The Pick Six Podcast - Husker sports news and analysis · Omaha World-Herald

The top Husker sports storylines of 2026

·36 min·2 clips

Nebraska volleyball returns Andy Jackson, Harper Murray, and Bergen Riley, which Sam compares to the 1983 Huskers scoring explosion.

1. The Pick Six Podcast from the Omaha World-Herald uses “the top Husker sports storylines of 2026” as a statewide preview of Nebraska athletics. 2. Sam McEwen is the sports voice answering questions, and Ben Dutty drives the conversation as the host who frames each topic. 3. The episode asks what Nebraska sports will look like in 2026 across volleyball, basketball, softball, football, and the Matt Rhule era. 4. On the overall athletic program, Sam says Nebraska’s profile is “really, really strong” because the basketball teams are undefeated and volleyball remains elite. 5. Sam compares Nebraska volleyball’s title chase to the New England Patriots’ long gaps between Super Bowl wins and says the Huskers are still positioned to win “two or three in a row.” 6. He says Nebraska football is not yet at Oregon or Indiana, but it is competitive with teams like Texas A&M and Miami. 7. On softball, Sam calls Jordy Ball “the best player in the country” again heading into 2026 and says she is a “game changer” for the program. 8. He expects Ball to keep Nebraska competitive and says the family will be at as many softball games as possible. 9. The volleyball segment focuses on roster continuity, with Becca Alec graduating and Andy Jackson, Harper Murray, Bergen Riley, Lainey Choboy, Olivia Mock, and Virginia Adriano expected back. 10. Sam says that returning core is like “the scoring explosion for the 1983 Huskers,” and he expects Danny Busboom-Kelly to make adjustments after the Texas A&M loss. 11. Ben raises the idea that Nebraska was tested more by Kentucky, Texas A&M, and Creighton than by Big Ten opponents, which leads to a discussion of conference strength. 12. Harper Murray gets a separate segment because of her on-court value, celebrity profile, and the scrutiny around her first few seasons. 13. Ben highlights Murray holding Becca Alec’s hand after the Texas A&M loss, and Sam agrees that it looked like captain behavior. 14. Sam says Murray is one of the great players in Husker history and one of the most popular Nebraska volleyball players, alongside Lexi Rodriguez. 15. The basketball section argues Nebraska’s men and women may be better together in 2026 than they have ever been at the same time. 16. Sam says Fred Hoiberg’s team and the women’s program benefit from close practice facilities, shared momentum, and chemistry, while Ben argues Nebraska could pass Iowa as a basketball school if it keeps winning. 17. The tone is conversational, argument-driven, and locally focused, with Ben pushing comparison questions and Sam answering with roster, money, and program-building details. 18. The format moves quickly through lightning-round topics, then slows for football roster management and a long discussion of Matt Rhule’s contract era. 19. People who follow Nebraska football, volleyball, and basketball will get the most from this episode. 20. People looking for national sports debate without Husker context may skip it.

As heard by us

A measured Husker conversation about 2026 and basketball stakes.

This episode looks ahead to 2026 storylines, starting with the Nebraska athletic program and then settling on basketball as the clearest place to measure progress.

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Want a 2026 Nebraska check-in that looks at the athletic program and the Iowa comparison?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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