Nebraska
Nebraska baseball team clinches series in 11-3 win at Michigan State
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Early offense and another strong performance from the Nebraska pitching staff helped the Huskers clinch the weekend series at Michigan State with an 11-3 win against the Spartans on Friday evening at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
Nebraska (34-18, 16-7 Big Ten) scored 11 runs on 13 hits and an error, while Michigan State (23-27, 10-13 Big Ten) totaled three runs on six hits and two errors.
Riley Silva and Case Sanderson pieced together three hits apiece, while five Huskers tallied a multi-hit performance on Friday. Silva went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a stolen base, followed by Sanderson’s three hits and three RBI. Josh Caron and Dylan Carey each had two hits and a home run, while Cayden Brumbaugh recorded a pair of hits and two runs.
Mason McConnaughey improved to 7-3 on the season after allowing three runs, two earned, across five hits in 5.2 innings. The sophomore struck out five Spartans and issued just one walk. Jalen Worthley pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief, while Casey Daiss tossed a shutout eighth inning. Kyle Froehlich shut down the Spartans in the ninth to conclude the action for the NU pitching staff.
The Husker offense needed just one inning to get on the board with a pair of runs behind two hits in the opening frame. Brumbaugh led off the game with a first-pitch single through the right side and swiped second for his 12th stolen base of the season.
Caron broke the scoreless tie with a towering 432-foot moonshot beyond the trees in left field to give the Big Red a 2-0 advantage.
McConnaughey shut down the Spartans in the first, before Nebraska tacked on three more runs on three hits in the second to grow the lead to five. Cole Evans drew full-count walk, and Silva singled to right to put runners on first and second. Brumbaugh brought home the Big Red’s first run in the inning with an RBI single to right, scoring Evans from second.
Silva plated Nebraska’s second run in the frame on a wild pitch, while Sanderson’s RBI single to shallow left-center scored Brumbaugh from second to build the lead to 5-0.
McConnaughey worked around a walk and single with one out in the second, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to preserve the five-run lead in the bottom of the second.
A Michigan State error, walk and bunt single by Carey loaded the bases for the Huskers in the top of the third. Michigan State’s Joseph Dzierwa escaped the damage with a strikeout, followed by a double play to keep the Huskers’ lead at five.
A two-out double in the bottom of the sixth off the extended wall in right field snapped a streak of 12 consecutive retired batters for McConnaughey. Three consecutive singles after the double brought Michigan State within 5-3 after six innings.
The Huskers blew the game open in the top of the eighth, erupting for four runs on two hits and an error. Walks to Carey and Evans, followed by an infield single on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Silva had the bases loaded with no outs for the Big Red.
Overbeek kept it going for the Huskers, lacing a 1-1 pitch for what appeared to be an RBI single off the top of the glove of the leaping MSU infielder trying to make a full-extension catch, but the play was scored an error that brought home Carey.
Sanderson ripped a 3-2 pitch to right for a two-RBI single, while a sacrifice fly to center from Ben Columbus gave the Huskers a 9-3 lead in the eighth.
Carey began the ninth by lifting a first-pitch solo homer over the wall in left to plate Nebraska’s 10th run of the night. A one-out single and a steal of second by Silva set up Overbeek’s RBI double to the hill in right field, allowing Silva to come home and stretch the lead to 11-3.
Nebraska and Michigan State conclude the weekend series tomorrow at 11:02 a.m. CT at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field in East Lansing, Mich. Sunday’s series finale can be seen on Big Ten Network, while fans can listen to Ben McLaughlin call the action on the Huskers Radio Network.
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Nebraska
Nebraska QB has high expectations heading into 2026 season
Nebraska’s new quarterback has high expectations for the upcoming season. Transfer Anthony Colandrea spoke with Pete Nakos of On3 (subscription required) about his decision to transfer and his goals for the Huskers this year.
Colandrea comes to Nebraska following a breakout junior year with the Rebels. The St. Petersburg, Florida, native finished the 2025 season throwing for 3,459 yards, 23 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with a 65.9 completion percentage.
The former Rebels’ play earned him the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year award. Before UNLV, Colandrea played two seasons at Virginia. In 19 games, he totaled 4,083 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
The new Husker told Nakos that he has high expectations and is looking to play in big games at the end of the season.
“Expectations at Nebraska are to win. Like, you’re not here to just not win a national championship. I’m not coming here to just win eight or nine games. I want to win a national championship; I want to go to the playoffs. I have high expectations, and we have high expectations as a team.”
Colandrea joined a Nebraska team that was looking for a new opening day starter after Dylan Raiola transferred to the Oregon Ducks. The Husker quarterback room also includes sophomore and bowl game starter T.J. Lateef and former Virginia quarterback Daniel Kaelin. He also expressed excitement about playing in front of Nebraska fans.
“It’s the craziest fan base I’ve ever been around. My first impression was I went to a wrestling match. I would never think a wrestling match would be sold out. I walk in, and it’s like 35,000 to 40,000 people. I’m like, this is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. They bring the juice. I’m excited to play for them.”
Nebraska opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Ohio Bobcats visit Memorial Stadium. Kickoff time and broadcast network are still to be determined.
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Nebraska
Four out of six Nebraska school bonds fail during primary election
In the past few years, Joel said Norris has tried to lower its tax levies, especially as property valuations have gone up. Additionally, the school hasn’t put as much into its special building fund with the idea that it would help taxpayers save more.
“That’s what led to that decision to not save as much to take care of the work, but to pass that savings on to taxpayers, with the hopes that we could get a bond issue approved to take care of that work all at once,” Joel said.
Although the election didn’t go in the school’s favor, Joel said he appreciated the feedback and conversations with the community throughout the process.
“If anything, it allowed us to share additional information regarding safety, security, infrastructure, all of that with the community, to create an awareness of the state of the district,” Joel said. “Now we can plan forward based on what the outcome of May 12 was.”
Plainview Public School offered voters two bond proposals on Tuesday, both of which failed. The district boundaries go into Pierce, Antelope and Knox counties.
The larger of the two proposals was for $26 million, which focused on the district’s academic spaces. It included improvements for safety and security, updating career and technical education spaces and equipment, and updating spaces for students with disabilities.
It overwhelmingly failed with 636 voters against and 239 in support.
The second proposal could only pass if the first one had. It was for nearly $6 million to add a new gymnasium. There were 650 voters against it and 220 in support.
Centura Public Schools in central Nebraska also saw its $18.95 million bond attempt fail, with 613 voting against it and 463 voting for it, according to unofficial results in Hall, Howard, Sherman and Buffalo counties. The district hoped to improve safety and security, modernize building systems and update classrooms. According to the bond website, the school hasn’t had major improvements since 1981.
Two school districts seemingly succeeded in passing their bonds: Pierce Public Schools and Stanton Community Schools.
The Pierce Public Schools bond amounts to nearly $10 million to expand and renovate the elementary school. According to the bond website, staff shared safety concerns about pickup and drop-off lanes, door and window security, insufficient security cameras, an inadequate intercom system and the need for an electronic lock system.
The bond includes renovating special education classrooms, enhancing security and building additional classrooms and spaces for students. It passed with 668 votes in support in Pierce County and 625 against, and in Wayne county eight for and 28 against — a 23-vote total difference, according to unofficial results from both counties.
Voters rejected a previous bond proposal for $29.5 million in August.
Stanton Community Schools passed a nearly $25 million bond for the construction of a new elementary school, which will include a multipurpose gym, an early childhood center and access to a storm shelter inside the building. Currently, students have to go outside to reach the storm shelter.
There were 607 votes for the bond in Stanton County and 522 against.
Nebraska
Nebraska legend signs with Jacksonville Jaguars
A former Nebraska running back has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ameer Abdullah signed a one-year contract with the club after spending the 2025 season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Abdullah played in 13 games with the Colts last year, mostly serving as a kick returner. He had 563 kick return yards for an average of 29.6 yards per return. An 81-yard return was his longest of the season.
The veteran is expected to add a key presence to the Jaguars’ backfield, following the departure of Travis Etienne. Abdullah was a legendary Husker running back, playing for the program from 2011 to 2014.
Abdullah ran for 4,588 yards and 62 touchdowns in his Nebraska career. He also recorded 73 receptions for 690 yards. For his career, he had 7,086 all-purpose yards and 48 total touchdowns.
He has been able to parlay his collegiate success into a successful career in the NFL playing for Detroit, Minnesota, Carolina and Las Vegas. This will be his 12th season in the league, as he continues to be a strong representative for the program.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
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