2C Fet 27, 1977 Lincoln, Neb., Sunday Journal and Star Ql I May Be yTjf Wrong y Tirgi Parker Jumping the gun Football News, the weekly publication out of Detroit, isn't about to be beaten by anybody else. In the current issue, they picked the top 30 college football teams for next season. You aren't going to like this, but the Nebraska Cornhuskers wilt finish fourth in the Big Eight race next fall and barely squeeze into the nation's top twenty according to FN. The publication picks Michigan as its No. 1 team, followed by Notre Dame, Ohio State and Pittsburgh. Oklahoma gets the highest nod for a Big Eight team at No. 5. : . While admitting that the Big Eight, overall, will remain the r "toughest league in the country," Football News doesn't accord any other top ten spot to the conference. I. - The remaining teams in that elite circle are given to 1 Southern Cal, Alabama (Nebraska's second foe of the season), ? Perm State, Arizona State and Houston. t Four in next ten ; Following Maryland (No. 11) and Texas Tech comes Z Colorado at No. 13. The paper puts UCLA and Texas in the 14th and 15th spots. Oklahoma Slate is No. 16, and thus presumably third in the Big Eight. Z. . After Georgia and Texas A&M comes Nebraska (No. 19), with Iowa State rated 20th. FN's list is rounded out by Florida, Washington, Tennessee, - Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Stanford, Missouri, LSU and Baylor. That means six of the Big Eight teams - all but the two ; Kansas schools will be among the top 30 In the nation. Cornhusker coach Tom Osborne probably welcomes being ranked down in the pack. He certainly didn't relish the added pressure which a No. 1 rating caused last fall. FN suggests that no team can earn No. 1 recognition . without an effective running game. Michigan, it is noted, returns Its entire front five offensive linemen, including tnree ' all - conference starters. Quarterback the key ; While admitting that the quarterback la just one of 11 ; ptavers on offense, the Football News article points out that : . every one of the top eight teams in the final 1976 polls had retur - ning experienced signal callers. ; Of last year's top twenty, only three teams started off with : new quarterbacks. UCLA had lost John Sciarra, but surprised :I with a vastly improved Jeff Dankworth. Ohio State lost ; Cornelius Greene, but came up with super soph Rod Gerald, : while Colorado found a fine replacement for David Williams in I Jeff Knapple. If this is an accurate barometer, FN says, then Nebraska . (Vince Ferragamo), Southern Cal (Vince Evans), Georgia (Ray Goff), UCLA (Dankworth), Oklahoma State (Charlie : Weatherbie), Notre Dame (Rick Slager), Florida (Jimmy - 1 Fisher) and Missouri (Steve Ptsarkiewicz) all have a major problem to solve. A good schedule is a big key to earning high national honors. This is one of the hazards of being a member of the Big Eight. Michigan needs to win just one game (Ohio State) to be assured of being the Big Ten s King of the Hill. In the Big Eight, it's dog - eat - dog every week. If the schedule Is too weak. team won't attract national attention. If it s too strong, you'll never make it. Michigan has the proper formula Texas A4M and Ohio State at home and not much else. Oklahoma may be facing too much by playing Ohio State in - Columbus and its annual Texas clash In addition to the rugged Big Eight schedule. But, the Sooner play Nebraska, Colorado and Iowa State in Norman next fall. That should be a big plus. Nebraska's home schedule is advantageous as well. The Huskers play six of their first seven games in Lincoln, with only Kansas State on the road. Included In the home games are Alabama. Baylor, Iowa State and Colorado - all In FN's top 30 list. If Nebraska jells, the three tough road games - Oklahoma State, Missouri and Oklahoma at least occur during the final four weeks of the campaign.