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NU men reach No. 7 in AP poll, marking highest ranking ever

By Matt Olberding , News director Nebraska Public Media

Jan. 19, 2026, 12:17 p.m. ·

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Pryce Sandfort had a big week for Nebraska last week. The junior transfer from Iowa scored a combined 50 points in wins over Oregon and Northwestern. Thirty-six of those points came on his 12-21 shooting from three-point range. (Photo courtesy of Husker Athletics)

The undefeated Nebraska Men’s basketball team achieved its highest ranking ever Monday, coming in at No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

The Huskers had another successful week, going 2-0 with a 90-55 home win over Oregon and a 77-58 win at Northwestern. Those two wins brought the team’s record to 18-0 on the season and 7-0 in the Big Ten. Nebraska increased its school-record winning streak to 22 games going back to last season.

The Huskers’ previous high ranking was No. 8 in February 1966, which lasted only one week. In a news conference Tuesday, NU head coach Fred Hoiberg said the attention can be good but it shouldn’t affect the competition on the court.

“It’s nice for our guys to get some recognition for what they’ve accomplished," Hoiberg said. "I’ve said that they should enjoy the ride and everything that they’ve got going on right now. But again, you just talk to them every day about putting up their walls, putting up their barriers and not feeding into all the things that are being said.”

Nebraska will face Washington at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena and then will play at Minnesota on Saturday as it seeks to remain one of only three undefeated teams left this season.

After that, the Huskers will face what could be their toughest stretch of the season. In a four-game span, NU will play at No. 3 Michigan on Jan. 27 before returning home to face No. 11 Illinois. After a visit to Rutgers on Feb. 7, the team will face another top 5 opponent, No. 5 Purdue, at home on Feb. 10.

Also on Monday, redshirt freshman Braden Frager was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

The 6-foot-7 forward from Lincoln Southwest averaged 21.5 points per game on 59% shooting in the Huskers' two games last week, including 50% from 3-point range.

It is the third time that Frager has won the weekly award, which is the most by a Husker since Bryce McGowens was an eight-time weekly honoree in 2021-22.  Frager has been one of the sparks to Nebraska’s historic season, averaging 12.7 points per game on 53% shooting.