We will find out a lot about the Huskers today. They’ve passed all their tests so far with flying colors, but USC is a different animal – even without JuJu Watkins. The Huskers have scored 80 or more points in every game this season, but USC has a defense that will likely break that streak.
Can the Husker defense tighten up and keep the Trojans off balance too? With this game being at home, I think that improves Nebraska’s chances. The long layoff worries me that Nebraska will start slow. How big
a hole they dig will be important. If they keep it close or lead going into the fourth quarter, I like the Husker depth and fresh legs to give them a chance to pull out the win. If they are down double digits going into the final frame, I think the Trojans will have enough to hold off Nebraska.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (20/24) vs. USC Trojans (17/16)
Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, 2 p.m. (CT)
Lincoln, Nebraska (Pinnacle Bank Arena)
Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Live Video: B1G+
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (1:30 p.m.) Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst) Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (1490 AM/97.3 FM/97.7 HD3), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)
NET 11/AP 20/WBCA 24 Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
4 – Petra Bozan – 6-3 – So. – F – 9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg
12 – Jessica Petrie – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 12.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg
1 – Hailey Weaver – 6-0 – Gr. – G – 4.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg
14 – Callin Hake – 5-8 – Sr. – G – 8.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg
23 – Britt Prince – 5-11 – So. – G – 18.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Off the Bench
33 – Amiah Hargrove – 6-2 – So. – F – 12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg
21 – Eliza Maupin – 6-3 – Sr. – F – 8.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg
2 – Logan Nissley – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 7.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg
5 – Claire Johnson – 5-9 – So. – G – 5.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg
15 – Kennadi Williams – 5-4 – RFr. – G – 3.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg
34 – Emily Fisher – 6-0 – Jr. – G/F – 1.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg
00 – Alanna Neale – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 1.3 ppg, 0.3 rpg
22 – Natalie Potts – 6-2 – RSo. – F – 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
3 – Allison Weidner [Out] – 5-10 – Gr. – G – Redshirt
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) 10th Season at Nebraska (170-123); 19th Season Overall (363-232)
NET 23/AP 17/WBCA 16 USC Trojans (9-3, 1-0 Big Ten)
8 – Gerda Raulusaityte – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 3.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg
9 – Jazzy Davidson – 6-1 – Fr. – G – 16.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg
10 – Malia Samuels – 5-6 – Jr. – G – 3.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg
11 – Kennedy Smith – 6-1 – So. – G – 11.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg
25 – Kara Dunn – 5-11 – Sr. – G – 12.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Off the Bench
3 – Londynn Jones – 5-4 – Sr. – G – 12.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg
0 – Vivian Iwuchukwu – 6-3 – So. – F – 4.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg
7 – Yakiya Milton – 6-5 – Jr. – F – 3.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg
13 – Dayana Mendes – 6-3 – So. – G/F – 2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg
6 – Laura Williams – 6-2 – RFr. – F – 2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg
4 – Rian Forestier – 5-11 – So. – G – 2.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg
24 – Brooklyn Shamblin – 5-9 – So. – G – 0.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg
12 – JuJu Watkins [Out] – 6-2 – Jr. – G – Redshirt
Head Coach: Lindsay Gottlieb (Brown, 1999) Fifth Season at USC (102-39); 16th Season Overall (337-167)
