Nebraska Football Returns for Dunk Contest in Sunday's Nebrasketball Matchup

The third annual dunk competition will take place at halftime of the top-10 Big Ten showdown between Nebraska and Illinois.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 9:47am

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Nebraska football is bringing back its popular dunk contest for the halftime show of Sunday's top-10 Big Ten matchup against Illinois. The competition will feature three returning competitors from the 2024 and 2025 events - Connor Schutt, Jeremiah Charles, and Quinn Clark - along with newcomer Keelan Smith. Last year's champion, Heinrich Haarberg, will not be defending his title. The dunk contest is part of an exciting atmosphere at Pinnacle Bank Arena, as Nebraska basketball looks to bounce back from its first loss of the season and the program hosts a major recruiting weekend.

Why it matters

The dunk contest has become a fan-favorite tradition at Nebraska, showcasing the athleticism of the football players and providing an entertaining halftime show for Husker basketball games. It also helps build excitement around the basketball program, which is currently ranked in the top 5 in the Big Ten and hosting a key conference matchup against Illinois. The event is part of Nebraska's efforts to create a lively gameday atmosphere and attract top recruits to the program.

The details

The dunk contest will feature four competitors from the Nebraska football team: Connor Schutt, Jeremiah Charles, Quinn Clark, and newcomer Keelan Smith. Charles is the defending champion from 2024, while Schutt and Clark competed in last year's event. Smith, the son of former Husker great Neil Smith, will be making his debut in the competition. Last year's winner, Heinrich Haarberg, as well as Emmett Johnson and Dasan McCullough, will not be returning to defend their titles.

  • The dunk contest will take place at halftime of the Nebraska-Illinois basketball game on Sunday, January 31, 2026.
  • The original dunk contest was first held in 2024 and has been an annual event since then.

The players

Jeremiah Charles

A defensive back for the Nebraska football team and the 2024 dunk contest champion, Charles is returning to the competition for the third time.

Connor Schutt

A pass catcher for the Nebraska football team, Schutt is competing in the dunk contest for the second time.

Quinn Clark

Another pass catcher for the Nebraska football team, Clark is also returning to the dunk contest for the second time.

Keelan Smith

A wide receiver for the Nebraska football team and the son of former Husker great Neil Smith, Keelan Smith is making his debut in the dunk contest.

Heinrich Haarberg

The 2025 dunk contest champion, Haarberg will not be defending his title this year.

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What they’re saying

“Get your popcorn ready 🍿”

— Nebraska Football (Twitter)

What’s next

The dunk contest is set to take place at halftime of the Nebraska-Illinois basketball game on Sunday, January 31, 2026.

The takeaway

The return of the Nebraska football dunk contest is an exciting addition to an already highly anticipated top-10 Big Ten matchup between the Huskers and Fighting Illini. It showcases the athleticism of the football players, provides entertainment for the fans, and helps build momentum for the basketball program as it hosts a key recruiting weekend.