March Madness: Iowa and Nebraska clash as Midwest schools take on Sweet 16

[p]The Huskers earned a No. 4 seed and faced No. 13 Troy in the first round. Over a million brackets picked Troy to pull off the upset. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nebraska-cornhuskers/hdUaZzg9/"]Nebraska[/a] gave their opponent no chance. This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement.[/p][p]The Huskers rolled to a dominant 74-47 victory, leaving no doubt. The ghosts were exorcised. Nebraska had finally arrived. Now, they are here to stay. [/p][p]Waiting next was No. 5 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vanderbilt-commodores/6oBTcy8k/"]Vanderbilt[/a] in the second round, fresh off a run to the SEC title game where it pushed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arkansas-razorbacks/jPP3SKXl/"]Arkansas[/a] in a tight, electric battle before falling by nine.[/p][p]Nebraska may have been the higher seed, but there was no true underdog here. And once the game tipped off, it delivered everything fans could dream of.[/p][embed guid="dc491a8d-bc31-4480-93de-24807c109388" url="https://x.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/2035555448355537264" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Clutch basket [/h2][p]Both teams traded buckets in an exciting showdown. Vanderbilt’s biggest lead was five, while Nebraska got up by 10 at one point - but it didn’t last long as the Commodores battled back and the ball game went down to the wire.[/p][p]With the score tied at 72-72, the Huskers had the last possession in regulation. With 2.2 seconds to go, Nebraska guard Braden Frager drove to the basket and kissed a layup off the glass to give his team a two-point edge. [b]74-72.[/b][/p][p]Timeout Vanderbilt. With their season on the line, Tyler Tanner received the inbound pass and stormed down the court. He launched a prayer from the half-court.[/p][p]With the sound of the buzzer, the ball went in - and then out. As Tanner’s shot rimmed out, the Huskers exploded in ecstasy while the Vanderbilt bench dropped their heads in disbelief.[/p][p][b]"I thought it went in,"[/b] Frager said. [b]"I didn't know how to react, and I was just - everybody started celebrating. I was like, yeah, he actually missed it, so.." [/b][/p][p]Millimetres from a disaster, Nebraska instead survived what could have been one of the best and most miraculous March Madness shots.[/p][embed guid="de2c4760-c43c-41d4-a2c6-2fc96db4e1d6" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zcKvmpqToo" social-type="youtube" /][p][b]"That last shot, man, it just took my breath away," [/b]Huskers coach Fred Hoiberg said.[/p][p][b]"That kid Tanner is an unbelievable player, and when that thing was up in the air, I was like, 'Man, that's going in'. It hit every part of the rim. Thankfully, it bounced out."[/b][/p][p]And just like that, Nebraska went from a winless tournament program to the Sweet 16.[/p][p]"[b]I know it had to be incredible on TV,[/b]" said Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington. [b]"It was an incredible game. I mean, it sucks that we were on the side that we were on. But, I mean, a high-level game, and I'm sure the crowd lifted them up and had them playing - they played so hard."[/b][/p][h2]The champions are out [/h2][p]On Sunday, Nebraska awaited their next opponent... No. 9 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iowa-hawkeyes/0jaJnnmS/"]Iowa Hawkeyes[/a] took on the No. 1 seed in the region. After the game was over, the nation got to know more than just Nebraska’s next challengers. It was also confirmed that March Madness will crown a new king.[/p][p]The reigning champions - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/florida-gators/EVSrO26J/"]Florida Gators[/a] - bowed down to Iowa on Sunday night in a thriller that kept fans across the country on their feet. One of the No. 1 seeds have fallen, and it happened to be a team that was defending the title. There will be no back-to-back winners.[/p][embed guid="408159fb-d5c2-445b-8f45-e6f8e4f2fdff" url="https://x.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/2035892290951029106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2035892290951029106%7Ctwgr%5Ea12427e17bcbcd3442f14f4cfc7eaff9ec48989c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackheartgoldpants.com%2Fbasketball%2F68183%2Falvaro-folgueiras-sends-iowa-to-sweet-16-nebraska-cornhuskers-ncaa-tournament" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Lifetime rivalry [/h2][p]With Iowa advancing, the tournament sets up one of its most compelling matchups: a rivalry clash between conference foes. March always finds a way to script the unexpected, and a third meeting between these two Midwest programs is no exception. Yet, nobody could have written this better.[/p][embed guid="f79ea626-e27d-412d-a810-acd9b8caa21d" url="https://x.com/HuskerMBB/status/2035912757770432788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2035912757770432788%7Ctwgr%5E07adb24f210be821623840a2a36c12d5b5bc04f9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcornhuskerswire.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fcornhuskers%2Ffootball%2F2026%2F03%2F23%2Fnebraska-basketball-iowa-hawkeyes-social-media-ncaa-tournament-sweet-16%2F89281684007%2F" social-type="twitter" /][p]This year, the teams split the series, both defending their home floors. The ultimate winner will book a trip to the Elite 8 - for Nebraska, it would be a continuation of a historic season. Iowa, meanwhile, would become a true Cinderella after outlasting three higher-seeded teams.[/p][p]Both schools are known for dedicated fan bases, togetherness, composure, and the ability to shoot the ball at a high clip. The margin between these two teams is small, and the margin for error is even smaller. Iowa won the first regular-season matchup 57-52. The second contest went to overtime, ending in the Huskers outlasting the Hawkeyes 84-75.[/p][embed guid="74839805-343d-4a1f-a3f6-8caa393436e8" url="https://x.com/_willcompton/status/2035892823753437479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2035892823753437479%7Ctwgr%5E07adb24f210be821623840a2a36c12d5b5bc04f9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcornhuskerswire.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fcornhuskers%2Ffootball%2F2026%2F03%2F23%2Fnebraska-basketball-iowa-hawkeyes-social-media-ncaa-tournament-sweet-16%2F89281684007%2F" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Midwest takeover [/h2][p]The atmosphere at the Toyota Center in Houston on Thursday night promises to be electric. And there are more reasons for Midwest fans to make the trip. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/illinois-fighting-illini/UXswRQed/"]Illinois[/a] is also going to play there - the third Midwest team in the region, which makes [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-cougars/KlDxX83M/"]Houston University[/a] feel almost like a visitors.[/p][embed guid="f5230fe6-513a-4b94-ad44-554bc4f489ae" url="https://x.com/kevinsjuts/status/2035893957901574511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2035893957901574511%7Ctwgr%5E32efd932edf859c92efe4e662c3758dbf6503fbd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.1011now.com%2F2026%2F03%2F23%2Fnebraska-face-iowa-sweet-16-round-ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament%2F" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Big Ten has placed six teams in the Sweet 16 - nearly half the field. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/michigan-wolverines/b30DAlio/"]Michigan[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/michigan-state-spartans/GOC3ZXTo/"]Michigan State[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/purdue-boilermakers/AXMnGaZ4/"]Purdue[/a] have also advanced, underscoring the region’s dominance. These teams know each other well, and that familiarity sets the stage for intense, evenly matched battles.[/p][embed guid="09da73a2-69a2-4fed-99c2-2c0bdc3053b2" url="https://x.com/i/status/2036140927106887684" social-type="twitter" /][p]In a tournament built on chaos, the Midwest is taking over. Creating its own Midwest Madness.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/2026-march-madness-tracker/YFeomV8d/"]Follow March Madness in our live tracker here![/a][/h2]