The No. 9 Penn State Nittany Lions have advanced out of Pool D to reach the Big Ten semifinals. They have done so following wins over No. 5 Washington and No. 4 USC.
The Nittany Lions' wait for their semifinal opponent continues after rainy weather forced the postponement of the game between No. 8 Nebraska and No. 1 Oregon. Here are the biggest storylines regarding this potential semifinal contest.
Penn State: Embracing the challenge
The Nittany Lions have two options on Saturday: face a decent Nebraska team in front of a crowd of over 10,000 fans, or battle against a heavy-hitting Top 5 team in Oregon. Either way, the road to the Big Ten championship will not be easy for Penn State. This team certainly has shown strides, as center fielder Paxton Kling is batting 5-for-6 in the tournament.
This postseason run can be marked by the words of right-handed pitcher Dimond Loosli, as quoted by head coach Mike Gambino: "I'm not going home."
Nebraska: Second half saved season
The Cornhuskers have been battle-tested in more ways than they'd have liked to this season from the jump. When right-handed pitcher and ace Mason McConnaughey was ruled out for the year with an arm injury,
Nebraska took a significant step back. If it weren't for their late-season surge, the Cornhuskers would not have been competing for a Big Ten title. Nebraska won the last five Big Ten series of 2025 to help lock up the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament.
Oregon: Not a lot left needed to play for
The Ducks have had quite the inaugural Big Ten campaign, winning the regular season title and being ranked No. 4 in the country heading into the conference tournament. An at-large bid has been pretty much guaranteed for Oregon, as well as a bid to host an NCAA Regional.
The Ducks will likely also be a Top 8 seed come time for Selection Monday, meaning that if they advance past their regional, they would be able to host a Super Regional the following week. For Oregon, a Big Ten Tournament title would be just another addition to a spectacular season.
1. Penn State vs. Nebraska Projected Starters
Penn State: To be announced.
Nebraska: To be announced.
2. Penn State vs. Oregon Projected Starters
Penn State: To be announced.
Oregon: To be announced.
Portney's Picks: Penn State vs. Nebraska
The Nittany Lions have not been known to connect bad outings to each other. They could take advantage of the lack of bullpen depth and power that the Cornhuskers have in this one. Away games have been Penn State's strong suit this season, and I think they would win this one.
Portney's Picks: Penn State vs. Oregon
The Ducks have been a force to be reckoned with all season. 26 home runs is no joke, as center fielder Mason Neville leads Division I with that stat. Oregon would be able to use its power to hit all around the ballpark in a runaway win.