Nebraska Football Returns for Dunk Contest in Sunday's Nebrasketball Matchup

One newcomer will join three returning competitors from the Husker football roster for the third annual dunk competition at halftime of the Illinois game.

Jeremiah Charles winning the 2024 Nebraska football dunk contest | Nebraska Athletics

Nebraska football is bringing back a show-stopping performance for Husker basketball fans at Sunday's top-10 Big Ten tilt.

Nebraska announced Friday that the football team would once again compete in a high-flying dunk contest at halftime of the men's basketball matchup Sunday with Illinois. It will be the third annual edition of the competition.

Connor Schutt, Jeremiah Charles and Quinn Clark are set to return as competitors, with Keelan Smith joining in for the first time. Last year's champion, Heinrich Haarberg, as well as Emmett Johnson and Dasan McCullough, will not return for the festivities.

Get your popcorn ready 🍿

Nebraska Football’s dunk contest returns this Sunday during halftime of the @HuskerMBB game. Be loud and WEAR WHITE!!! ⚪️⚪️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/pgTNqJiaog

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) January 31, 2026

Charles, the 2024 dunk champion and a Husker defensive back, returns for his third crack at the contest, while pass catchers Schutt and Clark will be competing for the second time.

The original competition in 2024 featured Charles, defensive lineman Kai Wallin, tight end Thomas Fidone, Haarberg and Johnson. That contest was highlighted by Haarberg's alley-oop to himself off the backboard, finishing with a two-handed slam, while Charles completed a 360-dunk followed by a finish between the legs.

Head football coach Matt Rhule even joined the fun during the 2024 competition, allowing running back Emmett Johnson to attempt to dunk over his coach, ultimately ending with Johnson on his backside after missing the slam.

Last year, Charles wowed the home crowd with a triumphant one-handed reverse dunk. In the judges' eyes, however, it was not enough to surpass quarterback-turned-tight end Haarberg's attempt off the backboard with a windmill finish.

Matt Rhule | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

The newcomer to this year's dunk competition, Keelan Smith, is the son of former Husker All-America defensive tackle Neil Smith. The 6-foot-2 receiver did not participate in basketball during his time at Liberty North High School in Kansas City, but was ranked as the top offensive player in Missouri for the Class of 2024 in football. He played in nine games for the Huskers in 2025, catching two passes for 18 yards.

The dunk contest is sure to provide even more juice to Sunday's matchup of top-10 hoops teams. Ranked ninth nationally, Illinois (18-3 overall, 9-1 Big Ten) will be out to avenge its 83-80 home loss last month to Nebraska, a game that was decided by Jamarques Lawrence's three-pointer at the buzzer. The fifth-ranked Huskers (20-1, 9-1) are drawing national respect like never before, earning acclaim even in their only loss this season, 75-72 at No. 3 Michigan on Tuesday.

Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence reacts to a call during the Huskers' win at Illinois in December. | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

It all adds up to high-stakes Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The winner will walk off the court with a newly enhanced national résumé, plus a spot alongside Michigan in a first-place tie atop the Big Ten standings. The loser will drop into a tie for third in the league with Michigan State.

Like the remainder of Nebraska's home slate, the game is sold out. Fans are being asked to wear white as they pack the area Sunday, and "vintage" roster T-shirts will be offered to the Iron N student section.

An electric atmosphere — especially if coupled with a win — could help the Huskers well beyond Sunday's final buzzer. A number of recruits will be at the game, including the state's top-ranked 2027 prospect, Omaha Westside's London Dada. Joining him will be Dawson Battie, the No. 10 national prospect in the 2027 class, as well as other recruiting targets such as Donovan Davis and Mathias Alessanco.

The Huskers and Illini are set for tipoff at 3 p.m. CST with television coverage on FS1. The game will also be aired on the Huskers Radio Network.

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