In a winter focused on Nebraska athletics, one that continues to feel more like a fever dream than reality, certain things become lost in the ranks of current popularity. Fred Hoiberg and Amy Williams prepare their teams for potential NCAA tournament appearances and Mark Manning has Nebraska wrestling in the midst of its toughest three-match stretch in recent memory.
But among these happenings, Nebraska head coach Will Bolt has his sights set on defending back-to-back Big Ten tournament championships. One can hardly find the words to describe the Huskers’ 2025 season as anything but up-and-down, reflected in their 33-29 (15-15) regular-season record.
Despite a redemptive Big Ten tournament title run, the year left more to be desired. Offensively, Nebraska ranked in the bottom half of the conference in total runs, home runs and OPS. Bolt’s lineup accounted for the fewest walks and the third-most strikeouts in league play.
These issues, mainly due to poor situational hitting, were not the defining factor of the Huskers’ offense. They posted the second-most doubles and the third-highest hit totals in the Big Ten.
As for the pitching staff, the outlook is far less settled.
Nebraska loses key contributors to its 2026 rotation in Jackson Brockett and Will Walsh, leaving junior right-hander Ty Horn as the only returning starter. Pitching coach Rob Childress will look to build on a 2025 season where the Huskers surrendered the second-most hits and third-most home runs in the Big Ten.
For a team that struggled to finish over .500 and was eliminated by Oklahoma in the Chapel Hill Regional last season, Bolt’s squad has its share of uncertainties. This is what’s known — and what isn’t — as the season opener approaches.
The infield:
When watching this Nebraska lineup in the fall, there was no question that to return to its top-of-conference 2024 form, it needed to revolve around junior Case Sanderson.
The junior followed up a strong freshman season with a .307/.416/.417 slashline, three home runs and nine doubles in 2025. A reliable middle-of-the-order bat in recent seasons, Sanderson was one of the Huskers’ most improved bats in the fall, marked by a 4-for-7 day against Omaha.
The first baseman spent some time in left field in the fall, though it is expected that he will primarily play first base in the spring. As for the rest of the infield, Bolt indicated that he has a good idea of who will fill out those positions.
“I’ve got four ultra-experienced guys on the infield right now,” Bolt said. “We’ve got (Joshua) Overbeek, (Dylan) Carey, Jett Buck, who will probably be at second base to start the year, and Sanderson, a three-year starter at first base.”
The general expectation is that seniors Josh Overbeek and Dylan Carey, who combined to hit 33 doubles, 14 home runs and drive in 69 runs last season, will fill out the left side of the infield. Carey has started 123 of the Huskers’ 124 total games in the last two seasons.
An interesting name of note is senior Jett Buck, a senior transfer from Kansas City Community College and Division II Washburn. Buck, a second-team NCBWA All-American in 2025, should bring legitimate power from the right side. In 2025, he hit .365 with 21 home runs and a 1.178 OPS for the Ichabods.
The catcher position appears settled, as true freshman Jeter Worthley emerged as one of Bolt’s top hitters during the fall. The former Lincoln East standout is expected to slot in at the top of the order, offering versatility with his speed and bat-to-ball skills. Worthley is the younger brother of Nebraska senior left-hander Jalen Worthley.
The outfield:
Leading the charge in the outfield is 2025 All-Big Ten Freshman selection Devin Nunez. Nunez, who spent time in a defensive utility role last season, is set to be the Huskers’ center fielder this spring, according to Bolt.
Although his throwing was limited during the fall, Bolt said that Nunez has progressed well in the outfield and the staff will use the next month to evaluate his throwing progression.
Though Nunez only started 32 games last season, his .331 batting average led the team, while his .496 slugging percentage was the second highest among hitters. Junior Max Buettenback’s .532 slugging percentage was the highest.
Buettenback will slide into one of the corner outfield positions as he looks to build on a season in which he hit third in the lineup for the majority of the year. The Lincoln Southeast product hit seven home runs, eight doubles and 27 RBIs in 40 games last season.
While Bolt didn’t comment on whom the third outfield spot would go to, there’s a strong chance it’s Cisco College transfer Preston Freeman. In two seasons, Freeman hit .349 with 16 doubles and five home runs. He also had a strong fall, highlighted by a 3-for-4 day with two doubles and a home run in Game 1 of Nebraska’s Red-White series.
The pitching staff:
Arguably, this is Nebraska’s weakest position group. The good news for Husker fans is that the potential is there. Leading the charge is Ty Horn, who appeared in 18 games and started 17 last season for NU.
Horn led all pitchers with 17 starts, 85.2 innings pitched and 76 strikeouts last season. Longevity wasn’t the issue. Control was. Poor command led to 86 hits surrendered and 32 walks, resulting in a team-high 15 home runs allowed. If Horn wants to lead the top of the rotation this season, consistency is key.
Junior transfer Cooper Katskee joins the staff after two seasons at Indiana and one season at Miami (OH). Katskee returns to the state after attending Omaha Burke High School his senior year, earning third-team All-American honors for the RedHawks last season after starting 10 games and throwing three complete games.
Filling out the rotation is likely going to be junior Tucker Timmerman. The right-hander missed significant time in 2025 after suffering a facial injury on opening weekend, but later returned to make five starts. He went 2-1 with a 5.82 ERA in 12 appearances.
Other notable arms for Nebraska include sophomore right-handers Carson Jasa and Gavin Blachowicz. Jasa’s ability to touch 100 mph with his fastball makes him an intriguing option, but he also gave up 26 free passes in just 18.2 innings, limiting his opportunities last season.
The Huskers open their season in Scottsdale, Arizona, at Major League Baseball’s Desert Invitational against UConn. They will also face Northeastern and Grand Canyon University on the weekend.