Huskers in the Top 25: A Case of Early-Season Hype?

Let's be honest about the early-season grind: the AP Top 25 is often more about momentum and narrative than a sustainable blueprint for March. Case in point? Nebraska.

After just two games, the Cornhuskers have vaulted into the No. 25 spot, as Sports Illustrated first reported. While the jump follows a victory over NCAA Tournament dark horse Providence, I can't help but feel this is a classic early-season overreaction. Yes, the Huskers looked dominant in a 67-58 win Saturday at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, but jumping into the national rankings this quickly is a dangerous game. It puts a target on the backs of a team that has yet to prove it can handle the psychological weight of being 'the hunted.'

To their credit, Nebraska's performance against Providence was impressive. According to Sports Illustrated, the Huskers' defense stifled the Friars, holding their offense to a 30.6% shooting mark and capitalizing on 18 turnovers to score 20 points. Pryce Sandfort looked like a star, leading the way with 25 points and three three-pointers, while Boden Kapke added 13 points and five rebounds. Braden Frager provided four steals and 12 points, and Cale Jacobsen contributed 11.

But here is the reality of bracket-season instincts: the biggest challenge for a newly ranked team isn't always the elite opponent; it's the trap game. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Nebraska returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena to face Lindenwood. On paper, it looks like a mismatch. Nebraska leads the all-time series 1-0, having won their last meeting 84-52 in November 2023.

However, Lindenwood is not a team to overlook. While head coach Kyle Gerdeman has a career record of 89-118 at the school, the Lions are coming off an 18-15 season in 2025. They are currently leaning heavily on a roster of transfers. Sports Illustrated highlights Fresno State transfer Makhan Diouf, who is averaging 15.5 points and seven rebounds per game. They also have Malek Archie, a transfer from Tarleton State averaging over 12 points, and Xavier Spencer, a UMass Lowell transfer who leads the team in minutes played.

Adding a layer of emotional intensity to the matchup is the presence of Matar Diop. As reported by Sports Illustrated, Diop is a senior forward for Lindenwood who actually spent his freshman season in Lincoln before moving to LMU, Stetson, and finally the Lions. There is nothing a former player loves more than a chance to play spoiler against his old program—especially one that just climbed into the Top 25.

Nebraska has the talent, but do they have the focus? The jump to No. 25 creates a pressure cooker. If the Huskers treat this as a formality, they might find themselves sliding right back out of the rankings. I'm watching to see if they can maintain that defensive intensity or if the sudden spotlight leads to a let-down. For the Lions, who have a 6-foot-11 freshman in Parker Seithel and a steady hand in Shamiere Green, this is the perfect opportunity to crash a party they weren't invited to.