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.

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.

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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.

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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.”

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Nebraska NCAA Tournament history

• 2024: No. 9 Texas A&M 98, No. 8 Nebraska 83
• 2014: No. 6 Baylor 74, No. 11 Nebraska 60 
• 1998: No. 6 Arkansas 74, No. 11 Nebraska 65
• 1994: No. 11 Penn 90, No. 6 Nebraska 80 
• 1993: No. 7 New Mexico State 93, No. 10 Nebraska 79 
• 1992: No. 9 UConn 86, No. 8 Nebraska 65
• 1991: No. 14 Xavier 89, No. 3 Nebraska 84
• 1986: No. 8 Western Kentucky 67, No. 9 Nebraska 59

Agricultural land values fell in Nebraska over the past year, marking the second consecutive year of declining land values in the state.

A preliminary report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 2025-26 Farm Real Estate Market Survey said agland values declined 1% over the past year, now averaging $3,905 per acre.

The two years of declines follow average valuations reaching $4,015 per acre in 2024.

The survey’s preliminary report was published Wednesday by the university’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, based in the Department of Agricultural Economics. It provides estimates of agland values and cash rental rates, broken down by region and land class across Nebraska.

A news release said officials who participated in this year’s survey attributed the decline to lower crop prices, higher farm input costs and prevailing interest rates.

“Many operations are facing tighter liquidity as crop revenues decline while input costs remain elevated,” Jim Jansen, an extension agricultural economist who leads the annual report, said in the release. “Those conditions are leading producers and lenders to take a more cautious approach when navigating these financial pressures.”

Center pivot irrigated cropland averaged a 2% drop statewide, while gravity irrigated cropland declined 3%. Dryland with irrigation potential fell 2% and dryland without irrigation potential decreased 1%. Grazing land and hayland values increased between 4% and 7% as strong cattle prices supported demand for pasture acres.

Crop receipts in Nebraska declined by about $576.6 million, or 16%, in 2025 as corn prices fell and soybean and wheat production dropped. Those losses were partially offset by a $3.22 billion increase in livestock receipts statewide. Jansen said the differences in crop and livestock profitability were reflected in land value trends across the state.

Average cash rental rates in Nebraska followed a similar trend. Rental rates for dryland and irrigated cropland declined between 1% and 9% across the state, reflecting lower commodity prices and tighter margins for crop producers. Rental rates for pasture and cow-calf pairs increased about 4% to 5% compared with the previous grazing season.

“Flexible lease provisions can help landowners and tenants manage production and price risk when margins are tight,” Jansen said. “Factors such as crop prices, input costs and drought conditions all play a role in how lease agreements are structured.”