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Nebraska lawmakers advance ‘absolute minimum’ property tax package after months of buildup • Nebraska Examiner

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Nebraska lawmakers advance ‘absolute minimum’ property tax package after months of buildup • Nebraska Examiner


LINCOLN — Months of buildup for a new property tax relief-driven package was heavily narrowed in the Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday before being advanced with the “absolute minimum” provisions.

Lawmakers voted 34-11 to end debate on Legislative Bill 34, accepting a “very skinnied-down,” “simple” version. Over the course of 24 hours, lawmakers pivoted through various tax packages before landing at a “consensus” that contained  just three components. 

That was a striking contrast from plans Gov. Jim Pillen, the Revenue Committee and others championed this summer. That included the results of a statewide tour that Pillen led to 26 communities, along with organizing a “task force” of select lawmakers.

In the end, state senators landed what could be the last train out of the special session:

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  • “Front-loading” income tax credits for property taxes paid so they appear first on annual property tax statements. About 50% of such eligible credits were unclaimed.
  • Expanding school tax credits to a total of $750 million in the next fiscal year that would grow in future years.
  • Restricting annual increases in property tax-asking authority by municipal and county governments by the state and the local index of inflation, or 0% in times of deflation. Public safety services and the work of county attorneys and public defenders would be exceptions, as would voter approval and emergencies.
State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn. Aug. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

“This is an absolute minimum that I feel that we should do,” State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn, Revenue Committee vice chair, said during debate. “I mean, I am disappointed that this is all that we’re talking about doing.”

‘Incremental positive movement’

State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, another Revenue Committee member, said it was a start while calling it “the absolute least we can do.”

“It’s nowhere near what we really wanted, but incremental positive movement is still incremental positive movement,” Kauth said.

The Revenue Committee voted 6-1 just one day prior to advance an expansive, 122-page package that sought to lower local property taxes by about 30%, based on rough estimates. 

That effort included the final three items, but also more expansive credits for K-12 school districts and the state’s 23 natural resources districts. Funding the model would have come through existing property tax relief programs as well as new or increased taxes on various goods, services and “sin” items, such as candy, soft drinks, consumable hemp, tobacco and gambling.

Instead, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chair, acknowledging that the legislation lacked enough support, pivoted about halfway through the eight-hour debate Tuesday to a new amendment.

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“If somebody votes ‘no’ on this, they can’t possibly stand up on the floor again and say they care about property taxpayers,” she said. “This literally puts money in people’s hands.”

Linehan and von Gillern, among others, said the change would help those who might not have an accountant to walk them through their tax filings and educate them about the program. Those already claiming the credit would have an easier process but smaller relief, Linehan said.

‘I hope we can do more’

State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. Aug. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte said that those revisions were a “no-brainer” and that it didn’t get easier, simpler or more fundamental.

“I’m truly flabbergasted that we’re debating whether we want to do the minimum,” Jacobson said. “I mean, it doesn’t get more minimal than this.”

Those who opposed the plan included State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, who said out-of-state companies would benefit from the “front-loaded” property tax credits while residents of his district would be left out. 

Wayne criticized progressives and conservatives alike in the officially nonpartisan body for drawing lines in the sand and not working together. He said the “minimum” was bad policy.

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“I hope we can do more than just this, because this is the bare ‘minimum,’ Senator Jacobson, and the bare minimum isn’t good enough for my district,” Wayne said.

Municipal, county tax asking caps

Linehan described the caps on local governments as “very soft” because a majority of some county or municipal budgets are related to public safety, which wouldn’t be capped.

However, that was the side of the narrowed bill that led to hesitation.

State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln. Aug. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln said the public safety carveout might help with hiring jail guards, for example, but would not address the “upstream issues” to prevent incarceration, such as homelessness, substance use disorders and mental health.

“You can start to delineate certain exemptions of what you think is or is not public safety, but the reality is, if a political subdivision is financially unable to meet the needs of its citizens, it is failing the people that it’s there to represent,” he said.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha said the category needed to include other support, such as school programs or community centers, to ensure “kids aren’t going into the streets.”

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State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha said in his conversations with constituents and officials statewide, many people are unwilling to sacrifice or compromise infrastructure, including roads, bridges and quality of life services, such as parks and libraries. 

The City of Omaha was among the loudest opponents to the caps, as were multiple municipal leaders statewide.

“I just don’t know that I’m comfortable kneecapping the possible economic development that’s going on in that city,” Fredrickson said of Omaha, “and I don’t know why anyone in the state would want to do that.”

‘Our spending lid is killing us’

State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln attends a public listening forum on property taxes in Lincoln. July 22, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Two Democratic lawmakers from Lincoln, State Sens. Eliot Bostar and Anna Wishart, supported the plan. They said it would be beneficial to their city, and to Lancaster County, because of existing budgetary restraints that Lincoln is up against but that would be removed.

“Our spending lid is killing us,” Wishart said.

Bostar said the city would benefit, “on net.”

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The League of Nebraska Municipalities and Nebraska Association of County Officials have remained adamantly against the proposed hard caps, which could freeze tax asking in times of deflation even as some costs or salaries must be paid for.

Lynn Rex, executive director of the League, said the Legislature “basically disregarded” that cities and villages have obligations they must pay for. Jon Cannon, executive director of the county association, said the caps could make it “virtually impossible” for counties to maintain infrastructure, which law enforcement and the public rely upon.

“All the other things that are part of the fabric of our communities, now they’re subject to a cap,” Cannon said after the vote.

Cannon and Rex said taxpayers will see a decrease in quality of roads and bridges and fewer qualify of life services. 

Rex said she hopes lawmakers will consider bumping up the spending cap to 3% or inflation, as was negotiated between August 2023 and April 2024, when the previous tax package failed.

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Pillen plan ‘down in flames’

In addition to Bostar and Wishart, three other lawmakers bucked the majority of ideological lines in either supporting or opposing the measure: Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha and Republican State Sens. Julie Slama of Dunbar and Merv Riepe of Ralston.

Vargas said in a tweet that he was proud to vote for an additional $180 million in property tax relief without increasing sales taxes, which Slama also celebrated.

State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar. Aug. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

But Slama saw it more as a “huge indictment of Pillen’s failed leadership to watch his plan go down in flames,” which she added he and his family stood to financially benefit from.

“Big win for Nebraska taxpayers to have the largest tax increase in state history fail before the cloture vote,” Slama told the Nebraska Examiner.

Slama and Democratic State Sen. Jen Day in Sarpy County opposed the motion to end debate but ultimately voted to advance the bill.

Riepe, who joined members of the Revenue Committee and a handful of other senators in negotiating a tax plan this summer with Pillen, said it was hard enough to stay on top of the plan as it “changed almost by the hour.” He said it was more so for “citizens with skin in the game.”

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He said the bill was an example of “biting off more than one can chew” and that the measure needed more thought and study, even though he wanted property tax relief.

“I’ve never lived by the theory of ‘jump and the net will appear,’ and I am afraid that that is where we’re at,” Riepe said. “I tell young people this all the time, it’s better to be single than to wish you were, and it’s better to have no legislation than to have bad legislation.”

Budget debate begins Wednesday

To fund the new plan, lawmakers will consider two bills advanced from the Appropriations Committee related to budget cuts, to the tune of about $139 million (LB 2), and increased fees (LB 3). 

If those measures advance as is from the committee, the state would be on the hook for about $46 million, according to State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Appropriations Committee. He said that would need to come out of state reserves.

That number could end up being higher, McKinney and Wishart previewed, as they and others are opposed to a broad, undisclosed $25 million administrative cut to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

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Debate on those two measures will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday. LB 34 is expected to return for debate later this week.

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Scouting Future Saints: Nebraska Cornhuskers RB Emmett Johnson

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Scouting Future Saints: Nebraska Cornhuskers RB Emmett Johnson


The New Orleans Saints made a big splash in free agency when they signed Travis Etienne Jr. to pair with Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Etienne’s addition probably means that the Saints won’t select a back with an early choice in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, don’t be surprised if the team adds another back with a later pick. If that’s the case, Emmett Johnson of the Nebraska Cornhuskers could be someone on their radar.

Etienne will likely be the featured back, but Kamara’s future beyond 2026 is in some doubt. Kamara turns 31 in July and is entering his 10th season with a big contract after already showing some possible decline. Behind them, Kendre Miller has proven he shouldn’t be relied on and 2025 sixth round choice Devin Neal has flashed potential but remains unproven. The Saints may be wise to add more talent to their backfield with a middle or later round pick.

Emmett Johnson bio

  • Position: Running back
  • College: Nebraska Cornhuskers
  • Height: 5-feet, 10 inches
  • Weight: 202 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds
  • 10-yard split: 1.59 seconds
  • 3-cone drill: 7.32 seconds
  • 20-yard shuttle: 4.29 seconds
  • Vertical jump: 35.5″
  • Broad jump: 10′

Recipient of the 2021 Minnesota Mr. Football award at Academy of Holy Angels High School, Johnson began with the Nebraska Cornhuskers as a three-star recruit. He’d take a redshirt in 2022 then rushed for 411 yards with 2 scores in 2023 as part of a backfield committee. In 2024, Johnson picked up 598 yards on the ground and caught 39 passes for 286 yards with 3 total scores.

By 2025, Johnson was the Cornhuskers featured weapon and exploded onto the national radar. Johnson’s 1,451 rushing yards and 251 carries both led the Big Ten and were among the NCAA leaders. He also caught a team-high 46 passes and scored 15 touchdowns, as his 1,821 yards from scrimmage were second across the NCAA. Those eye-popping numbers earned him 1st Team All-American honors as well as the 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year.

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Strengths

  • Hits rushing lanes with authority
  • Makes sharp cuts at top speed
  • Decisive north-south runner
  • Good acceleration into the second level
  • Legitimate receiving threat

Weaknesses

  • Doesn’t have breakaway speed
  • Has trouble creating yards when the hole isn’t there
  • Must maintain balance better through contact
  • Doesn’t break many tackles
  • Only one year of high-level production

Emmett Johnson 2026 draft outlook

Johnson’s 2025 tape and production are worthy of a high pick, but teams looking for a featured back might be wary of his lack of power. Still, Johnson has a strong chance of being picked somewhere on the second day and shouldn’t last later than the fourth round. His decisive one-cut and go style and receiving ability gives him a strong chance to be an instant contributor with an incredibly high upside of a potential starter.

New Orleans has had success with late-round picks and undrafted players at running back. Emmett Johnson won’t last that long. But, if Johnson slips into Day 3, the Saints could be tempted to add him and bolster their backfield in multiple ways.



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Gallery: Huskers Run-Rule No. 12 USC to Take Series

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Gallery: Huskers Run-Rule No. 12 USC to Take Series


Carson Jasa pitched a strong game, earning his second complete-game of the season. Nebraska’s offense started fast and kept rolling, leading to a 12-2 run-rule win over No. 12 USC in seven innings on Saturday at Hawks Field. This marked head coach Will Bolt’s 200th career win at Nebraska. 

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A season-high crowd of 7,602 fans filled the ballpark, making for one of the most exciting games of the year. This attendance is the 25th largest in Hawks Field history and the second biggest since Nebraska joined the Big Ten, just behind the 7,650 fans at a 2021 doubleheader against Michigan. The fans saw Nebraska play a complete game, improving to 30-9 overall and 14-3 in the conference. USC fell to 30-10 and 13-7 in Big Ten play.

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Nebraska’s offense scored 12 runs on 12 hits and made only one error. USC scored just two runs on five hits and had two defensive mistakes. Drew Grego led the way, going 3-for-4 and missing the cycle by only a triple. He hit a home run, a double, and drove in four runs. Dylan Carey also went 3-for-4 with a home run and scored three times. Case Sanderson went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, and Jett Buck added a double and scored three runs. Mac Moyer, Joshua Overbeek, and Trey Fikes each had a hit. 

Jasa took control on the mound right from the start. He pitched all seven innings, giving up just two runs, only one earned, on five hits. He struck out seven and walked only two, moving his record to 7-1 this season. 

The Huskers started strong, taking an early lead in the first inning. Nebraska sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs right away. Sanderson brought in the first run with a groundout that scored Moyer. Buck hit a double to bring home Carey, Grego added an RBI double to score Buck, and Overbeek finished the inning with a single that made it 4-0.

Nebraska added to its lead in the third inning with three solo home runs.. Sanderson and Carey hit back-to-back homers, and Grego followed by sending the first pitch he saw over the left field wall. That made it 7-0 and put the game out of reach.

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The Huskers continued to add on in the fifth inning, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning. Carey and Buck each stole. The Huskers kept building their lead in the fifth inning by taking advantage of aggressive baserunning. Carey and Buck both stole bases to get into scoring position, and Grego singled to left field to drive them both in, making it 9-0.

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USC rallied briefly in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits and a Nebraska error. A solo home run gave the Trojans their first run, and a mix of hits and a defensive mistake brought in another, making it 10-2. Stokes drew walks to put runners on base, and Trey Fikes delivered an RBI single to left field. A USC fielding error on the play allowed both Buck and Stokes to score, ending the game at 12-2 and clinching the series for the Huskers. 

Carson Jasa gave up just one earned run in his seven-inning complete game. | Amarillo Mullen
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Case Sanderson (14) gives Jett Buck (1) a fist bump after scoring. | Amarillo Mullen

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Dylan Carey points to the dugout after a single to score Sanderson. | Amarillo Mullen

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Jett Buck (1) makes contact for an RBI double. | Amarillo Mullen

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Dylan Carey (15) high fives Joshua Overbeek (4) after scoring on Buck’s double. | Amarillo Mullen

Jett Buck touches home plate to score on a double from Drew Grego. | Amarillo Mullen
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Drew Grego celebrates his RBI double. | Amarillo Mullen

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Drew Grego (10) pumps his fist after crossing home plate to score. | Amarillo Mullen

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Case Sanderson rounds the bases after a solo homerun to lead of the bottom of the third. | Amarillo Mullen

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Dylan Carey (15) celebrates his solo homerun with the Husker dugout. | Amarillo Mullen

Drew Grego comes home after his solo homer. | Amarillo Mullen
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Carson Jasa celebrates a quick inning on the mound. | Amarillo Mullen

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Dylan Carey and Jett Buck (1) smile after scoring. | Amarillo Mullen

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Case Sanderson celebrates a double. | Amarillo Mullen

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Rhett Stokes steps on home plate to score the tenth run for the Huskers to end the game in seven. | Amarillo Mullen

Trey Fikes smiles after his single with a USC error to score the final two runs of the game. | Amarillo Mullen
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The Huskers run out to center field with Trey Fikes (21) to celebrate their run-rule walk-off. | Amarillo Mullen

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The Huskers have won the series and will go for the weekend sweep on Sunday. | Amarillo Mullen


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Boston College Forward/Center Boden Kapke Commits to Nebraska Basketball

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Boston College Forward/Center Boden Kapke Commits to Nebraska Basketball


On the 12th day of the 2026 transfer portal cycle, Nebrasketball picked up its fourth commitment.

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Boden Kapke, a 6-foot-11 forward/center out of Boston College, has committed to the Huskers. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

Kapke announced his commitment on social media, captioning his post, “🔴⚪️GBR🌽”

Kapke began his college career at Butler. As a true freshman, he played in 22 games, averaging 7.0 minutes of action per contest. In limited run during his first season of collegiate action, he shot 48% from the field and made seven of his 17 attempts (41%) from three-point range.

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As a sophomore, Kapke made 16 starts while appearing in 34 of the team’s 35 games. In just 13.4 minutes per game, he averaged 4.1 points and 2.8 rebounds. He shot 40% from the field and 27% (18-for-66) from deep.

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Boston College Eagles center Boden Kapke (33) boxes out Clemson Tigers forward Nick Davidson (11). | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kapke transferred to Boston College for his junior season. In his lone year with the Eagles, his numbers jumped to 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds over 26.7 minutes a game. He made 17 starts in 31 appearances on the year. He shot 47% from the field and 33% on three-pointers.

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Out of Victoria, Minnesota, Kapke was a finalist for his state’s 2023 Mr. Basketball. As a senior, he averaged 23 points and 13 rebounds a game, helping Holy Family Catholic to a 29-3 record and the Class AA State Tournament semifinals.

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Kapke finished his prep career with 1,796 career points and 1,062 rebounds.

Butler Bulldogs forward Boden Kapke (33) dunks the ball during the first half against the St. John’s Red Storm at Hinkle Fieldhouse. | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
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Nebraska lost nearly all of its frontcourt production from a 28-7 campaign that ended in the Sweet 16. Starter Rienk Mast and backup Jared Garcia have both exhausted their eligibility, while starter Berke Büyüktuncel entered the transfer portal last week.

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The Huskers do have a returning frontcourt player in Leo Curtis. The 7-foot-2 native of Iceland appeared in 17 games as a true freshman.

Nebraska also picked up a likely starting four man from Belmont in Sam Orme. The full-time starter as a redshirt sophomore this past season, Orme averaged 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 25.8 minutes per game.

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Belmont’s Sam Orme was the first commitment for Nebraska during this transfer portal cycle. | Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Still up in the air is the status of Central Michigan transfer Ugnius Jaruševičius. The Lithuanian big man played in just one game in 2025-26 with Nebraska and is seeking a medical waiver for an additional year of eligibility. With his back issues and a waiver being needed from the NCAA, the coaching staff can’t be certain that he’ll be available next season.

As of this commitment, Kapke would slide into the starting five spot. Kapke is nearly identical to Mast in terms of size, bringing one more inch of height and five more pounds of weight. His offensive play style, however, would be more similar to what Husker fans saw from Büyüktuncel.

A final decision is still to be announced from Boise State forward/center Drew Fielder. The former Georgetown big averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists this past season with the Broncos, shooting 40.9.% on three-pointers and 60.6% inside the arc. Fielder has visited Nebraska and Washington and is visiting Alabama this weekend.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Fred Hoiberg speaks during a press conference for Coach of the Year ahead of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

On Friday, Nebraska picked up a starting ball handler in Utah Valley’s Trevan Leonhardt. This past season, he started all 35 games, averaging 11.8 points, 6.0 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per contest. He earned first-team All-WAC and All-Defensive team honors.

Nebraska’s starting lineup right now projects to be Leonhardt, Sandfort, Frager, Orme, and Kapke. That gives the Huskers a starting lineup height of 6-foot-5, 6-foot-7, 6-foot-7, 6-foot-9, and 6-foot-11. As for three-point shooting, that group had averages in 2025-26 of 37%, 41.6%, 35.2%, 40.4%, and 33%.

Multiple pieces from last year have confirmed they will be returning.

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First-team All-Big Ten selection Pryce Sandfort will be back for his senior season. Coach Fred Hoiberg confirmed earlier this month that the first-team All-Big Ten selection had been battling a sports hernia injury. Sandfort underwent surgery after the season ended and will be rehabbing for several weeks, diminishing the potential of him leaving early for the NBA draft.

Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Braden Frager re-signed with Nebraska. He will slide into one of the starting spots vacated by Sam Hoiberg and Jamarques Lawrence. In his redshirt freshman season, Frager hit the 20-point scoring mark six times on his way to averaging 11.8 points a game off the bench.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Braden Frager after making a three-pointer in the NCAA Tournament. | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Curtis and main rotation piece Cale Jacobsen have also had their returns confirmed. In 2025-26, Jacobsen played in all 35 contests, averaging 4.6 points on 52 percent shooting, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game with a 2.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Along with Jaruševičius, sharpshooter Connor Essegian is also seeking a medical waiver for an additional year of eligibility. However, he did get an official return post on social media. In the seven games he was on the floor this season, he averaged 5.4 points per game, making eight three-pointers.

Other players on the roster to be confirmed returning are Henry Burt and Will Cooper.

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The Huskers are also adding a pair of high school signees. Colin Rice and Jacob Lanier are both four-star forward prospects and could see the floor earlier in their collegiate careers.

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Besides 61-game starter Büyüktuncel, Nebraska has also seen Quentin Rhymes and Justin Bolis leave via the transfer portal.

Nebraska now has two open spots remaining on the roster. The portal remains open through April 21.

Have a question or comment for Kaleb? Send an email to kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com.

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