Opening Night Presented by SCHEELS Set for Oct. 2
The tipoff of the 2026-27 season is just a month away, as Opening Night presented by SCHEELS will take place on Friday, Oct. 2, in the Railyard.
This year’s event will take place at the intersection of R Street and Canopy Street, directly in front of Pinnacle Bank Arena. The event is free to the public and features both the Husker men’s and women’s basketball programs.
Opening Night will feature introductions of both Husker teams, remarks from Head Coaches Fred Hoiberg and Amy Williams and players, along with contests with players and fans and much more. The event, which includes an autograph session with both programs, will run from 7-8:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the autograph session will be held in the main lobby of PBA from 7-8 p.m.
The Husker men are coming off a record-breaking season in 2025-26, going 28-7 on their way to the program’s first-ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Nebraska is led by All-American candidate Pryce Sandfort, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors after averaging 18.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last year. Sandfort set NU’s single-season 3-point record with 129 last year. The Huskers also return Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Braden Frager, who averaged 11.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as part of a group of seven returning players letterwinners. The Huskers also welcome an eight-member freshman class featuring transfers Sam Orme, Trevan Leonhardt, Boden Kapke, Damon Wilkinson, Taj DeGourville and Kaydn Betts. NU also welcomes freshmen Colin Rice and Jacob Lanier, a pair of top-150 recruits who both earned state player of the year honors in Iowa and Arkansas, respectively.
The Husker women will take aim at a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026-27. The Big Red returns first-team All-Big Ten point guard Britt Prince, who led Nebraska in scoring (17.9 ppg), assists (4.4 apg) and steals (1.5 spg) while adding 4.1 rebounds per game. Prince hit better than 50 percent of her shots from the field, 45 percent of her three-pointers and 90 percent of her free throws a year ago as one of 10 midseason finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award. The Huskers also return their second-leading scorer and top rebounder in junior forward Amiah Hargrove (12.7 pp, 5.5 rpg), and three-year starting guard Logan Nissley, who helped NU to its second NCAA Tournament win in the last three years. Nebraska hopes to be bolstered by the return of 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts, while adding the first McDonald’s High School All-American in school history, two-time South Dakota Player of the Year Ashlyn Koupal.
The Husker men host Saint Louis in their exhibition opener on Friday, Oct. 9, while the Husker women host Wayne State on Friday, Oct. 23 in their exhibition opener.
2026-27 Opening Night Presented by SCHEELS
Date: Friday, Oct. 2
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: Intersection of Canopy and R Streets
Cost: Free
Note: In case of inclement weather, the autograph session will take place at PBA from 7-8 p.m.