Nebraska
‘Nothing can hold me back’: Nebraska teen scores on first play after open heart surgery
(InvestigateTV) — Sometimes sports are about more than the final score.
For Jack Burke, a high school football player in Nebraska, a medical diagnosis at birth has never stopped him from competing — and a touchdown catch in his first play back from open heart surgery proved it.
Born with a rare heart defect
Burke was born with Scimitar syndrome, a rare heart defect in which babies are born with an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. The condition also affects blood flow to the right lung. Treatment often includes surgery, and many adults with the condition go on to live healthy lives.
“As a kid, I never really understood,” Burke said. “It was always natural for me that I had to push myself harder to keep up.”
His mother, Bridget Burke, says the condition was not initially considered dangerous for sports participation.
“His Scimitar Syndrome never really came into play as being dangerous for him to play sports,” she said.
The decision to operate
That changed in the spring of 2025, when Burke’s family and doctors decided it was time for a surgery that had been anticipated for years.
“I’ve kind of known I’ve had to get surgery my whole life,” Burke said. “Once I knew I could get the surgery sooner, I was all in. I wanted to get it so I could get back to sports.”
His father, Ryan Burke, says the timing was deliberate.
“This will be done before school gets started, and still have a chance to do almost everything you want to do,” Ryan Burke said.
Jack Burke underwent open-heart surgery, leaving a visible reminder of what he went through.
“There’s a six-inch scar in the middle of his chest that represents a pretty big thing that happened,” Ryan Burke said.
For Bridget Burke, the moment her son was taken to the operating room was difficult.
“When the rubber hits the road and your kid is being wheeled back to the OR, it is scary and emotional,” she said.
The comeback
Burke eased back into football following his cardiologist’s recommended recovery timeline. His return came in week three of the season.
“Before the Schuyler game I talked to his dad and he’s like, ‘I think we might be ready,’” said coach Jay Landstrom.
Bridget Burke says the family approached the return with caution.
“I mean, I was nervous. We didn’t really know how much he would play. It was going to be some cautious situations,” she said.
Those concerns were set aside — at least for a moment — when Burke caught a touchdown pass on his very first play back.
“All the parents were high-fiving everybody and they were like, ‘Was that really Jack?’” Bridget Burke said.
Landstrom called it a special moment.
“It was just meant to be and that was really special,” he said.
For Burke, the touchdown meant something beyond the scoreboard.
“I just remember one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘He’s back. He’s back,’” Burke said. “It kind of shows something that tried to stop me — I hurdled that obstacle.”
Burke says the surgery has given him a new sense of freedom.
“Now I can do whatever I want. Nothing can hold me back,” he said.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story has been updated with new information
LINCOLN, NE — Ole Miss baseball will have to wait until May 31 to finish its second game of the Lincoln Regional.
The game between Ole Miss (37-20) and Nebraska (43-15) will resume May 31 at noon. TV information has not been announced. The game went in a weather delay at 10:20 p.m. before the ninth inning on May 30 because of rain and lightning.
No. 2 Rebels are leading No. 1 Nebraska 6-3. It’s a winner’s bracket game in the Lincoln Regional at Haymarket Park.
Ole Miss has taken control of the game after entering the sixth inning down 1-0. Starting pitcher Taylor Rabe pitched six innings and gave up one run.
Owen Paino had a two-run double in a three-run sixth for the Rebels. Ole Miss scored two runs on bases-loaded walks in the seventh.
The other two games on May 31 remain in their originally scheduled timeslots. If Ole Miss wins, the Rebels will face the winner of Nebraska and Arizona State on May 31 at 7 p.m. The Cornhuskers and Sun Devils play an elimination game at 2 p.m. to get to the night game.
If Ole Miss wins that game, the Rebels will move on to a super regional against the winner of the Auburn Regional. If Ole Miss loses, the Rebels will play in an if-necessary game against the same team on June 1 to decide who wins the regional.
Lincoln Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA Tournament
Friday, May 29
Game 1: Nebraska 4, South Dakota State 1
Game 2: Ole Miss 7, Arizona State 6
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Arizona State 17, South Dakota State 0
Game 4: Nebraska vs Ole Miss, suspended ninth inning
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Arizona State vs Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. CT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. CT
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs Game 6 loser, if necessary
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
Jordy Frahm and the Nebraska Cornhuskers face Jocelyn Briski and the Alabama Crimson Tide in an NCAA softball Women’s College World Series winners’ bracket game Saturday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
The Cornhuskers (51-6) beat Arkansas 5-3 in 10 innings on Thursday, while the Crimson Tide (54-7) beat UCLA 6-3 in its WCWS opener.
Here’s how to watch the Cornhuskers-Crimson Tide game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:
What time is the Alabama vs Nebraska softball Women’s College World Series game on TV?
- Date: Saturday, May 30
- Time: 6 p.m. CT
The Alabama Crimson Tide and Nebraska Cornhuskers will play in a 2026 Women’s College World Series winners’ bracket game on Saturday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
What channel is the Nebraska softball vs Alabama WCWS game on? Where to watch Cornhuskers-Crimson Tide
When is the Women’s College World Series? What is the 2026 WCWS schedule?
The 2026 Women’s College World Series gets under way with four games at Devon Park in OKC on Thursday, May 28.
Here’s the full schedule for the 2026 Women’s College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City:
All times Central
Thursday, May 28
Friday, May 29
Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31
- Game 9: Texas vs. Game 8 loser, 2 p.m., ABC (Fubo)
- Game 10: UCLA vs. Game 7 loser, 6 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
Monday, June 1
- Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 11 a.m., ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 1:30 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 13: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
- Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
Tuesday, June 2
Wednesday, June 3
- WCWS finals Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Thursday, June 4
- WCWS finals Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Friday, June 5 (if necessary)
- WCWS finals Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Nebraska
What channel is Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on today? Time, TV schedule to watch NCAA regional game
Ole Miss baseball continues on in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA Lincoln Regional with a game against host Nebraska on May 30.
The Rebels (37-21) outlasted Arizona State 7-6 in 14 innings on May 30 after a Brayden Randle walk-off RBI single.
Nebraska (43-15) pulled away late in a 4-1 win over South Dakota State to open regional play on May 30.
The winner will play in the regional final on May 31, with two games to win one. The loser will play in the first game on May 31 against the South Dakota State-Arizona State winner.
Here’s how you can watch Ole Miss baseball vs. Nebraska:
Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on May 30 in Lincoln, Nebraska will be televised on ESPNU. Karl Ravech and Kyle Peterson will call the game in Lincoln.
- Game date: Saturday, May 30
- Start time: Approximately 7 p.m.
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: Nebraska vs. South Dakota State, 3 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 2: Ole Miss vs. Arizona State, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: South Dakota State vs. Arizona State, 2 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 4: Nebraska vs. Ole Miss, approx. 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. on TBD
- Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, approx. 7 p.m. on TBD
Monday, June 1
- Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner (if necessary), Time and TV TBD
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