Nebraska’s volleyball machine kept rolling Thursday night, and the numbers keep getting louder.
The Cornhuskers wrapped up their fourth straight Big Ten title with another straight-set win over a ranked opponent, handling No. 25 Illinois 25-23, 25-20, 25-12. Illinois pushed early, but Nebraska took over as the match went on and closed the door in convincing fashion.
That victory moved Nebraska to 26-0 overall and 15-0 in Big Ten play, giving the program its seventh 26-0 start in history. It also stretched the Huskers’ regular-season winning streak to 57 matches, with 64 straight victories now at John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The title adds to a long list of conference hardware for Nebraska. The Huskers now have 38 conference championships all-time, including seven in the Big Ten after titles in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. It’s the first time Nebraska has won four consecutive conference crowns since 2004-08, and its seven Big Ten titles are the most of any team in the league.
Nebraska was sharp at the net, finishing with a .483 hitting percentage. That topped last Sunday’s .477 mark and set the standard for the highest single-match hitting percentage against a ranked opponent in the rally-scoring era. Illinois finished at .200 in the loss.
The Huskers still have two regular-season matches left, hosting Iowa on Saturday night for Senior Night before facing Minnesota on Tuesday.
Nebraska’s newest program also got a major update Thursday, as the school released the inaugural 2027 flag football schedule. The first season will take the Huskers from Las Vegas to Arizona and include five home dates in Lincoln.
Nebraska opens Jan. 23-24 at the College Football Playoff Flag Football Showcase in Las Vegas. The first home event comes Feb. 27, when the Huskers host a triangular with Baker University and Eastern University at Barbara Hibner Stadium.
From there, Nebraska’s home slate continues with Marian University on March 13, Westminster University on March 31 and College of Saint Mary on April 4. The Huskers will also head to the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz., for the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, presented by Oakley, on April 10-11.
That event will feature a seven-on-seven showcase with Nebraska, UCF, Arizona State, Florida, Georgia, Cal Poly, Eastern Michigan and UT Arlington. The first day will include two pool-play games to set the bracket for the second day, and Nebraska will finish its home schedule April 24 against the University of Illinois-Springfield.
The program had originally been slated to begin play in 2028, but earlier this fall, AD Troy Dannen moved the start up to 2027.
Elsewhere, Nebraska wrestling is set for a heavyweight early-season test Friday night. The No.
3 Huskers, coming off a 28-9 win over No. 20 Wyoming in their opener, travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face No.
2 Oklahoma State. The dual starts at 7 p.m. and will air on ESPNU.
Nebraska’s men’s basketball team also picked up a comfortable win Wednesday, beating Lindenwood 94-60 behind Pryce Sandfort’s 22 points. Sandfort went 7 of 14 from the field and hit six 3-pointers, while Damon Wilkinson added 19 and Braden Frager scored 14. Wilkinson and Sandfort each had 17 points in the first half, outscoring the Lions by themselves before the break.
And on Thursday, Nebraska learned it will not have to face one of Rutgers’ top weapons this weekend. KJ Duff had surgery this week and will miss the rest of the season.
In Other News...
Nebraska May Have Found A Sneaky Coordinator Fit For Matt Rhule
Nebraskas search for a new offensive coordinator has already started to take on a familiar Matt Rhule flavor, with the Huskers looking for someone who can pair structure with flexibility and help steady the offense after Dana Holgorsens firing. One name that fits that profile is Landon Keopple, who has been running the offense at Texas State since January 2025 and has helped produce a unit that has shown up near the top of national rushing categories.
Keopples appeal goes beyond the numbers. He has coordinated offenses before at Southern Arkansas and has spent multiple stops working alongside GJ Kinne, giving him a background in systems that ask quarterbacks to operate efficiently while keeping the run game central. For Nebraska, that kind of rsum makes him a sneaky fit on paper, especially if Rhule wants a coordinator who can bring some continuity, development and a clear identity to the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska's Next OC Hire Feels Bigger Than Fans Expected
Nebraskas upcoming offensive coordinator search already feels like more than a routine staff move, because it is tied directly to the larger uncertainty around Matt Rhules future in Lincoln. The program still has the kind of resources and financial backing that can make a real splash, and recent contract business, including defensive coordinator Rob Aurichs extension, only underscores that the Huskers are willing to invest where they think it matters.
The search itself is shaping up to be a meaningful test of what Nebraska wants its offense to look like next, with six potential candidates identified who fit Rhules preferred philosophy. That gives the Huskers a real pool to work from, but it also raises the stakes, since the next hire will have to navigate both the expectations that come with the job and the uncertainty hanging over the programs direction. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Got A Huge Break In A Game Matt Rhule Needs
Rutgers took a major hit this week with wide receiver KJ Duff going under the knife for season-ending high-ankle surgery, a loss that changes the look of its offense heading into a matchup Nebraska has been circling. Duff had already established himself as one of the more dangerous pieces in the Rutgers passing game this season, and his rise had even put him on the radar as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
For Nebraska, the timing matters. Matt Rhules team needs every edge it can find in a game that could shape the conversation around the Huskers, and facing Rutgers without one of its top playmakers is a meaningful break. The Scarlet Knights still have enough talent to make things interesting, but losing a receiver with Duffs production and upside removes a layer of danger Nebraska would have had to account for. [Read more 🡒]