Friday Five: Postseason pressure, schedule reveals and Rhule in the ring
Between postseason play for softball, schedule news for both men’s and women’s basketball teams and high-stakes decision-making off the football field, things aren’t slowing down for the Huskers.
It hasn’t been a quiet first week of May in the world of Nebraska athletics.
Between postseason play for softball, schedule news for both men’s and women’s basketball teams and high-stakes decision-making off the football field, things aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
That’s not a bad thing though, right?
Here’s what you need to know:
Huskers silence Penn State, advance to Big Ten semifinals
Nebraska softball shook off early nerves in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, ending things with a 9-1 run-rule win over Penn State in five innings.
The Nittany Lions capitalized on Husker errors to score first but Jordy Bahl didn’t allow the Penn State lead to last long. After hitting the leadoff batter and allowing a wild pitch, Bahl regrouped and didn’t allow another hit the rest of the way. She struck out nine, gave up just two hits and improved to 23-5 on the season.
At the plate, Nebraska was relentless. After falling behind 1-0, the Huskers plated five runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Ava Bredwell went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Abbie Squier added a triple and Ava Kuszak sealed the deal with a fifth-inning single up the middle.
Six Huskers recorded hits in the win. Nebraska improved to 39-12 on the year. The Huskers face UCLA in Friday’s semifinal at 4 p.m. Central.
Nebraska and Oklahoma renew rivalry in Sioux Falls
More pieces of the men’s basketball schedule are falling into place and one of them includes a blast from the Big 12 past.
Nebraska and Oklahoma will meet on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It’s the third straight year the Huskers will play at the Pentagon, where they split games against Oregon State and Saint Mary’s the last two seasons.
The matchup with Oklahoma will be just the second between the former conference foes since realignment. The Sooners won the last meeting in 2022.
Nebraska is coming off a 21-14 season that ended with a title at the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas. The team returns five lettermen, including starters Berke Büyüktuncel and Sam Hoiberg, and welcomes back Rienk Mast, a third-team All-Big Ten pick in 2023-24 who missed last season due to injury.
Women’s basketball returns to the Pentagon with big ambitions
Not to be outdone, Nebraska women’s basketball will also be making a trip to the Sanford Pentagon. This time, the trip north will have the Huskers facing North Dakota State on Sunday, Nov. 16.
It’s the first announced game for the women’s team for that season and it follows last year’s record-setting performance in Sioux Falls, when Nebraska hit 20 three-pointers in a win over South Dakota.
“We are thrilled to be returning to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls again in the 2025-2026 season,” coach Amy Williams said. “What an incredible basketball venue it proved to be this past season, and Husker fans did not disappoint.”
The matchup marks the first regular-season meeting between Nebraska and North Dakota State. Both teams are coming off 21-12 seasons and postseason appearances, and both have plenty of regional talent to draw crowds in South Dakota.1
“We are proud to showcase women’s basketball – something we have been doing for years – and this game builds on our history and commitment to the sport,” Jesse Smith of Sanford Sports said in a statement.
Leadership changes in the athletic department
Husker Athletics announced promotions for two key leaders this week as college sports braces for major changes.
Audrey Polt has been promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Legal Affairs/Associate General Counsel, while Jonathan Bateman will now serve as Associate Athletic Director/Administration.
Both bring legal expertise that will be vital as the landscape of college sports continues to evolve.
“Audrey’s legal background is invaluable in the daily operation of an athletic department of Nebraska’s size and budget, and Jonathan has been our in-house expert in navigating the world of student-athlete compensation, NIL and the transition to revenue sharing,” athletic director Troy Dannen said in a statement.
With looming legal settlements and potential federal involvement, these appointments make it clear that Nebraska is preparing for what’s next.
A settlement, a shrinking roster and Rhule holding steady
The House v. NCAA lawsuit moved closer to resolution this week, and with it came more clarity—and more uncertainty—for programs like Nebraska.
If the proposed $2.8 billion settlement is approved, schools could start paying athletes directly (up to $20.5 million annually). The finer details, like roster caps, are still being ironed out.
For Nebraska, that’s more than just a legal footnote. The Huskers had 150 players four months ago. That was reduced to 123 at the end of spring practice. Head coach Matt Rhule continues to balance hard conversations while doing his best to remain steady through it.
He’s leaned into his CEO-style approach, empowering assistants like Dana Holgorsen, Mike Ekeler and John Butler while adding NFL veteran Pat Stewart to manage roster operations.
Rhule has also focused on the human side of an unexpected offseason. He’s told players hard truths. He’s encouraged them when needed. Some players will depart, while some will stay. It’s inevitable.
Nebraska is doing its best to get prepared though—legally, financially and strategically—for the new world of college sports.
And Rhule, even as he sat ringside with quarterback Dylan Raiola at WWE Raw this week, has done his best not to miss a beat.
It’s also an easy trip for Husker fans to make too, which is nice for all involved.
So typical to have no one in college athletics knowing exactly where they stand. It is under negotiation. Under the old system we had a group of schools paying under the table behind the back with a lot of money. Everyone else suffered economically. The last few years with nil and transfer rules the championships have moved locations. I wonder if we will have a final size limit before summer camp opens.
The cynical part of me thinks the delay in roster size is to allow the SEC and b1g to keep some more talent close at hand before it spreads out to the other conferences. I feel like they're really trying to spread the narrative and accentuate just how much better they are before the other conferences are able to even out some of the talent differential.