Huskers' Sweet 16 Run Ends in Heartbreak

Nebraska basketball's historic season comes to a close after loss to Iowa

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:15pm

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The Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team saw their remarkable 2025-26 season come to an end with a loss to in-state rival Iowa in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers had set a new single-season program record with 28 wins and started the year on a 20-game winning streak, but ultimately fell short of their goal of reaching the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

Why it matters

Nebraska's deep tournament run was a major accomplishment for a program that had struggled to find consistent success in recent years. The Huskers' breakthrough season generated significant excitement and renewed interest in the team among the fanbase, and their performance has raised expectations for the program going forward.

The details

The Huskers' season ended with a 72-68 loss to Iowa in the Sweet 16. Nebraska had led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but the Hawkeyes rallied late to pull off the comeback victory. Despite the disappointing finish, Nebraska's 28-8 overall record and Big Ten regular season title represented the best season in the program's history.

  • The Huskers began the 2025-26 season on a 20-game winning streak.
  • Nebraska set a new single-season program record with 28 wins.
  • The Huskers' season ended with a 72-68 loss to Iowa in the Sweet 16 on March 28, 2026.

The players

Nebraska Cornhuskers

The men's basketball team of the University of Nebraska, a Division I program that competes in the Big Ten Conference.

Iowa Hawkeyes

The men's basketball team of the University of Iowa, a Division I program that also competes in the Big Ten Conference.

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What they’re saying

“This was a special season for our program, and I'm proud of how hard our guys fought to get us to this point. We'll use this experience to come back even stronger next year.”

— Fred Hoiberg, Head Coach, Nebraska Cornhuskers

What’s next

Nebraska will look to build on this season's success and make another deep tournament run in 2026-27. The Huskers are expected to return several key players, including leading scorer Bryce McGowens, and will look to reload their roster through recruiting to replace any departures.

The takeaway

Nebraska's breakthrough season has raised the bar for the program and generated significant momentum heading into the offseason. While the Sweet 16 loss was disappointing, the Huskers' remarkable campaign has established them as a rising power in the Big Ten and positioned them to potentially make a run at the program's first-ever Final Four appearance in the near future.