Fresh off its best season in program history, Nebraska will begin its bid to build on that success when it opens the 2026-27 schedule against Le Moyne on Nov. 2 in Lincoln, Neb.
The Cornhuskers reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history last March, finishing 28-7 after a school-record 20-0 start. Only one full-time starter will return: leading scorer Pryce Sandfort, who averaged 18.1 points a game and hit a school-record 129 3-pointers while shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc.
Nebraska also returns Braden Frager, Cale Jacobsen and Connor Essegian but otherwise will rely on newcomers. The most notable transfer pickup is former Boston College center Boden Kapke, while Jacob Lanier has a chance to be one of the most impactful freshmen in the Big Ten.
“There is a hunger, there is a fuel that our guys have going into this year,” Cornhuskers coach Fred Hoiberg said. “I’m excited to see what we have.”
While Nebraska had never won an NCAA Tournament game before last season, Le Moyne is just trying to get into the tourney for the first time. The Dolphins are entering their fourth season at the Division I level, going 15-17 a year ago with a fourth-place finish in the Northeast Conference.
“I think (the NCAA Tournament is) definitely a goal of ours and something that we aspire to make,” said Le Moyne coach Nate Champion, who played for the school from 2010-14. “Everything we’re doing is progressing towards that goal.”
The Dolphins added nine transfers in the offseason, with former Sacramento State guard Jayden Teat scoring 27 points in an exhibition win over Canisius.
Like most low-major programs, Le Moyne will play several non-conference road games against power opponents. After Nebraska, the Dolphins will visit Creighton and also will play at Missouri, Clemson and Notre Dame.
Le Moyne is 0-9 against power-conference competition since moving to Division I.