2025 Fall College Baseball Reset: Nebraska

The 2025 Nebraska Cornhuskers made the postseason after winning their conference championship. Nebraska had to navigate some turbulence on the pitching staff and went 15-15 in the Big 10, before a perfect 4-0 in the Big 10 tournament to secure a spot. Heading into 2026, the Cornhuskers will look to repeat with a different-looking roster, as well as notable returnees.

The Returnees

The Cornhuskers lost Mason McConnaughey, the staff ace heading into last season, early in the 2025 campaign. Nebraska had to lean significantly on sophomore Ty Horn, who is now a junior heading into 2026.

Horn had a good summer in 2024 in the WCL, one where he struck out 39 over 32.2 IP. The 6’2” righty followed it up by tossing a team-high 85.2 IP and striking out 76 for the Cornhuskers.

The 21-year-old Horn isn’t the only notable returning pitcher. Sophomores Gavin Blachowicz, Pryce Bender, Blake Encarnacion, and Colin Nowacyzk also return for 2026, as does redshirt sophomore Carson Jasa. All of the previously mentioned players saw some time last spring.

As for the offense, the Cornhuskers will get outfielder Devin Nunez back for his sophomore season. Nunez had a fantastic freshman season, one that saw him pick up 42 hits over 41 games. He posted a .902 OPS for Nebraska in 2024. Nunez continued to hit in the Northwoods League, as he rattled off 11 extra-base hits in 28 contests.

Nunez will be joined by several other notable performers from 2025. Senior Dylan Carey, who finished second on the team in total hits (64), 28 of which were extra-base hits, is back. So is junior Case Sanderson, who hit .267 in the Cape this past summer after he slashed .307/.416/.417 with Nebraska last spring.

Junior Max Buettenback, who had seven home runs and 16 extra-base hits over 40 games, also returned.

The Newcomers

Nebraska lost Mason McConnaughey to the pros last year, as he was drafted in the fourth round by the Rangers in July. He wasn’t the only notable loss, either. TJ Coats, who struck out 15 over 11 innings last year, is now with Miami (FL). Coats had a big summer in the Cape, one that saw him strike out 40 over 32 innings.

Aside from those two, Will Walsh, Drew Christo, and Jackson Brockett, three of Nebraska’s older players from 2025, are also gone.

There are plenty of new faces, highlighted by nine freshmen.

One of them is in-state prepster Jace Ziola, who flashed low-90s velocity as a high schooler in the showcase circuit. Another notable is Joey Senstock, a third baseman who showcased good speed, pop, and arm strength as a high schooler.

Nebraska, though, didn’t get one of its other 2025 commits, pitcher Carter Gwost, to campus. Gwost signed with the Pirates as a 17th-round pick this past July.

As for the transfer portal, among the notable additions are redshirt senior Kevin Mannell and redshirt sophomore Braxton Stewart. Stewart never pitched at Louisville, where he was once enrolled. However, he pitched well in summer ball this past year, as Stewart struck out 38 over 36 innings.

Mannell, a 22-year-old who’s moved around, struck out 19 over 14.2 IP as a reliever with Mississippi State last season.

Their roster also includes some talent from the juco/community college scene. Catcher Miken Miller and infielder Carter Kelley, two hitters from Johnson County CC, are on the 2026 Nebraska roster.

Summary

Nebraska has generally done a good job of competing in the Big 10 and producing pro talent over the past decade.

The Cornhuskers will have a tough schedule early on, highlighted by an early-season trip to Arlington to face Louisville, Kansas State, and Florida State in the first weekend. Plus, a trip to Auburn in the second weekend of 2026.

For Nebraska, though, the key will be to rack up wins in Big 10 play, so long as the school is competitive in those early-season games. There’s plenty of good talent on this year’s team.