Nebraska Basketball Teams Ranked for Fourth Straight Week as Men Surge into Top 10

It was a week of triumph for one and defeat for another; however, for the fourth consecutive week, both Husker hoops teams remain in the top 25 of the Associated Press polls released Monday.

Nebraska men's basketball moved up three spots after a potential career-defining victory for Fred Hoiberg's squad. Previously ranked No. 13, the Husker men's team is now officially ranked within the top 10 of the Associated Press poll after a two-point victory against No. 9 Michigan State at home. It is the program's first appearance in the AP top 10 since the 1965-66 season.

On the other hand, Nebraska's women took on two ranked opponents within the last week, with No. 17 USC at home and No. 14 Iowa on the road. Though both contests resulted in losses, the Husker women's team proved their worthiness of staying within the top 25, giving everything they've got to two of the toughest opponents they've faced yet.

Both teams still carry a noticeable amount of momentum heading into the new year, with the Husker men remaining one of just five squads in the country yet to suffer a loss. While the women are looking to get back on track over the upcoming week against an unranked conference opponent at home, before a shot at redemption in Pinnacle Bank Arena against No. 4 UCLA.

Assuming, like many, if you had told me the 2024-2025 academic year saw one of Husker football or men's basketball to be ranked within the top 10, it wouldn't have been the latter that I assumed. However, as of Jan. 5, Nebrasketball is officially the No. 10 team in America, quickly becoming the country's Cinderella story that's not so sweet for opponents to face.

On Friday evening, the Huskers welcomed in previously ranked No. 9 Michigan State into the lion's den that has come to Pinnacle Bank Arena, and 40 minutes later, Nebraska proved to come out on top. Despite shooting just 18-for-57 during the game, the Huskers emerged victorious in a 58-56 win over the Spartans.

Now, with two ranked wins under their belt, Nebraska has one of the best resumes in the sport, and containing their momentum is getting harder with each passing day. This week, the Huskers will take their show on the road to battle Ohio State (Jan. 5) and Indiana (Jan. 10). Despite both opponents being unranked, Nebraska will enter each matchup as the underdog.

Despite suffering the first two losses of the season for Amy Williams 'squad, Nebraska's women managed to metaphorically rebound from consecutive defeats to storm past Purdue on the road on Jan. 4. Likely with a bad taste in their mouths from losses to USC and Iowa, the Huskers finished off their week by outscoring the Boilermakers 78-62, bringing their conference record to 2-2 on the year.

Both losses Nebraska sustained were significantly more contested than their scores suggest. The eight-point loss to the Trojans was whittled down to a two-possession game late in the contest, before USC was eventually able to slightly pull away. And the 10-point loss to the Hawkeyes was one in which Williams' squad held the lead at the break before an impressive 42-point second half saw the home team come out on top.

On Monday, Hoiberg's squad prepares to take on a 10-3 Ohio State Buckeyes team in Columbus. In what is expected to be a tight matchup, the Huskers currently stand as 2.5-point underdogs.

Coming off an emotional win, one that may be the most significant in recent history, leads to a potential let-down game. However, if the likes of Rienk Mast, Sam Hoiberg, Pryce Sandfort and company have anything to say, continuing their winning streak despite the fact is top of mind.

After that, Nebraska will head to Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana is averaging 85.1 points per game, so Hoiberg's team will need to bring all the defense it can give to come out on top. Winning games on the road is always hard, especially considering the venues Nebraska is set to visit. After that, the Huskers return home to take on the Oregon Ducks in what will be their sixth conference bout of the year.

After a win at home against Purdue, Williams' squad will have the luxury of playing host again for its next two contests. The first of which will be against an 11-5 Indiana Hoosiers squad on Jan. 8. The Huskers are averaging 14 more points per contest than their next opponent, and having suffered two losses already on the year, I wouldn't expect this team to come out flat-footed.

After the Huskers welcome the Hoosiers, No. 4 UCLA is coming to town Sunday evening. The Bruins come in with just one loss on the year, after getting beaten by double digits by then-No. 4 Texas. To date, UCLA will be the highest-ranked opponent the Huskers will face, giving them a prime opportunity to prove they belong amongst the most dangerous squads in the sport.

Regardless, this team is still dangerous to every foe remaining on their schedule, and regardless of how this game shakes out, Nebraska is still very much in the mix for an NCAA tournament bid come March. For now, they prepare to get back on track, and don't be surprised if they air their frustrations out over the week to come.

Women's Week 10 AP Top 25

UConn
Texas
South Carolina
UCLA
Oklahoma
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
Maryland
Michigan
Louisville
Iowa State
Lsu
TCU
Iowa
Michigan State
Baylor
Texas Tech
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Tennessee
USC
North Carolina
Washington
Princeton
Nebraska

Men's Week 10 AP Top 25

Arizona
Michigan
Iowa State
UConn
Purdue
Duke
Houston
Gonzaga
BYU
Nebraska
Vanderbilt
Michigan State
Alabama
Texas Tech
Arkansas
Illinois
North Carolina
Georgia
Iowa
Louisville
Tennessee
Kansas
Virginia
SMU
UCF

Nebraska Women's Basketball 2025-26 Schedule

Oct. 24 Nebraska 104, Mount Marty 40 (Exhibition)
Nov. 3 Nebraska 103, Northwestern State 46
Nov. 8 Nebraska 80, Samford 46
Nov. 12 Nebraska 84, Creighton 50
Nov. 16 Nebraska 82, North Dakota State 70 (Sanford Pentagon)
Nov. 19 Nebraska 103, Oral Roberts 58
Nov. 24 Nebraska 80, Purdue Fort Wayne 57 (Emerald Coast Classic)
Nov. 25 Nebraska 91, Virginia 82 (Emerald Coast Classic)
Dec. 3 Nebraska 92, Bradley 53
Dec. 6 Nebraska 101, Penn State 83
Dec. 9 Nebraska 87 vs. Omaha 35
Dec. 14 Nebraska 85, Illinois State 44
Dec. 21 Nebraska 87, Cal Baptist 56
Dec. 29 74 USC, Nebraska 66
Jan. 1 Iowa 86, Nebraska 76
Jan. 4 Nebraska 78, Purdue 62
Jan. 8 vs. Indiana 7 p.m. B1G+
Jan. 11 vs. UCLA 6 p.m. BTN
Jan. 15 at Michigan State 6 p.m. BTN
Jan. 21 at Wisconsin 6:30 p.m. B1G+
Jan. 24 vs. Illinois 1 p.m. BTN
Jan. 28 vs. Northwestern 7 p.m. NPM/B1G+
Feb. 1 at Ohio State 5 p.m. BTN
Feb. 4 at Michigan 6 p.m. B1G+
Feb. 7 vs. Maryland 1 p.m. BTN
Feb. 12 at Minnesota 7 p.m. BTN
Feb. 16 vs. Iowa 11 a.m. FOX
Feb. 19 at Oregon 8 p.m. B1G+
Feb. 22 at Washington 2 p.m. BTN
Feb. 28 vs. Rutgers B1G+
March 4-8 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis

Nebraska Men's Basketball 2025-26 Schedule

Oct. 18 Nebraska 90, BYU 89
Oct. 27 Nebraska 91, Midland 50
Nov. 3 Nebraska 86, West Georgia 53
Nov. 8 Nebraska 96, Florida International 66
Nov. 11 Nebarska 69, Maryland-Eastern Shore 50
Nov. 15 Nebraska 105, Oklahoma 99 (Sanford Pentagon)
Nov. 20 Nebraska 84, New Mexico 72 (Hall of Fame Classic)
Nov. 21 Nebraska 86, Kansas State 85 (Hall of Fame Classic)
Nov. 25 Nebraska 80, Winthrop 73
Nov. 29 Nebraska 72, South Carolina Upstate 63
Dec. 7 Nebraska 71, Creighton 50
Dec. 10 Nebraska 90, Wisconsin 60
Dec. 13 Nebraska 83, Illinois 80
Dec. 21 Nebraska 78, North Dakota 55
Dec. 30 Nebraska 86, New Hampshire 55
Jan. 2 Nebraska 58, Michigan State 56
Jan. 5 Ohio State 5:30 p.m. FS1
Jan. 10 Indiana 11 a.m. BTN
Jan. 13 Oregon 8 p.m. BTN
Jan. 17 Northwestern 3 p.m. BTN
Jan. 21 Washington 8 p.m. BTN
Jan. 24 Minnesota 11 a.m. FS1
Jan. 27 Michigan 6 p.m. Peacock
Feb. 1 Illinois 3 p.m. FS1
Feb. 7 Rutgers 11 a.m. BTN
Feb. 10 Purdue 6 p.m. FS1
Feb. 14 Northwestern Noon BTN
Feb. 17 Iowa 8 p.m. BTN
Feb. 21 Penn State 1 p.m. BTN
Feb. 25 Maryland 6 p.m. BTN
Feb. 28 USC 3 p.m. BTN
March 3 UCLA 10 p.m. FS1
March 8 Iowa 4 p.m. FOX
March 10-15 Big Ten Tournament in Chicago

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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