Nebraska
Cornhuskers
Back at Haymarket Park for the first time since 2008, Will Bolt’s program has delivered its best season of his era — 41 wins, back-to-back 10-game win streaks, a walk-off comeback sweep of No. 12 USC, and an offense with two players in the top tier of hits nationally heading into the postseason.
Los Angeles – UCLA | Atlanta – Georgia Tech | Athens – Georgia | Auburn – Auburn | Chapel Hill – North Carolina | Austin – Texas | Tuscaloosa – Alabama | Gainesville – Florida | Hattiesburg – Southern Miss | College Station – Texas A&M | Tallahassee – Florida State | Lawrence – Kansas | Eugene – Oregon | Morgantown – West Virginia | Lincoln – Nebraska | Starkville – Mississippi State
Nebraska enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament hosting a regional for the first time since 2008 — a milestone that captures exactly what head coach Will Bolt has built in Lincoln over the past several seasons. The Cornhuskers finished 42-15 (23-7 Big Ten), the most wins of the Bolt era, ranked No. 10 in RPI, and claimed the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament by sweeping Minnesota in the final weekend of the regular season. They enter the postseason on a seven-game winning streak after rallying back from what appeared to be a lost regional hosting bid following an Ohio State road sweep.
This team’s ability to win in different ways — with clutch late-inning rallies, dominant pitching performances, and stretches of offensive explosion — is the defining quality of the 2026 Cornhuskers. Nebraska recorded multiple 10-game win streaks in the same season for the first time since 2006, scored 30-plus runs in a conference series three-game set for the sixth time since joining the Big Ten, and own wins over No. 7 Auburn, No. 12 USC (three times), No. 16 Florida State, and No. 21 Oregon. With a No. 10 RPI built on the nation’s 14th-hardest strength of schedule, the Huskers have earned every win.
The Big Ten’s Most Consistent Offense, Led by a Hit Machine at Every Position
Nebraska’s offense is built on contact, discipline, and an ability to pile up crooked numbers that has broken opponents in the middle innings all year. Senior shortstop Dylan Carey and junior center fielder Mac Moyer lead the Big Red with 64 and 63 hits respectively — Nebraska is one of only two teams nationally with two players at 60-plus hits on the season. Carey, a Perfect Game third-team midseason All-American and Brooks Wallace Award Watch list honoree, is the engine of the entire offense: hitting everywhere in the order, drawing walks, driving in runs in clutch situations. Moyer brings the same relentlessness with a 39-game on-base streak entering the final series, the longest by a Husker since Brice Matthews’ 52-game run in 2023.
Junior first baseman Case Sanderson provides the primary power production, with a knack for the big moment — his seventh-inning two-run blast against Minnesota when the series was hanging in the balance was one of many timely outputs in 2026. Freshman outfielder Drew Grego has been a revelation in his first year, posting multiple doubles and extra-base hits in key weekend series. Senior second baseman Rhett Stokes and sophomore Jett Buck round out a lineup that scores 7.8 runs per game.
Perfect Game 3rd-Team Midseason All-American · Brooks Wallace Award watch list · team hits leader · consistently clutch in late-inning situations · catalyzes rallies through contact and walks
39-game on-base streak — longest by a Husker since Brice Matthews’ 52-game run in 2023 · one of two NU players nationally at 60+ hits · plus center field defense
Primary power threat in the lineup · clutch 2-run blast vs. Minnesota when hosting hopes were on the line · multiple 2-hit, multi-RBI games throughout Big Ten stretch run
Delivered 7-pitch walk to cap the walk-off rally vs. No. 12 USC · bases-loaded single in the 9th for the walk-off vs. Minnesota — two of the season’s biggest plate appearances
A Sophomore Ace, a Deep Rotation, and the Big Ten’s Best Closer
Nebraska’s pitching staff has been the foundation of the team’s success in the second half of the season. Redshirt sophomore Carson Jasa leads the rotation with a 9-2 record, a 3.31 ERA, and 94 strikeouts across 70.2 innings — giving the Huskers a dependable Friday option who has grown into true ace status as the season has progressed. Junior Ty Horn (3.97 ERA, 68 IP, 67 K) and sophomore Gavin Blachowicz (3.82 ERA, 56.2 IP, 64 K) round out a rotation that presents a different stylistic challenge in each game of a three-game series.
The most dominant arm on the staff is sophomore closer J’Shawn Unger — arguably the best reliever in the Big Ten. Unger has eight saves, a 3.04 ERA, and has limited opponents to a remarkable .143 batting average in 26.2 innings. His eight saves are the most by a Husker underclassman since Colby Gomes saved 13 games as a freshman in 2019. When Unger takes the mound in the seventh inning or later with a lead, Nebraska has been essentially automatic.
| Pitcher | W-L | ERA | K | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carson Jasa RHP · R-So. · Friday Starter | 9-2 | 3.31 | 94 | 70.2 | — |
Ty Horn RHP · Jr. · Saturday Starter | — | 3.97 | 67 | 68.0 | — |
Gavin Blachowicz RHP · So. · Sunday Starter | 4-2 | 3.82 | 64 | 56.2 | — |
J’Shawn Unger RHP · So. · Closer | 5-1 | 3.04 | 28 | 26.2 | 8 |
Tucker Timmerman RHP · Jr. · Setup / Multi-Inning Relief | 3-1 | 3.75 | — | — | — |
Colin Nowaczyk LHP · So. · Left-Handed Specialist / Setup | 3-1 | — | — | — | — |
“Unger’s eight saves are the most by a Husker underclassman since Colby Gomes saved 13 as a freshman in 2019. He has limited opponents to a .143 batting average across 26.2 innings — when Unger enters the game with a lead, Nebraska has been essentially automatic.”
— Nebraska Athletics / On3 Sports, May 2026- 42-15 overall — most wins of the Will Bolt era at Nebraska
- 23-7 Big Ten record — No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament
- 7-game winning streak entering postseason after sweeping Iowa and Minnesota
- Back-to-back 10-game win streaks — first time for NU since 2006
- Walk-off sweep of No. 12 USC at Haymarket Park — down 5 runs in the 9th of Game 1
- Wins over No. 7 Auburn, No. 12 USC (3x), No. 16 Florida State, No. 21 Oregon
- Carey and Moyer: one of only 2 teams nationally with two players at 60+ hits
- Moyer: 39-game on-base streak — longest by a Husker since Brice Matthews in 2023
- Jasa: 9-2, 3.31 ERA, 94 K — established himself as a true Big Ten Friday ace
- Hosting regional for first time since 2008 — 31 wins in first 40 games, 5th-most this century
Nebraska is one of the most complete, well-rounded teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament field — and one of the least discussed. A 41-win season that’s the best of Will Bolt’s era, a No. 10 RPI against the nation’s 14th-hardest strength of schedule, a Friday ace in Carson Jasa who has quietly pitched like one of the Big Ten’s best starters, and the conference’s most dominant closer in J’Shawn Unger — this is a team that checks every box heading into the postseason. Haymarket Park is a genuine home-field advantage, one of the strongest and most passionate baseball environments in the Big Ten.
The honest concern is the rotation beyond Jasa. Ty Horn and Gavin Blachowicz have both been solid but neither has the consistency of a true postseason workhorse. Blachowicz in particular showed vulnerability late in the year, giving up six runs in 4.2 innings against Minnesota in the regular season finale. The bullpen — other than Unger — is also a question mark when games get close in the middle innings.
The Rest of the Regional Field
South Dakota State earned the Summit League automatic bid and draws the toughest possible 4-vs-1 assignment: opening at Haymarket Park against Nebraska and Carson Jasa in front of a home crowd that has been one of the Big Ten’s most electric environments all season. The Jackrabbits have been a consistent Summit contender and arrive well-coached and disciplined. Sam Schlecht gets the ball in Game 1 against Jasa, and SDSU’s pitching identity gives them a competitive floor even against an offense that has averaged 7.8 runs per game.
Arizona State earns a Big 12 at-large bid to close out their first season in the conference and draws Lincoln as the 3-seed. The Sun Devils open against Ole Miss in Game 2 — a matchup between two programs with legitimate offensive ceilings but genuine inconsistency concerns. Colby Guy gets the ball against Ole Miss, and a Sun Devils win sends them to the winner’s bracket and a potential Saturday showdown with Nebraska’s lineup. ASU’s transition to the Big 12 from the Pac-12 produced real growing pains but enough talent to earn a regional appearance in year one.
Ole Miss enters the Lincoln Regional as the 2-seed and the bracket’s most dangerous program when their offense is clicking — but also the most inconsistent team in the field after dropping three of their last four regular-season series. Mike Bianco’s Rebels have the SEC pedigree and roster depth to compete at any venue, and their lineup can put up numbers on any arm in a short series. Hunter Elliott opens against Arizona State in Game 2. A Rebels win sets up a Saturday matchup with Nebraska that would pit two of the bracket’s best offenses against each other.
Game 1 Matchup Projections
Game 1 — South Dakota State vs. Nebraska
| RPI | Team | Projected Starter | Line / Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 239 | South Dakota St. | Sam Schlecht | 14.59 |
| 10 | Nebraska ★ | Carson Jasa | -447.52 |
Game 2 — Arizona State vs. Ole Miss
| RPI | Team | Projected Starter | Line / Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Arizona St. | Colby Guy | -102.80 |
| 16 | Ole Miss | Hunter Elliott | 13.87 |
Stadium Wind Conditions
Haymarket Park Wind Map → Windy.comRegional Picks: Nebraska should waltz into Saturday with an easy victory over South Dakota State. The Jacks finished near dead last in most advanced analytics, but rallied to beat an Oral Roberts team in the Summit Tournament. South Dakota State has struggled to keep runners off base this season, ranking as one of the worst strikeout to walk pitching staffs in the country. The Jack Rabbits make the short trip to Lincoln with the worst number in base runs of any team in the regional.
Arizona State and Ole Miss represent one of the best 2-3 seed matchups on Friday. The Sun Devils hold series victories over just two Regional teams in UCF and St. John’s. Colby Guy would line -110 against Hunter Elliott of Ole Miss, while Cole Carlon would be a bigger favorite at -135. As for Ole Miss, second starter Taylor Rabe would be a small favorite over both of Arizona State’s top pitching rotation option. With lines not exceeding -130 either way, the market opener for Friday indicates an Arizona +1.5 will hav value.
The best value in this Regional is Arizona State at +335, as true odds suggest Nebraska has just a 52% chance to win the Lincoln Regional. Ole Miss is properly prices, but the Sun Devils should have a market number closer to +170.
Lincoln can be won by the top three seeds, but considering all pitching equal the Arizona State bats are the difference. The Sun Devils finished Top 10 in hits, slugging and home runs per game. It helps that Arizona State won every road series in the Big 12 this season.
- Regional: Arizona State +335
- Game 1: Arizona State +1.5
