Huskers Have Chance to Jump Back Into Top 25 Against No. 12 USC

Nebraska dropped out of the D1baseball.com rankings after a series loss to Oregon, but a home series against the Trojans offers an opportunity to regain national prominence.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:35pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a college baseball game between Nebraska and USC, with the players and field broken down into abstracted geometric shapes and planes of color, conveying the dynamic action and competitive spirit of the contest.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between Nebraska and USC, capturing the energy and intensity of the game through a fragmented, geometric lens.Lincoln Today

Nebraska's baseball team dropped out of the D1baseball.com rankings after losing a series against No. 19 Oregon. To get back into the Top 25 and position themselves as one of the 16 teams to host a regional, the Huskers have a golden opportunity this weekend against No. 12 USC, who is making the trip to Lincoln for a three-game series.

Why it matters

A series win against the Trojans, who have the fourth-best ERA in the nation and a dominant starting pitching duo, would be a signature victory for Nebraska and boost their chances of hosting a regional in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

USC is 13-5 in the Big Ten and 30-7 overall, with an impressive starting rotation led by Mason Edwards and Grant Govel. The Trojans have the fourth-best team ERA in the country at 3.36. Nebraska will need to be at its best to notch a series win, but the team showed signs of being ready after defeating in-state rival Creighton 5-4 on Tuesday.

  • The three-game series between Nebraska and USC will take place this weekend, with the first game on Friday at 6:00 p.m., the second game on Saturday at 2:00 p.m., and the rubber match on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
  • Nebraska defeated Creighton 5-4 on Tuesday, a game that showed the Huskers' ability to come back from an early deficit.

The players

Mason Edwards

A top 100 MLB draft prospect, the USC left-handed starter has a mid-90s fastball and impressive control on his off-speed pitches. He is 6-0 on the season with 95 strikeouts, the most in the country.

Grant Govel

The other half of USC's dominant starting pitching duo, Govel is also undefeated at 7-0. His strength is his control, walking only eight batters all year, and his great pitch sequencing.

Augie Lopez

USC's best power bat, with 10 home runs and 8 doubles on the season.

Kevin Takeuchi

The Trojans' top contact hitter, leading the team with 44 hits, a .319 batting average, 37 RBIs, and 33 runs scored. He also has 9 stolen bases, second on the team.

Drew Grego

The Nebraska player who hit a two-run home run in the second inning and later made a leaping catch in right field to help the Huskers defeat Creighton 5-4 on Tuesday.

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What’s next

If the Huskers can win the series against No. 12 USC, it would be a signature victory that could propel them back into the Top 25 and put them in position to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This weekend's series against USC represents a golden opportunity for Nebraska to regain national prominence and position itself as one of the top teams in the country. A series win over the highly ranked Trojans would be a major boost to the Huskers' postseason aspirations.