The Pick Six Podcast - Husker sports news and analysis

<p>Sam McKewon and Tom Shatel relive Nebraska’s first NCAA tournament wins in men’s basketball, what Fred Hoiberg’s breakthrough means for the program’s future and how Matt Rhule’s Huskers are trying to build a tougher identity this spring — hoping to gain national relevance again.</p>

<p>In the Pick Six pod's weekly baseball show, Evan Bland and Ben Doody talk about the surging Nebraska baseball and softball teams. </p> <p>The guys look at both teams' NCAA tournament seeding and look ahead to a jam-packed April that includes a huge Husker baseball series against USC at Haymarket Park. </p> <p>Evan also reviews his weekly Omaha Eight, which involves a major shakeup compared to last week's field. </p>

<p>In a postgame recap podcast presented by Cobalt Credit Union, Sam McKewon and Ben Doody recap Nebraska's heartbreaking loss to rival Iowa in the NCAA tournament South regional semifinal in Houston. </p> <p>The guys break down what went wrong in the final minutes, look back at what went right during a storybook season, and look ahead to the transfer portal and the potential construction of next year's Husker roster. </p>

<p>In a special game day show presented by Cobalt Credit Union, Ben Doody sets the scene for the showdown between Nebraska and Iowa.<br><br>Ben provides a sneak peek of The World-Herald's coverage from Houston, then breaks down the Husker-Hawkeye matchup and revelas his prediction for the game. </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland break down Nebraska’s upcoming spring football game — zeroing in on transfer QB Anthony Colandrea, a nastier, edge-setting Blackshirts defense, and tweaks to the Huskers’ run and quick passing game while Husker basketball chases an Elite Eight berth in Houston.</p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland talk Nebraska hoops as the Huskers face the Hawkeyes again on Saturday for a trip to the Elite Eight. The spring game will have to wait.</p>

<p>Sam McKewon pleads with Evan Bland, and the rest of the Nebraska basketball fan base, not to overthink Thursday's first-round NCAA tournament game vs. Troy. Sam and Evan discuss NU's chances to make the Sweet 16 and why it'd be a program-changing event to play on the second weekend, regardless what happens in Houston. </p>

<p>In The World-Herald's weekly baseball episode, Evan Bland and Ben Doody break down Nebrsaka's 9-0 homestand and look aheadd to Wednesday's game at Wichita State. Plus, Evan lists one Husker pitcher who could be a future Major Leaguer, and Evan reveals his weekly Omaha Eight, a list of College World Series contenders. </p>

<p>In a special Selection Sunday mini episode, Sam McKewon and Ben Doody break down the Nebraska men's basketball team's matchup against Troy in the first round of the NCAA tournament and the NU women's teams's matchup against Richmond in the First Four.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">In a special episode of the Pick Six pod for The World-Herald's Husker Legends series presented by Liberty First Credit Union, Nebraska basketball radio voice Kent Pavelka joins the show to talk about his storied career behind the mic, his thoughts on this year's NU team, and what he might say on the air if the Huskers secure their first-ever NCAA tournament win.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pavelka also recounts how he got his start in the business, shares his thoughts on Nebraska's conference realignment journey, and talks about the time he applied for a job calling games for an iconic NFL franchise.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland dish on what they saw at Nebraska football's open practice - including another impressive group of defensive linemen - whether Husker hoops should try to win the Big Ten tournament and the most interesting Big Ten foe on NU's schedule.</p>

<p>On the latest Pick Six baseball day, Evan Bland and Ben Doody talk about Nebraska's 5-0 start to its season-opening homestand and take a look at Evan's latest Omaha Eight, which is loaded with teams from California and Mississippi. </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland compare and contrast the messages delivered by Anthony Colandrea, TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin, decide whether Pryce Sandfort is among the best Huskers of the 21st Century and debate if Sam Hoiberg is the most beloved Husker athlete in the last 10 years. Plus, Sam has a special comment on Nebraska women's basketball. </p>

<p>In a special Nebraska-Iowa basketball episode of the pod, Iowa beat writer Ethan Petrik of the Quad City Times joins Ben Doody to preview the Huskers-Hawkeyes game. </p> <p>Ethan also shares his perspective on how Iowa fans treated Pryce Sandfort and how Iowa reacted to the postgame court storm and Fred Hoiberg's run-in with a fan who approached Hoiberg in the postgame handshake line.</p>

<p>In the pod's weekly baseball episode, Evan Bland and Ben Doody recap Nebraska's weekend series at Auburn and preview the Huskers' nine-game homestand. Plus, Evan reveals his weekly Omaha Eight list of College World Series contenders.</p>

<p>Tom Shatel, Sam McKewon and Evan Bland share spring thoughts on new Nebraska football Defensive Coordinator Rob Aurich, the team's roster payroll and whether Nebraska baseball has peaked.</p>

<p>In a baseball-themed episode of the pod, Evan Bland and Ben Doody go over Evan's latest Omaha Eight list of the teams on track to make it to the College World Series. Plus, the guys recap a weekend in which the Huskers beat Florida State and look ahead to a big weekend series at Auburn. </p>

<p><span data-teams="true">The Omaha World-Herald's Sam McKewon and Evan Bland preview Nebraska's spring football and talk transfer player draft in this episode of Pick Six.</span></p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland talk about the what ifs from former Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos' new book and Husker basketball seeding.</p>

<p>Nebraska’s signing day was quiet, but the offseason isn’t. Evan Bland and Sam McKewon hit Matt Rhule’s staff shakeup, AD Troy Dannen’s growing influence, why QB Anthony Colandrea has the program buzzing, Nebraska hoops’ response after two losses and a high‑ceiling, high‑risk start to Husker baseball.</p>

<p class="p1">Sam McKewon and Ben Doody discuss sour vibes around Nebraska football as basketball succeeds, recent insight from AD Troy Dannen, early football Top 25 rankings and seeding for March Madness.</p>

<p>The Omaha World-Herald's Sam McKewon and Evan Bland give their takes on the Nebraska/Michigan basketball game and rank the Huskers upcoming Big Ten football schedule.</p>

<p class="p1">Sam McKewon and Wilson Moore talk No. 7 Nebraska men's basketball (20-0) and their chances against No. 3 Michigan (18-1) ahead of Tuesday's game in Ann Arbor.</p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Ben Doody discuss special teams coach Mike Ekeler's possible departure, Sam's final AP Top 25 ballot, tempered expectations for the upcoming season and unbeaten NU hoops, well-beaten Creighton.</p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland discuss what's happened in the transfer portal including; Dylan Raiola transferring to Oregon and Nebraska's elite offensive transfer portal haul.</p>

<p>On the latest edition of The World-Herald's Behind the Ballot series, Sam McKewon and Ben Doody talk about the Nebraska men's team's climb to No. 10 in the AP poll. </p> <p>The guys also look at Nebraska and Creighton's NCAA tournamament resumes and answer a key question as the Nebraska men prepare to play Indiana: When will Nebraska finally lose a game? </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland discuss what new QB Anthony Colandrea brings to Nebraska, the value of NU's three new linebackers, whether the Huskers should add a running back who else in on Sam and Evan's wishlist. Plus, a little basketball talk! </p>

<p>In a special New Year's 2026 episode of The World-Herald's Pick Six podcast, Sam McKewon and Ben Doody break down the state of Husker sports in 2026 in five segments. </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland give their immediate reactions to Nebraska's 44-22 loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl and ask: What should NU's offensive and defensive identity be, and how can the Huskers address it in the transfer portal?</p>

<p>On the latest episode of The World-Herald's Behind the Ballot series, Sam McKewon and Ben Doody talk about the continued rise of the Nebraska women's and men's basketball teams, both of which moved up in this week's AP poll. </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Ben Doody devote a full Pick Six mini-episode to a discussion about TJ Lateef, who's set to lead Nebraska into the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah and potentially lead the Huskers as their starting quarterback in 2026. </p> <p>Plus, Sam answers a question: What would it look like if NU upset the Utes in Vegas?</p>

<p>In the latest episode of the Pick Six Podcast, Sam McKewon and Evan Bland discuss what's next for Nebraska at quarterback after Dylan Raiola's exit.</p>

<p>World-Herald Nebraska basketball beat writer Wilson Moore joins Sam McKewon and Ben Doody on Behind the Ballot. </p> <p>The guys talk about the Nebraska men's team surging from No. 23 to No. 15 in the AP poll and get into some discussion about how high the team's ceiling is and whether the national media reacton to NU's success is over the top. </p>

<p>In an emergency episode, Sam McKewon and Ben Doody react to the news that Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola plans to transfer. </p> <p>The guys talk about why Raiola is leaving; whether Nebraska could have done anything to keep him; and what the Huskers will be looking for in the portal. </p> <p>Sam also breaks down what the Huskers' offense may look like with TJ Lateef under center, and the guys break down what Nebraska needs out of its defense. </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland go deep on the changes to the Nebraska football coaching staff, including incoming defensivive coordinator Rob Aurich. The guys talk through what type of people the Husker staff is getting in Aurich and Geep Wade, and what it might mean for the way the Huskers play. </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Ben Doody react to the hires of defensive coordiantor Rob Aurich and offensive line coach Geep Wade. The guys also look ahead to the Huskers' matchup against Utah on December 31 in the Las Vegas Bowl. </p>

<p>On the latest episode of Behidn The Ballot from The World-Herald, Sam McKewon and Ben Doody talk about the state of Nebraska's men's and women's basketball progams as both teams enter the AP Top 25. </p> <p>Plus: The guys look ahead to Nebraska's 2025 football schedule. What would it take to put together a College Football Playoff resume? </p>

<p>Sam McKewon and Evan Bland discuss the 2025 recruiting class and coach Matt Rhule's comments about quarterback Dylan Raiola and how what happens next "falls on his shoulders." </p>