Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg watches his players work outduring practice leading up to the South Regional semifinals in NCAA college basketball tournament in Houston, Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers (6) is seen in the dugout during Spring Training at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Brice Matthews works on bunting during Spring Training at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Cornhusker fever has spread throughout the Midwest this basketball season as the University of Nebraska has put together its best year.
Fervor for the team enveloped the home state throughout a program-best 26-8 regular season. It then invaded Oklahoma City last weekend as the team won its first games in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Troy and Vanderbilt. Fanaticism has now traveled south as Nebraska plays in the Sweet 16 against Iowa on Thursday at Toyota Center.
Cornhusker spirit has permeated throughout Houston over the last few days as the passionate fanbase has filtered into the city. It’s even infiltrated the Houston Astros’ clubhouse.
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“Man, it’s awesome to see how well they’re playing as a team,” Astros’ outfielder/infielder Brice Matthews said. “Just making a run. It’s the first time they’ve ever won an NCAA Tournament game, and they’ve won two. So, they’re still at it and hopefully, they keep it going.”
Matthews is one of two Nebraska faithful on Houston’s opening day roster alongside outfielder Jake Meyers. Both are alumni of the school and have been heavily tuned into the team’s season and its tournament run.
“I grew up a huge Nebraska fan, so I’ve watched all their basketball games this year and they’ve been a lot of fun to watch,” Meyers said. “They’ve just gradually gotten better and they got the monkey off their back and got a win.”
Meyers is an Omaha native and was raised to love the Cornhuskers, His father Paul was an All-American for the baseball team. To see how the fans have rallied behind the basketball team’s success has been special for him.
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“Nebraska fans will get behind any of the Nebraska teams,” Meyers said. “It’s been a lot of fun to see them travel to Oklahoma City, them to start to travel to Houston for the Sweet 16. It’s been cool.”
Matthews is a local, being born in Houston and attending Atascocita High School. He played for Nebraska for three seasons before being selected by the Astros in the first round of the 2023 MLB draft.
Matthews said he still knows a few players on the team, including star point guard Sam Hoiberg. He also knows people from Lincoln making the trip down to watch the team play. Seeing the team’s run come to his hometown has been a cool experience, he said.
“Sports there is everything because we don’t have a professional team there,” Matthews said. “So no matter what team is playing, everybody’s going to be out there supporting, watching. Whether they’re going there or traveling here or whatever, there’s going to be Nebraska fans everywhere.”
Nebraska fans took over Paycom Center in Oklahoma City last weekend, creating a rare home-crowd environment in a neutral site environment like March Madness. The team’s faithful even broke the arena’s decibel meter record in the 74-72 victory over Vanderbilt.
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Matthews said how well Cornhusker fans traveled was the thing that surprised him most once he got on campus.
“I’m just super blessed and grateful that we have such a great fan base,” Matthews said.
Nebraska is unlikely to dominate the Toyota Center crowd as much as it did last weekend. Proximity to Oklahoma City helped the fan base travel. It also plays another school with a fervent fan base in Iowa, which will have plenty of fans come for the rivalrous Big 10 matchup. And many University of Houston fans will be in the crowd ahead of the Cougars’ matchup with Illinois later in the night.
But among the Cornhuskers in the crowd will be many of Meyers’ friends and family making the trip down. The outfielder said he has several people who will be in the stands for the Astros’ season opener against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon, then make the short trip to Toyota Center afterward.
Unfortunately for the Astro’s duo, their chances to be there to support Nebraska in person aren’t great. Meyers is in Houston’s opening day lineup playing center field and hitting ninth. First pitch is slated for 3:10 p.m., while tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. He said he doesn’t believe the timing of the games will work out for him to double-dip.
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Matthews, who could come off the bench in his first opening day, was more optimistic, saying he’ll “hopefully” make it to the game “if it allows.”
Either way, both Meyers and Matthews will be watching.