Story by NU Athletic Communication
The first conference tournament in school history and the return of the Big Red Invitational highlights the release of Nebraska’s 2025-26 bowling schedule released Tuesday (Aug. 19).
The 10-tournament regular-season schedule is highlighted by the Conference USA Championships in Harahan, La. From March 19-21. The 12-team field includes all four teams which qualified for the NCAA semifinals last season in Nebraska, Jacksonville State, Youngstown State and Wichita State. It will mark NU’s first conference tournament appearance since the varsity program began in 1998.
The Huskers, who return a trio of All-American from a team that finished third at the 2025 NCAA Championships, will be tested with a schedule that will prepare the Big Red for postseason play according to Head Coach Paul Klempa.
“This season’s schedule is a very competitive slate,” Klempa said. “We will be tested each time they compete, which is what we need to be ready for the postseason. There are several familiar stops, but a couple of new ones, most notably the Conference USA Championship in March. That will be one of the most competitive tournaments in the country with the number of top-10 teams in CUSA. It will serve as a chance for the team to win a championship in the most prestigious bowling conference in the country while also keeping us competitively sharp for the NCAA postseason that follows.”
Husker fans will have an opportunity to see the Huskers bowl in person, as Lincoln will host the Big Red Invitational at Hollywood Lanes from Feb. 20-22. Klempa believes the 2026 event could be one of the top tournaments in the country this season.
“The Big Red Invite that we will host in Lincoln will be one of the strongest events we have hosted,” Klempa said. “It will feature seven teams from the top 10 teams in the country (Nebraska, Jacksonville State, Youngstown State, Wichita State, Arkansas State, Vanderbilt and Sam Houston) and three others that were in the top 20. Husker fans will not want to miss this one in February.”
The fall portion of the schedule begins on Oct. 17, as the Huskers travel to Struthers, Ohio for the Motiv Penguin Classic, which is hosted by defending NCAA Champion Youngstown State. The Huskers will also make trips to Destination Orlando, the Bulldog Classic in Fort Worth, Texas and the Colonial Lanes Classic in Harahan, La. before taking a break in the schedule. The trip to the Colonial Lanes Classic provides the Huskers a chance to preview the site of the Conference USA Championship in March.
The spring portion begins with a flourish, as Nebraska takes three straight trips to close January. Trips to the Northeast Classic in New Castle, Del., the Prairie View Invitational in Arlington, Texas and the Saints Invite in Saint Louis are all expected to have strong fields. Following the Big Red Invitational, NU closes the regular season with the Stallings Invitational in Greensboro, N.C., before preparing for its first-ever CUSA Tournament from March 19-22. NCAA Regionals take place April 3-4 before the NCAA Championships the following weekend just outside Cleveland, Ohio.
The Huskers are led by reigning NTCA Bowler of the Year Jillian Martin, as well as returning NTCA All-Americans Kayla Starr (2025) and Brenna Hartzler (2024) along with returning starter Haley Swindle.