Huskers rundown: A historic basketball season, spring football buzz, and more

The Huskers rundown will look back at the week in Nebraska athletics, highlighting key storylines and recapping everything in one place.

It was a busy week for the Huskers. Whether it was football, basketball, baseball, or softball, there was plenty going on and plenty to talk about.

We’ll start with Nebraska basketball. After a 20-point loss to UCLA earlier this week, the Huskers rebounded in a big way with an overtime win over Iowa, 84-75.

Sam Hoiberg and Cale Jacobsen, two former walk-ons, took over in the extra frame. Jacobsen, who finished the game a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, drilled two 3-pointers in overtime, one on an assist from Hoiberg.

Sam also took a rebound, and went coast-to-coast to give the Huskers a five-point lead. Both players scored 15 points, or 30 combined. They made 11-of-13 shots, combined for 11 rebounds, five assists, and six steals.

It was fitting that on Senior Day, against the Huskers arch rival, two former walk-ons delivered in a way nobody else did.

The Huskers have tied a school record for wins. They have 70 over the past three seasons — Danny Nee never had more than 65. In the last 68 years, since the Big 7 became the Big 8, Nebraska has never finished better than second in the conference, so this season tied the best conference performance, with the most conference wins in program history. The previous high was 13.

By any measure, this is the greatest Nebraska basketball team ever. It will be just the third team to end up ranked in the final AP poll, and the first since the 1993-94 team ended up ranked No. 22.

It needs to cross just one more thing off the list, though, and we all know what that is. That said, it appears Nebraska has the team do it. However, we thought that in 1990-91 and two years ago as well.

Nothing can be taken for granted.

Huskers spring ball buzz

Nebraska football held a scrimmage on Saturday, and there were two big takeaways for me: The offense looks completely different this season, and Rob Aurich knows what the hell he’s doing.

Nebraska OC Dana Holgorsen said the offense was doing things that it hasn’t since his arrival in Lincoln, back in the fall of 2024. It wasn’t meant to be a direct shot at Dylan Raiola, but it was.

Holgorsen also discussed the creativity within the quarterback room. He was clearly excited about it. Anthony Colandrea is known for making things happen. Dylan Raiola was known for making a good throw if everything else held up.

If the protection was perfect and the route was great, he could usually deliver a great ball. But he couldn’t improvise. The kid was a statue, who frankly didn’t have any moxie, for as much as he wanted to cosplay as Pat Mahomes, his play on the field couldn’t be farther from that.

Colandrea is much more in that mold. Fans might not be excited about this season or the new quarterback, but Holgorsen certainly is.

Rob Aurich talked about his “cheetah” package, which is the four best pass rushers and five best defensive backs on the field with the mission of “hunting the quarterback.”

The new defensive coordinator talked about the competition to get into that package. Defensive tackle Jashear Whittington got some praise for his “twitch.” Aurich also praised 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle Sua Lefotu. That’s another player having a strong spring up front.

Anthony Jones, the UCLA transfer, also sounds like a perfect fit for this defense. Expect to see him a lot in pass-rushing situations this season.

This defense is experienced and seems to have more juice. Dexter Foster is also emerging at linebacker, and a top three of Owen Chambliss, Vincent Shavers, and Foster is exciting.

This Huskers defense will exceed expectations.

Huskers sweep in baseball and softball

Nebraska baseball has learned from the past two seasons and started strong in 2026. That continued this weekend with a three-game sweep of Michigan State.

The Huskers wrapped up the sweep on Sunday with their 10th in the season (10-5, 3-0). Dylan Carey homered twice. Gavin Blachowicz struck out 11 Spartans in seven innings of work. He allowed two runs on three hits in the run-rule win.

It was the third solid effort from a starting pitcher this weekend. Ty Horn went seven innings and allowed just one run on five hits. He didn’t get a decision because a three-run ninth by the Spartans tied the game, before Case Sanderson hit a walk-off home run to win it.

Carson Jasa also got his second win of the season on Saturday in a 3-1 triumph. He struck out nine MSU batters in five innings, while allowing one run on four hits. Cooper Katskee, the All-American transfer, picked up the save after two scoreless innings.

The Nebraska softball team also ripped through a pair of games against South Dakota State and Omaha. Nebraska beat the Jackrabbits 9-4 and 8-0. Then, it followed up with a 4-1 win over Omaha, as well as a 10-2 victory.

Jordy Fraham tossed a two-hitter in the win over Omaha (4-1). She’s 6-3 this season with a 1.51 ERA. That’s on top of 88 strikeouts. The senior is also batting .437 with eight home runs and 24 RBI.

Wrestling

The Huskers finished third at the Big Ten wrestling tournament. There were five who reached the podium. Four finished in second: Antrell Taylor, Christopher Minto, Camden McDanel, and AJ Ferrari.

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