Grand Island to Host Greg Sharpe Scholarship Game
The Oct. 26 exhibition match between Nebraska and Kansas State honors the late sportscaster.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Basketball
Nebraska and Kansas State will face off on Oct. 26 in a men’s basketball exhibition game at the Big Iron Events Center in Grand Island. The Greg Sharpe Scholarship Game honors the late sportscaster, who served as the voice for both university programs during his career.
Why it matters
The event commemorates the legacy of Greg Sharpe, who died in 2025 at age 61, while raising funds for students interested in sports broadcasting. The scholarship initiative supports future journalists at both the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Kansas State University.
The game begins at 6:30 p.m., with student broadcasters from KRNU 90.3 FM and KSDB Wildcat 91.9 collaborating on the call. Greg Sharpe, who died at age 61, served as the Voice of the Wildcats from 1996 to 2002 and the Voice of the Huskers starting in 2007.
The players
Greg Sharpe
He was a veteran sportscaster who served as the play-by-play voice for both the Nebraska Huskers and the Kansas State Wildcats.
Harmon Johnson
He is a student broadcaster who will provide the play-by-play commentary for the exhibition game.
Nate Lowen
He is a student broadcaster who will provide the color commentary for the exhibition game.
The details
Student broadcasters Harmon Johnson and Nate Lowen will provide the play-by-play and color commentary for the broadcast, uniting teams from both university radio stations. The game highlights the enduring connection Sharpe maintained with both athletic programs during his career.
Timeline
1986: Greg Sharpe graduated from Kansas State.
1996-2002: Sharpe served as the Voice of the Wildcats.
2007: Sharpe became the Voice of the Huskers.
Feb. 14, 2025: Greg Sharpe died of pancreatic cancer.
Oct. 26, 2026: The Greg Sharpe Scholarship Game occurs at 6:30 p.m.
Season Trajectory
This exhibition game underscores a growing trend of collaborative memorial events that bridge the gap between rival collegiate athletic programs. It shifts the early season focus from pure competition to student-led journalistic development and alumni-driven philanthropy.
The game provides a unique broadcast collaboration between two university radio stations that typically operate independently. Fans and students interested in supporting the fund can contribute directly via the university’s portal to reach the goal of endowing future scholarships.
The takeaway
This event serves as a practical blueprint for how universities can use exhibition matches to honor broadcasting legends while funding the next generation of talent. Residents attending the game should plan for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off at the Big Iron Events Center.
Further reading
Learn more about local collegiate matchups in the Basketball section.
More information
To support the legacy of the sportscaster, visit the UNL scholarship donation page.
