BYU, Nebraska set date for exhibition game at Marriott Center
May 14, 2026, 1:11 PM
PROVO – BYU basketball is set to host a high-major program at the Marriott Center for an exhibition game.
The Cougars will welcome Nebraska to Provo on Friday, October 16, the two schools announced on Thursday.
BYU basketball announced it will host Nebraska on Friday, October 16, at the Marriott Center for an exhibition game.
Return visit for a two-game exhibition series. BYU was in Lincoln last October.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) May 14, 2026
BYU basketball hosts Nebraska on October 16
It’s the second game of a two-game series that saw BYU travel to Lincoln to face the Cornhuskers last October.
Nebraska won that exhibition game 90-89. Former BYU guard Jared McGregor had an opportunity for a game-winner at the horn, but it came up short.
Like last year’s contest, the matchup won’t count on the record or stat book, but it will be a chance to get a quality game in before the regular season starts.
Nebraska basketball’s last visit to Provo was in 1935
Nebraska went on to have the best season in its program’s history last year, reaching the Sweet 16. It was the first time that the Cornhuskers won a game in the NCAA Tournament.
Headin’ West this fall. ✊ pic.twitter.com/XTm506jsaA
— Nebraska Men's Basketball (@HuskerMBB) May 14, 2026
BYU reached the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season, but suffered an early exit, falling to Texas in the round of 64 to cap off a 23-12 campaign.
The last time Nebraska traveled to Provo was in 1935.
Exhibition season
In the past, these types of matchups were typically charity events or secret scrimmages. After the NCAA Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee passed a proposal in 2025, programs can now allocate revenue generated from these games however they wish.
Teams can play up to two preseason exhibition games against any four-year school before the regular season starts.
As you would expect in college basketball these days, both BYU and Nebraska will have a new core of players this upcoming season. BYU does return star guard Rob Wright III, but after that, the Cougars’ key players will be Kentucky transfer Collin Chandler and five-star freshman Bruce Branch III.
Nebraska was a senior-laden team a season ago. They do bring back 6-foot-7 starter Pryce Sandfort. An intriguing addition to Fred Hoiberg’s squad pulled out of the transfer portal was Utah Valley transfer guard Trevan Leonhardt.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
