Nebraska

Coaching Staff Changes Are Part of the Deal at Nebraska Now

Published

2 months ago

January 19, 2026

Coaching Staff Changes Are Part of the Deal at Nebraska Now

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There are about a hundred things that are vastly different now in college football than they were back when Tom Osborne took the reins at Nebraska in 1973. One of those that’s taken for granted now, which used to be a much bigger deal, is the continuity of the coaching staff. During Osborne’s tenure, staff changes were not just unusual, they were rare. Guys like legendary Defensive Coordinator Charlie McBride, George Darlington, Milt Tenopir and future head coach Frank Solich were pretty much Huskers for life.

Nowadays, guys change jobs and schools like they change socks. Sometimes it’s the coaches decision, and sometimes it’s not.

The notion that a head coach like Osborne would have employed three different defensive coordinators in three years was laughable. That sort of thing just didn’t happen.

Staff Changes Happen for Very Different Reasons Now

Fast forward. It can and it did happen to Matt Rhule. His first DC, Tony White, left for “more autonomy” and a higher profile at Florida State. White’s replacement John Butler didn’t work out this past season. Now Rob Aurich will take over for next season with high expectations…but clearly a very short leash.

Rhule isn’t the only coach who goes through yearly staff changes nowadays. If a guy is doing a great job – like Nebraska Special Teams coach Mike Ekeler did this past season – other programs take notice. And in this era, that typically means a rapid promotion.

It now appears that Ekeler will be moving on, unexpectedly, to take over the special team unit at Big Ten rival Southern Cal after just a single season back in his home state at Nebraska. The Huskers vast improvement in special teams play last season wasn’t a secret, and clearly other teams took note.

After being one of the worst special teams units in the country in 2024, the improvement in 2025 was noteworthy. Midway through last season Rhule offered Ekeler as new contract with a significant raise, which the well-traveled and highly regarded assistant coach did not sign. It was (and still is, for the moment) Ekeler’s second stint with Nebraska after he spent two seasons 2008-2010 coaching the linebackers under Husker Head Coach Bo Pelini. The native of David City, Nebraska (just 50 miles from Lincoln) also began his coaching career as a high school coach in Omaha. These facts are why Ekeler’s impending departure has caught Rhule and Husker faithful by surprise.

Ekeler’s System Will Remain Even if He Doesn’t

Rhule has said he won’t replace Ekeler with an outside hire as he has done with each of the other coaching changes he’s made this offseason. Instead, he will continue to employ the same system with Ekeler’s former assistants calling those shots.

Going into this fourth season in Lincoln next fall, Rhule will have very different coaches and systems in other places, like the offensive line, where veteran O-Line coach Geep Wade has already gotten his unit much larger and more experienced via the Transfer Portal. The same can be said for Aurich’s defense, which will have more veteran linebackers and edge rushers. Expect new edge rush coach Roy Manning to have Nebraska putting a lot more pressure on opposing quarterbacks next season.

And if these new coaches have units that excel, don’t be shocked if other programs come calling with promotions and bigger paychecks for them next offseason. We don’t live in Tom Osborne’s world anymore.

Mark Knudson Mark is a former MLB pitcher for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies. He’s the only person ever to play high school, college and professional baseball in Colorado. Mark earned a BA in Technical Journalism from Colorado State University and has worked in radio, television and print sports media since 1994. He’s the co-author of “Pitching to the Corners” with former teammate Don August and the author of “Just Imagine,” a historical fiction novel about The Beatles.
Mark is currently a feature writer and columnist for Mile High Sports in Denver and recently joined the team at Heavy.com. Mark is also a high school baseball coach in the Denver area. More about Mark Knudson

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Nebraska

What Troy coach Scott Cross said after first-round loss to Nebraska

Published

11 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

What Troy coach Scott Cross said after first-round loss to Nebraska

Troy coach Scott Cross met with the media following his team’s 76-47 loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The victory was the first NCAA Tournament win in Nebraska basketball history.

The Huskers were led by Pryce Sandfort, who scored 23 points in the victory. The former Iowa Hawkeye shot 7-of-13 from the floor and 7-of-12 from the 3-point line. Rienk Mast contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds in the win.

As a team, the Huskers shot 25-of-65 from the field, 14-of-39 from the 3-point line and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Troy shot 13-of-46 from the floor, 8-of-28 from beyond the arc and 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.

Cross told the press that while the defeat was difficult to take, he knows his team won’t let this season be defined by this one loss.

“Thank you for being here. I would like to thank the good Lord for the opportunity to just have your guts absolutely ripped out. It stinks, but I told our guys in the locker room, they’re not defined by this basketball game.”

Troy entered the NCAA Tournament on a four-game winning streak after earning the regular-season and tournament titles in the Sun Belt Conference. Cross acknowledged that this Nebraska team is one of the best teams he’s seen in his over 25 years of coaching.

“They played an amazing team. Nebraska is one of the best teams. I’ve been doing this since 1998. They’re really, really freaking good. The way they shoot the basketball and the way they defend, watching it on video, you’re, like, man, there’s no openings as you watch it on video.”

Nebraska and Vanderbilt will play on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on TNT.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Troy coach Scott Cross said after first-round loss to Nebraska

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Nebraska

How to buy Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska 2026 March Madness tickets

Published

23 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

How to buy Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska 2026 March Madness tickets

No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the No. 12 McNeese State Cowboys in the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Vanderbilt eliminated McNeese by a score of 78-68 on Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. McNeese took the lead early in the first half, but Vanderbilt came back in the second half in a close, back-and-forth game.

Now, Vanderbilt will face off against the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second round at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City on Saturday, March 21.

Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska March Madness basketball second round tickets.

Shop Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska March Madness tickets

When is March Madness 2026?

The First Four tipped off the 2026 March Madness tournament on Tuesday, March 17. The two rounds run between Thursday, March 19 and Sunday, March 22. The tournament concludes with the Final Four on Saturday, April 4 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6.

Vanderbilt March Madness next opponent

Vanderbilt earned a No. 5 seed in the South regional. They defeated McNeese in its opening game and have advanced to the Round of 32, where they will play the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers. Tickets to Vanderbilt’s Round of 32 game start at $193.

Vanderbilt March Madness basketball tickets

Limited Vanderbilt NCAA Tournament tickets are still available for the Round of 32. Get your Vanderbilt March Madness tickets now.

Shop Vanderbilt basketball tickets

Vanderbilt March Madness schedule

After defeating McNeese on Thursday, No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores will take on No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, March 21. The tipoff time for that game is still to be determined. Shop Vanderbilt Round of 32 tickets now.

More March Madness: Everything fans need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament

Vanderbilt March Madness game locations

Vanderbilt will play their Round of 32 game at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City on Saturday, March 21.

Limited tickets for the Round of 32 March Madness in Oklahoma City are available. Shop your Vanderbilt NCAA Tournament tickets now.

Vanderbilt Sweet 16 tickets

If the Commodores were to advance to the Sweet 16, they’d travel to they’d travel to Houston, Texas. Sweet 16 tickets in Houston are already available starting at $207.

Shop Vanderbilt basketball tickets

March Madness 2026 full schedule for the men’s tournament

April 6: National Championship
March 19-20: First round
March 21-22: Second round
March 26-27: Sweet 16
March 28-29: Elite 8
April 4-5: Final Four

Shop ALL March Madness tickets

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Nebraska

Has Nebraska won an NCAA Tournament game? Cornhuskers’ March Madness history

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Has Nebraska won an NCAA Tournament game? Cornhuskers’ March Madness history

Nebraska men’s basketball is amid an historic season in 2025-26, earning a program-best No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It’s unprecedented territory for the Cornhuskers, who have never experienced success in March Madness.

Literally.

Seventh-year coach Fred Hoiberg didn’t make the NCAA tournament with Nebraska until his fifth season with the program in 2023-24. The Cornhuskers missed the big dance again last season, although they won the inaugural College Basketball Crown championship before winning 20 consecutive games to start the 2025-26 season.

No. 13 seed Troy, who’s making its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, won’t be an easy out. Nebraska will also certainly be looking to lift some historical blunders off its shoulders with a win.

Here’s what to know of Nebraska’s NCAA Tournament history:

Has Nebraska ever won an NCAA Tournament game?

Nebraska is the only Power conference program to have never won a Men’s NCAA Tournament game, and has its best chance in program history to win its first when it faces Troy in the first round on Thursday, March 19.

It’s the Cornhuskers’ ninth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, having last made the field in 2024. Nebraska lost to Texas A&M 98-83, despite being a No. 8 seed against the No. 9 Aggies in the first round.

Hoiberg said March 18 that he hasn’t addressed the program’s NCAA Tournament history leading up to the game, and that he doesn’t plan to. He did note, however, that there’s pressure involved with the game.

“I know the first question is going to be Nebraska has never won a tournament game,” Hoiberg said. “We realize that. Have I talked to our players about it? No, I haven’t. They know. They see it. Is there a pressure that goes along with that? Of course there is.”

Hoiberg’s son, Sam Hoiberg, is one of Nebraska’s top players. He also addressed what it would mean for the school to win a March Madness game.

“That’s what I’ve been dreaming of since I became a player in this program,” Sam Hoiberg said. “That’s the only thing left to do is get that tournament win. It’s the unsaid thing in every single room, is we don’t have a tournament win. So being able to do it as a senior would be pretty cool.”