The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a chance to make massive noise once again in 2026-27. Fred Hoiberg’s team rewrote the Cornhuskers basketball record book last season. It included not only the school’s first NCAA Tournament win but also a squad led by the dynamic duo of Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager that reached the Sweet 16.
Both of those players are back this season, and they even have some more weapons around them. It might be too soon to say, but Nebraska could make another huge run. They are, by far, a program that teams across the nation have to deal with. Let’s take a closer look at the 2026-27 Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Basketball 2026-27 Season Preview
Roster Make-Up
Sandfort returns for his senior campaign after leading Nebraska last season with 18.1 points per game. Add in Frager, who was the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year as a true freshman last season. Not to mention a healthy Connor Essegian, who gives the Huskers three high-volume shooters.
The Huskers had to replace Rienk Mast in the post, but Leo Curtis should step right in after getting some important minutes in the NCAA Tournament as a freshman last season. He’s 7-foot-2 and has really grown into his size. Transfers Damon Wilkinson and Sam Orme will both provide good minutes in the frontcourt as well.
Hoiberg found a gem with Frager in last season’s freshman class. This year, that kind of role could fall to Colin Rice, who is the top incoming freshman for the Cornhuskers. Elsewhere, the Huskers had to go to the portal to find a new ballhandler, and San Diego State transfer Taj DeGourville should help take some of the pressure off Essegian and Sandfort.
Returners: Essegian, Will Cooper, Curtis, Cale Jacobsen, Frager, Henry Burt, and Sandfort.
Newcomers: Wilkinson, Kadyn Betts, Orme, Trevan Leonhardt, Rice, Jacob Lanier, DeGourville, and Boden Kapke.
The CE0 is back. 📈 pic.twitter.com/on32fqjZvj
— Nebraska Men's Basketball (@HuskerMBB) August 31, 2026
Schedule Outlook
The Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball team looks to be in serious business. Just look at their exhibition games. They have a home date with Saint Louis. Then, a huge face-off with BYU in Provo. That leads to their home opener on Nov 2 against Le Moyne. That is a much quieter opening game, but they will be tested in the non-conference this year.
The Cornhuskers will travel to Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut to take on Providence in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off. Other massive matchups include some neutral-site matchups with Boise State (Sioux Falls) and Butler (Chicago). December features some old-school rivalry games for the Huskers, with a trip to Creighton and then a duel with Missouri.
That is some high-level foes throughout the non-conference. The focus will quickly turn to conference play, as Nebraska looks to repeat its top-four finish in the Big Ten last season. Getting two matchups with Michigan State is huge, both home and away, especially after their lone meeting last season; the Huskers got the Win. They get Iowa and Penn State home and away as well. Getting home games against Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, UCLA, and USC is massive. Traveling to Illinois will be tough, as will the trip to the Pacific Northwest.
B1G opponents locked in. 🔒 pic.twitter.com/YfzZhEKArg
— Nebraska Men's Basketball (@HuskerMBB) May 12, 2026
The Last Word
Nebraska has plenty of games on the schedule to more than prove they belong in the field come March. With the expanded field, it should almost be expected. The returning stars, alongside some big additions, will only make things easier for Hoiberg. He’s finally got Nebraska built up, like he did during his time at Iowa State. They might not be able to replicate the 15-5 Big Ten record in 2026-27, but they certainly have the guys to be among the top eight teams in the conference.
Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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