Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers Set for Sweet 16 Showdown

The two Big Ten rivals will face off in the 2026 NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 round in Houston.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 1:53am

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The Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers will meet in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament after both teams pulled off narrow victories in the second round. Iowa defeated the reigning national champion Florida Gators, while Nebraska edged out Vanderbilt in a close game that came down to the final seconds. The Cornhuskers open as 2.5-point favorites, with the game total set at 133.5 points.

Why it matters

This matchup between the two Big Ten rivals is highly anticipated, as both teams have overcome tough opponents to reach the Sweet 16. The winner will advance to the Elite Eight, putting them one step closer to a potential national championship.

The details

Iowa pulled off a major upset by defeating the top-seeded Florida Gators in the second round. Alvaro Folgueiras hit the game-winning three-pointer to send the Hawkeyes to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. Nebraska also had a close call, with Braden Frager making a layup with two seconds remaining to edge out Vanderbilt. The Cornhuskers will enter the game as 2.5-point favorites, with the total points set at 133.5.

  • The game will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

The players

Alvaro Folgueiras

The Iowa Hawkeyes player who hit the game-winning three-pointer to defeat Florida and send Iowa to the Sweet 16.

Braden Frager

The Nebraska Cornhuskers player who made the game-winning layup to defeat Vanderbilt and advance to the Sweet 16.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The winner of the Iowa-Nebraska matchup will advance to the Elite Eight round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This Sweet 16 showdown between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers promises to be an exciting and hard-fought battle between two Big Ten rivals, with the winner one step closer to a potential national championship.