Nebraska basketball excited for tough, unique test in BYU exhibition
It’s not every day that Nebraska basketball hosts a consensus top-10 team at Pinnacle Bank Arena. It’s an even rarer occasion when it’s for a game that doesn’t even count.
That’s what makes Saturday’s exhibition against BYU such an intriguing matchup heading into head coach Fred Hoiberg’s seventh season. Led by the nation’s No. 1 overall 2026 recruit, AJ Dybantsa, the Cougars debuted at seventh in the preseason AP Top 25.
In its first year under head coach Kevin Young, BYU finished 26-10 last season. The Cougars eventually fell in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament to Alabama. The game will be the first of a home-and-home exhibition series between the teams. NU will make a return trip to Provo, Utah, in 2026.
Hoiberg said the Huskers had contacted a handful of other teams about a similar opportunity. In the end, the Cougars were an ideal matchup. He also said Young wanted to give his team an early road test going into its highly anticipated season.
“That’s going to be one of the top teams in the country,” Hoiberg said. “They’ve got the No. 1 player coming in who will probably be the No. 1 (NBA Draft) pick in the following year. So, it gives us a chance to go against a really, really high-level talent, first of all, and a really good roster.
“It’s going to be a good game and will give us a barometer of where we are and show us things that we’re going to have to work on.”
Saturday’s exhibition will tip off at 12 p.m. CT. It will be carried online on B1G+ (subscription required) with audio on Huskers.com, the Huskers app, and select Playfly Husker Sports Network affiliates.
Top 10
- 1New
Bowl Projections
Full list of matchups
- 2
Top Target: Kiffin
Why UF should pursue Ole Miss HC
- 3Hot
Coaching Carousel
Hot seat intel
- 4Trending
Shane Beamer
Denies Hokies rumors
- 5
AP Poll
Massive shakeup in Top 25
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
RELATED: After last year’s struggles, shooting has become non-negotiable for Nebraska basketball
Hoiberg wants to win, but also experiment with his lineup
Saturday will mark Nebraska’s first true data point in the daunting task of narrowing down its core 2025-26 rotation.
The good news for the Huskers is that at least 11 of its 16 players – possibly 13 if true freshmen burn redshirts – have legitimate cases for spots in the lineup. The bad news is that likely only eight to 10 players will remain in the mix by Big Ten play.
Given the unique circumstances of facing a potential national title contender, the game won’t be a typical exhibition. However, Hoiberg will still use it as an opportunity to see what Nebraska’s players are all about.
“Certainly, we’re going to try to win the game,” Hoiberg said. “But, at the same time, we’re still trying to figure out who’s going to be in our rotation. So, yes, we’ll probably play more guys than we will in the opener just to see how different players respond. Every time we get on the floor is an opportunity for guys to show what they can do and show that they belong in the rotation…
“This gives us another opportunity now, in front of the fans, where you’re going to have more butterflies. These guys step in the gym every morning after being in the weight room for an hour, and there’s not a lot of stress. They come in, and certainly they’re trying to impress and play well and play hard. But this is an opportunity against one of the top teams in the nation coming in here to see what we’ve got.”
