Two teams in freefall collide Saturday in Piscataway. Nebraska was 20-0. Rutgers was competitive. Now the ninth-ranked Cornhuskers are on a two-game skid, and the Scarlet Knights haven’t won in nearly three weeks. Something has to give.
Our Nebraska vs. Rutgers prediction includes projected starting lineups, a full score forecast, and analysis for this Big Ten showdown.
Nebraska vs. Rutgers Projected Lineups and Key Matchups
Nebraska Cornhuskers Starting Lineup
- G Sam Hoiberg
- G Jamarques Lawrence
- F Pryce Sandfort
- F Rienk Mast
- F Braden Frager
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Starting Lineup
- G Lino Mark
- G Kaden Powers
- G/F Tariq Francis
- F Darren Buchanan Jr.
- C Emmanuel Ogbole
Nebraska vs. Rutgers Prediction and Preview
Nebraska (20-2, 9-2 Big Ten) hasn’t experienced this feeling in more than a year. Back-to-back losses, first 75-72 at No. 3 Michigan, then 78-69 to No. 9 Illinois at home, snapped a 24-game winning streak dating to last season and punctured the program’s first-ever 20-0 start.
Nebraska’s issues against Illinois were clear. The Illini’s length bothered them in the paint, where they scored just 18 points compared to Illinois’ 28. Pryce Sandfort was held to just two points in the second half after Fred Hoiberg said defenders were “holding and grabbing” him off the ball.
Iowa transfer Sandfort still leads the team at 17.2 points per game. Sam Hoiberg anchors the offense with 4.3 assists per game, and Jamarques Lawrence provides a consistent scoring punch.
As a team, Nebraska averages 80 points per game on 47.3% shooting; they just haven’t looked like that team since January ended.
Rutgers (9-14, 2-10 Big Ten) is having the season everyone feared after watching Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey leave for the NBA Draft as the No. 2 and No. 5 overall picks. Steve Pikiell’s program is on a seven-game losing streak and 0-7 in true road games.
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Tariq Francis has been the bright spot in a difficult transition year. The NJIT transfer leads Rutgers with more than 16 points per game, bringing the scoring punch Pikiell desperately needed after losing his top four scorers from last season. Freshman Kaden Powers showed promise in LA, pouring in a career-high 18 points against UCLA before going cold after intermission.
Anything can happen in college basketball, as we’ve seen multiple times this season already, and with home-field advantage against a team not playing its best ball, it might be tempting to take a Scarlet Knights upset on Saturday.
However, Nebraska’s issues have been against elite competition. Michigan and Illinois are Final Four contenders with length and athleticism that Rutgers simply doesn’t possess. The Huskers’ five days of rest and recovery should pay dividends, and their offensive efficiency gap (47.3% shooting vs. Rutgers’ 40.7%) is too significant to ignore.
Hoiberg has preached all week about not overlooking a “tough and physical” Rutgers team. His players got the message. Nebraska rights the ship before a Tuesday showdown with No. 12 Purdue.
Prediction: Nebraska 76, Rutgers 65
How To Watch Nebraska vs. Rutgers
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026
- Time: Noon ET
- Location: Piscataway, NJ
- Arena: Jersey Mike’s Arena
- TV Channel: Big Ten Network
