Nebraska Cornhuskers Host Northwestern Wildcats in Big Ten Matchup

No. 8 Nebraska looks to bounce back from recent losses against struggling Northwestern squad

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers (21-3, 10-3 Big Ten) host the Northwestern Wildcats (10-15, 2-12 Big Ten) in a Big Ten conference matchup on Saturday afternoon. Nebraska is looking to rebound after dropping 3 of its last 4 games, while Northwestern has lost 4 straight but covered the spread in its last two outings.

Why it matters

This game is an important conference clash as Nebraska tries to keep pace atop the Big Ten standings, while Northwestern looks to pull off an upset and build some momentum down the stretch. The Cornhuskers won the first meeting between these teams handily in January, but the Wildcats have shown they can hang with top competition, nearly upsetting No. 2 Michigan earlier this week.

The details

In the first matchup, Nebraska forward Pryce Sandfort led the way with 22 points, including 5 3-pointers, while teammate Braden Frager added 20 points. For Northwestern, forward Nick Martinelli had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Nebraska is coming off an 80-77 overtime loss to Purdue, while Northwestern gave No. 2 Michigan a scare before ultimately falling. The Cornhuskers have struggled against the spread lately, going 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games.

  • The teams first met on January 17 in Evanston, with Nebraska winning 77-58.
  • Nebraska suffered an 80-77 overtime loss to Purdue on Tuesday.

The players

Pryce Sandfort

Nebraska forward who scored 22 points with 5 3-pointers in the first matchup against Northwestern.

Braden Frager

Nebraska forward who added 20 points in the previous game against the Wildcats.

Nick Martinelli

Northwestern forward who led his team with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting.

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What they’re saying

“We must bounce back and take care of business at home against Northwestern.”

— Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska Head Coach (source not provided)

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a step closer to securing a higher seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

The takeaway

This game presents an opportunity for Nebraska to get back on track at home, while Northwestern looks to pull off an upset and build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. The Cornhuskers will be heavily favored, but the Wildcats have shown they can compete with top teams in the conference.