Huskers to Battle Oklahoma in Sioux Falls this November

Two old conference rivals will face for just the second time since 2011, as Nebraska will face Oklahoma on the hardwood this fall. The men’s basketball matchup between the Huskers and Sooners will take place in Sioux Falls, S.D., as the Sanford Pentagon will host the matchup on Saturday, Nov. 15.  Ticket information, tipoff time and television info will be announced at a later date.

“We push to make the best possible matchups for teams when they come to the Pentagon. Two former conference rivals and two passionate fan bases getting back together makes for a tremendous game and dynamic atmosphere on Heritage Court,” said Jesse Smith, vice president of operations for Sanford Sports. “We want to thank Coach Fred Hoiberg and Coach Porter Moser for bringing their programs back to the Sanford Pentagon for this early season showdown.”

Nebraska returns five letterwinners from a team that went 21-14 in 2024-25. The group includes returning starters Berke Büyüktuncel and Sam Hoiberg, along with Connor Essegian, who averaged 10.7 ppg off the bench last season.  Nebraska also returns senior Rienk Mast, who earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023-24 before missing last season with an injury.  The Huskers will welcome a transfer class which is currently ranked in the top-20 in the On3 Transfer Portal Index.

Nebraska is 2-1 all-time at the Sanford Pentagon. The Huskers defeated Oklahoma State 79-56 on Dec. 16, 2018, defeated Oregon State 84-63 on Nov. 18, 2023, and lost to Saint Mary’s 77-74 on Nov. 17, 2024.

“This is the third straight year we have played in Sioux Falls, and Sanford Sports runs the event in a first-class manner,” said Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg. “Oklahoma will be a very good test for us early in the season. I have a lot of respect for Porter Moser and his program, and they are coming off a season where they won 20 games and reached the NCAA Tournament. For our fans, it’s a chance to face an old conference rival in one of the most unique venues in college basketball. We are excited to add this game to our non-conference schedule, and I know the Sanford Pentagon will be full of Husker fans.”

Oklahoma was selected as a No. 9 seed for the NCAA Men’s Tournament last season. The Sooners fell in the Round of 64 to 2-time defending champion Connecticut and finished with a 20-14 record. Oklahoma was part of the Southeastern Conference's record 14 NCAA bids, and the team’s 20 wins was tied for the most in a season since the 2015-16 Final Four team. Oklahoma is 1-0 all-time at the Sanford Pentagon. The Sooners defeated Minnesota 71-62 on Nov. 9, 2019.

“We are looking forward to traveling to Sioux Falls and playing against an excellent Nebraska program. Coach Hoiberg is a high-level coach for whom I have a lot of respect,” said Moser. “I've heard fantastic things about the Sanford Pentagon, and our players and staff will be excited to experience the game atmosphere there. OU and Nebraska share a deep history that includes almost 200 all-time matchups, but this will be just our second meeting since 2011, which will make it extra fun.”

Oklahoma leads the all-time series, 105-83, dating back to 1921. The Huskers and Sooners were conference rivals for nearly a century until Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011-12. The only meeting since the Huskers joined the Big Ten was a 69-56 Sooner victory at the 2022 ESPN Events Invitational.

Today’s announcement marks the second neutral-site announcement for the 2025-26 season, as Nebraska will play in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City on Nov. 21-22.