The Nebraska Huskers men's basketball team concluded the 2025-26 regular season with a 26-5 record, tying the program's single-season wins mark. They earned the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament after splitting their final two games. Head coach Fred Hoiberg received a contract extension through the 2031-32 season.
The Huskers dropped to No. 11 in the latest AP poll after being ranked No. 9 the previous week. This marks their first appearance outside the top 10 since December, when they entered the rankings and reached a program-high No. 5 in January.
Nebraska finished Big Ten play at 15-5, the most conference wins since joining the league in 2011 and securing their first No. 2 seed in that span. The team also achieved 20 or more wins for the third straight season, a program first. Their 26 victories tie the 1990-91 squad for the most in school history.
The regular season ended with a road loss to UCLA, 72-52, on March 3, followed by an overtime victory over rival Iowa on Senior Day at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska outscored Iowa 14-5 in the extra period to secure the win, providing a strong finish despite an uninspired performance in regulation.
With a triple-bye in the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago, the Huskers will play in the quarterfinals on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CDT against one of Penn State, Northwestern, Indiana, or Purdue. They defeated three of those opponents during the regular season, though they lost to Purdue by 2 points in overtime on February 10.
Athletic director Troy Dannen announced Hoiberg's contract extension on March 9, praising his leadership. "Fred Hoiberg is a tremendous representative of the University of Nebraska, the Lincoln community, and our state," Dannen said. "We are extremely proud that he will continue to lead the Nebraska men’s basketball program well into the future."
Hoiberg expressed gratitude: "I'm appreciative of the continued confidence from Troy Dannen and Jeffrey Gold and thank them for the support they have shown in our staff's leadership of the Husker basketball program."
The extension raises Hoiberg's salary to $5 million next season, with a $100,000 annual increase and retention bonuses of $500,000 in July 2026 and 2029. It includes an $8 million buyout if he leaves for another school.
Other ranked Big Ten teams include Michigan at No. 2, Michigan State at No. 7, Illinois at No. 8, Purdue at No. 17, and Wisconsin at No. 22.
