Nebraska Tabbed 16th, 17th by Major Publications; Three Huskers Individually Ranked

The Open Mat and Amateur Wrestling News have released their preseason rankings and tabbed the Nebraska wrestling team at No. 16 and No. 17 overall, while also placing three Huskers on the individual top 20 lists. Four of the five Big 12 wrestling teams are ranked by The Open Mat, led by No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 10 Missouri. Nebraska's highest-rated non-conference opponents will be a pair of future Big Ten opponents in No. 3 Minnesota and No. 7 Wisconsin.

The Huskers' highest individual hope for the 2010-11 season looks to be senior Jordan Burroughs, who enters this year with a 92-20 career record. The Sicklerville, N.J., native is ranked No. 2 at 165 pounds by both publications as he returns for a fifth year following an injury-shortened senior season. Aiming for a second-straight national championship, Burroughs suffered a torn LCL and PCL in December and was forced out of action. The two-time All-American had competed in less than 30 percent of the season's competitions and was granted a medical redshirt to return for a fifth year. Now at 165 pounds, Burroughs is aiming to become Nebraska's first-ever two-time national champion against a talented weight class that includes 2010 national titlist Andrew Howe of Wisconsin.

Junior Tucker Lane is ranked No. 7 in the Heavyweight division according to both rankings following a 23-12 season. A native of Redvale, Colo., Lane went 1-2 at the 2010 NCAA Championships when his run ended in a close 3-1 overtime loss to seventh-seeded Jarod Trice of Central Michigan. He finished third at the 2010 Big 12 Championships and is the second-highest ranked Big 12 wrestler behind No. 6 Alan Gelogaev of Oklahoma State, who moved up a weight class from last season.

Sophomore Josh Ihnen will also be looking to claim All-America honors for the first time in his career and is tabbed No. 8 at 184 pounds by The Open Mat and is picked 10th by Amateur Wrestling News. The Sheldon, Iowa native was 19-15 in his first varsity season and came within one match of claiming All-America status at the 2010 NCAA Championships. Ihnen was 3-2 at the national tournament with both losses coming to top-10 seeded opponents.

Cornell is ranked No. 1 in both rankings, while defending national champion Iowa is fifth (The Open Mat) and eighth (Amateur Wrestling News).

Nebraska opens its 100th anniversary season on Nov. 21 at the Buckeye Duals in Columbus, Ohio. The first home competition is Nov. 27 against Bucknell and South Dakota State.