Courtesy of Alpha Media Lincoln.LINCOLN–(NU Athletics Jan. 13)–The Nebraska softball team was ranked No. 21 in Softball America’s preseason poll, the organization announced on Monday. The Huskers are one of five Big Ten teams represented in the poll, as UCLA came in at No. 5, Northwestern was No. 18, Michigan was No. 23 and Penn State came in at No. 25. NU is set to play eight teams that are ranked in Softball America’s preseason top 25 – No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 8 Duke, No. 9 Texas Tech, No. 15 Missouri, No. 16 Baylor and No. 18 Northwestern. The Big Red opens its season on Thursday, Feb. 6 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic against Tennessee, who was tabbed No. 6 in the poll, at 6 p.m. (CT) in Clearwater, Fla. Softball America Preseason Top 25 1. Florida 2. Texas 3. Oklahoma 4. Oklahoma State 5. UCLA 6. Tennessee 7. Texas A&M 8. Duke 9. Texas Tech 10. Florida State 11. Alabama 12. LSU 13. Arkansas 14. Arizona 15. Missouri 16. Baylor 17. Georgia 18. Northwestern 19. Cal 20. Liberty 21. Nebraska 22. Virginia Tech 23. Michigan 24. Virginia 25. Penn State