10
T20. LSU 40-18
T20. Nebraska 41-14
22. Houston 44-18
23. Georgia Tech 45-12
24. Louisiana-Lafayette 51-11
25. Notre Dame 46-11
