The
Husker men’s basketball team is coming to Grand Island this fall, as
Nebraska will take on Kansas State at BigIron Events Center in a matchup
presented by Pinnacle Bank.
The
Huskers and Wildcats will meet Monday, Oct. 26, at Eihusen Arena inside
BigIron Events Center. Ticket information, tipoff time and broadcast
details will be announced later this summer. The Grand Island game will
not be included in Nebraska’s 2026–27 men’s basketball season-ticket
packages.
“Hosting
Nebraska and Kansas State at BigIron Events Center is a tremendous
opportunity for Grand Island and all of central Nebraska,
” said Kyler Tarwater, Executive Director of BigIron Events Center. “High-profile
events like this showcase the strength of our community, support local
businesses and hotels, and reinforce Grand Island’s position as a
destination for major sports and entertainment.
”
“We have a lot of fans in central Nebraska and are excited to bring the Huskers to Grand Island,” Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg said. “With
a third exhibition game, it provides us an opportunity to build our
brand across the state, and we appreciate Head Coach Casey Alexander and
the Wildcats for making this matchup happen. We have had a lot of great
matchups with K-State over the years, including last year’s Hall of
Fame Classic, and it should be a tremendous environment.
”
Alexander
takes over the Kansas State program this season after guiding Belmont
to a 166-60 record in seven seasons. His Bruins won four conference
championships, including the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference
regular-season title, and finished last season with a 26-6 record.
Alexander also coached current Husker Sam Orme at Belmont. Kansas State
will enter the season with a retooled roster featuring just one returnee
from last year’s team.
Nebraska’s
returning roster is headlined by first-team All-Big Ten selection Pryce
Sandfort and Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Braden Frager. The Huskers
also welcome back Connor Essegian and have added an eight-member
newcomer class that includes transfers Sam Orme, Trevan Leonhardt, Boden
Kapke and Taj DeGourville, along with top-150 recruits Colin Rice and
Jacob Lanier.
“Pinnacle Bank is proud to be part of bringing this special Nebraska vs Kansas State old Big 8 rivalry game to Grand Island,” said Bart Qualsett, Pinnacle Bank’s Market President for Grand Island.
“Thank you to the entire Husker Basketball program for making this
possible. We can’t wait to welcome you to greater Nebraska this fall.”
The
Nebraska-Kansas State matchup continues BigIron Events Center’s growing
emphasis on attracting high-profile athletic events to Grand Island.
Eihusen Arena welcomed a sold-out crowd of more than 5,000 fans for a
LOVB Nebraska professional volleyball match earlier this year and hosts
professional arena football, the Heartland Hoops Classic, the Nebraska
Cheer & Dance Championship, the USA Wrestling Folkstyle State
Tournament and numerous basketball, volleyball, wrestling and other
regional competitions.
The
Grand Island matchup with Kansas State is Nebraska’s third exhibition
game. The Huskers will host Saint Louis on Friday, Oct. 9, and travel to
BYU on Friday, Oct. 16. Beginning with the 2026–27 season, schools are
permitted to play up to three exhibition games.
Fans
can join the Nebraska men’s basketball 2026–27 season-ticket request
list through the Nebraska Athletics website. Student tickets for the
2026–27 season are already sold out.
About BigIron Events Center
The
BigIron Events Center
is Central Nebraska’s premier destination for entertainment, sports,
agriculture, business events, and community gatherings. Located on the
Fonner Park campus in Grand Island, Nebraska, the 180,000-square-foot
multipurpose facility is anchored by Eihusen Arena, which features
30,000 square feet of floor space, 6,000 permanent seats and capacity
for an additional 1,500 guests on the arena floor. BigIron Events Center
hosts concerts, athletic competitions, conventions, trade shows,
banquets, agricultural events and community celebrations that generate
tourism, economic activity and quality-of-life opportunities throughout
the region.
About BigIron Auctions & Realty
BigIron
is one of the nation’s leading online auction and real estate
companies, connecting buyers and sellers of equipment, land, livestock,
and other assets across North America. Founded in Nebraska, the company
has built a reputation for integrity, innovation, and service while
maintaining strong ties to the agricultural communities it serves.
www.BigIron.com
About VenuWorks
Celebrating
its 30th anniversary in 2026, VenuWorks is a nationally recognized
venue management company serving communities throughout the United
States. As the nation’s only 100% employee-owned venue management
company, VenuWorks specializes in the management of arenas, convention
centers, theaters, amphitheaters, sports complexes, and public assembly
facilities, helping communities strengthen local economies, enhance
quality of life, and maximize the value of their public assets. For more
information go to
www.venuworks.com