NEBRASKA TOPS AP POLL; USC SEVENTH.

Byline: Associated Press 

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 straight national title, is the overwhelming No. 1 pick in the Associated Press' preseason college football poll. USC, coming off a Rose Bowl championship, is ranked seventh.

Since the AP started its preseason poll in 1950, the Cornhuskers have opened at No. 1 four times but each time failed to finish that way. The last time was 1983, when the Huskers went 12-0 before losing 31-30 to Miami in the Orange Bowl.

``Somebody has got to be No. 1 in the preseason,'' Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said. ``We are as willing to accept that position as anyone.''

The Cornhuskers received 50 first-place votes for 1,644 points, easily outdistancing No. 2 Tennessee, which had seven first-place votes and 1,538 points.

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 but beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to claim the title.

It also marks the first time in seven years a team from Florida was not atop the preseason rankings. Florida State was first in 1991, 1993 and 1995, while Miami was No. 1 in 1990 and 1992 and Florida No. 1 in 1994.

The Volunteers, led by quarterback Peyton Manning, lost only once last season, collapsing in the second half in a 62-37 loss to Florida. This year, the Vols play the Gators on Sept. 21.

Florida State, last year's preseason No. 1, is third with five first-place votes and 1,529 points. Running back Warrick Dunn returns to lead the Seminoles.

Florida, unbeaten in '95 until humbled by Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl, is No. 4 with one first-place vote and 1,490 points. Danny Wuerffel is back after passing for 3,266 yards and 35 TDs.

Colorado is fifth, its highest preseason ranking since it entered the 1972 season at No. 2.

Notre Dame, with one first-place vote, is sixth, followed by USC, Texas, Ohio State and Syracuse.

Penn State is 11th, followed by Miami, Texas A&M, Michigan, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Northwestern, LSU, Arizona State, Kansas State, Iowa, Virginia, Kansas and Clemson.

Northwestern, the surprise team of '95 with a 10-2 record and No. 8 final ranking, makes its first preseason poll appearance since occupying the 20th spot in 1971.

Teams on NCAA probation are eligible for ranking in the AP poll, comprised of 67 sports writers and broadcasters from across the country. The number of voters has been increased by five to reflect team movement within Division I-A and a revamped format for selecting balloters.

Chart: AP PRESEASON TOP 25 (ran on page 1)

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