- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Iowa Coach Praises Nebraska's 'Class Program' After Sweet 16 Matchup
Ben McCollum acknowledges the rivalry between the two programs but says there's 'not a lot of bad blood'.
Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:36pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum praised Nebraska and head coach Fred Hoiberg after the Hawkeyes defeated the Cornhuskers 77-71 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. McCollum, who is from Iowa, acknowledged the rivalry between the two programs but said there is 'not a lot of bad blood' and that he has 'the utmost respect' for Nebraska's players and coaching staff.
Why it matters
The Iowa-Nebraska rivalry is a long-standing one, with the Hawkeyes holding a 29-16 all-time advantage over the Cornhuskers. McCollum's comments show a level of sportsmanship and respect between the two programs, even as they compete fiercely on the court.
The details
Iowa and Nebraska faced off in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, with the Hawkeyes emerging victorious 77-71. After the game, Iowa head coach Ben McCollum praised Nebraska and head coach Fred Hoiberg, saying he has 'the utmost respect' for the Cornhuskers' program and players. McCollum, who is from Iowa, acknowledged the rivalry between the two teams but said there is 'not a lot of bad blood' between them.
- Iowa and Nebraska have met 45 times in their history.
- Iowa holds a 29-16 all-time record against Nebraska.
- This was the first time the two teams had faced off in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
The players
Ben McCollum
The first-year head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who grew up in Iowa and is familiar with the rivalry between the two programs.
Fred Hoiberg
The head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who has led the program to new heights after struggling in his first few seasons.
What they’re saying
“A lot of people will talk about the rivalry. I was around it when I was in Iowa, you know, and grew up in Iowa and understand the rivalry and whatnot. It's nice to have — I guess if you would a call it rival — that runs such a class program. … They have got great kids. They completely turned everything around from the previous season, and they have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about or anything.”
— Ben McCollum, Iowa Head Coach
“I have the utmost respect for them, all their players, and especially Coach Hoiberg. Heck of a season. I know it's no consolation, but we still want to beat 'em every time and they want to beat us every time. But from and internal perspective, there's not a lot of bad blood there. It's actually a lot of respect.”
— Ben McCollum, Iowa Head Coach
What’s next
Iowa's season ended with a 71-59 loss to Illinois in the Elite Eight on Saturday. McCollum and the Hawkeyes will look to build on this season's success and make another deep postseason run next year.
The takeaway
McCollum's comments highlight the mutual respect between the Iowa and Nebraska programs, even as they compete fiercely on the court. The Iowa-Nebraska rivalry remains intense, but the coaches and players have found a way to maintain a level of sportsmanship and professionalism in their interactions.
