Who Is the Preseason Favorite in 2026?
Nebraska. And it’s not particularly close.
The NCAA.com preseason Power 10, released August 4, 2026, put the Huskers at No. 1 [1]. Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly enters her second year at the helm with a senior class headlined by outside hitter Harper Murray, setter Bergen Reilly, and middle blocker Andi Jackson [1]. That trio anchored a team that went 33-1 in 2025, won the Big Ten, and still came up short in December [2].
Why does this feel different? Murray, Reilly, and Jackson were unanimous selections to the 2026 All-Big Ten preseason team [5]. They have played together for years. Nebraska also faces a conference slate that will be tested every single weekend, which is the best preparation for a title run.
The Huskers are the safest pick. But “safest” and “champion” are different things.
The Teams Chasing Nebraska
Kentucky is the consensus No. 2. The national runner-up lost star outside hitter Eva Hudson but answered by landing 6-foot-5 transfer Morgan Gaerte from the portal, giving them a potential two-headed attack alongside Brooklyn DeLeye [1]. Kentucky is also the pick to win the SEC for a 10th straight year — a streak no other program in the country can touch [6].
Defending champion Texas A&M is the wild card. The Aggies won the first national title in program history in 2025, sweeping Kentucky 3-0 in the first all-SEC championship final [2][7]. The SEC coaches still ranked them No. 3 in the league’s preseason poll behind Kentucky and Texas [6]. Repeating is hard. Texas A&M knows that better than anyone.
Then there’s the ACC. Pittsburgh, Stanford, Louisville, SMU, Miami, and North Carolina all finished 2025 ranked in the top 25 [2]. Pittsburgh was the ACC’s standard-bearer at No. 4 nationally [2]. Stanford, a blue blood with nine national titles, is never far from the conversation [3].
Why the Big Ten and SEC Will Decide the Title
Here is the reality of modern college volleyball: the national champion comes from the Big Ten or the SEC, almost every single year.
Big Ten schools have combined for 22 NCAA Division I championships, including 12 of the last 20 [5]. Eight of the nine most-watched college volleyball matches of all time featured Big Ten teams [5]. The SEC now holds the top two spots in the preseason national conversation with Nebraska and Kentucky — wait, Nebraska is Big Ten. Point stands: in 2026, six Big Ten teams and four SEC teams finished the season in the AVCA top 25 [2].
The 2026 season adds two brand-new wrinkles:
- The first-ever Big Ten Volleyball Tournament, November 20-25 in Fishers, Indiana, where the top 15 teams in the standings will play for the conference’s automatic bid [5].
- The Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge, culminating in a doubleheader at Wrigley Field on September 6, with all 18 Big Ten schools and all 16 SEC schools participating [6].
More high-stakes cross-conference matches means fewer surprises in December. That’s good news for the teams that can survive the regular season.
The Dark Horses Worth Watching
If you want a name that isn’t Nebraska, Kentucky, or Texas A&M, start here:
Wisconsin. The Badgers were the No. 5 team in the final 2025 AVCA poll and the No. 2 pick in the 2026 Big Ten preseason poll [2][8]. They reload through recruiting as well as anyone.
Texas. The Longhorns have been ranked in the top five in 19 of the past 21 seasons [9]. They were No. 6 in the final 2025 poll and the No. 2 pick in the SEC [2][6]. Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears anchor a top-tier attack [6].
Pittsburgh. The Panthers keep knocking on the door of a first national title game appearance [3]. They have the talent and the conference schedule to prove it.
Penn State. A seven-time national champion that received votes in the final 2025 poll and slots No. 3 in the Big Ten preseason poll [2][8]. They never really go away.
Key Dates for the 2026-27 Season
Here is the calendar that matters, straight from the NCAA:
| Date | Event | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 2026 | AVCA Preseason Top 25 released | n/a |
| Aug 21-24, 2026 | AVCA First Serve season opener | Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee |
| Sep 6, 2026 | Big Ten/SEC Challenge doubleheader | Wrigley Field, Chicago |
| Nov 20-25, 2026 | Inaugural Big Ten Tournament | Fishers, Indiana |
| Nov 30, 2026 | NCAA Tournament selection show | n/a |
| Dec 17, 2026 | National semifinals | Alamodome, San Antonio |
| Dec 20, 2026 | National championship | Alamodome, San Antonio |
| Dec 16 & 19, 2027 | 2027 final | Nationwide Arena, Columbus |
Sources: NCAA.com championship info [3], Big Ten Conference [5], SEC [6], SportsBrackets [10].
The 2027 Championship Is Already in Columbus
The 2027 NCAA Division I women’s volleyball championship is set for December 16 and 19 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, with Ohio State as host [3]. Nationwide Arena hosted the 2021 final that set a record attendance of 18,755 [11]. If the 2026 season delivers the kind of star power it promises, Columbus could see another record crowd — and the first champion crowned in the state of Ohio since 2010.
FAQ: NCAA Volleyball Season Forecast
When does the 2026 college volleyball season start?
The season opens with the AVCA First Serve event at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on August 21-24, 2026, followed by early-season classics and invitationals nationwide [10].
Who won the 2025 NCAA volleyball championship?
Texas A&M won its first-ever national title in 2025, sweeping Kentucky 3-0 in the championship match [2][7].
Where is the 2026 NCAA volleyball championship?
The national semifinals (Dec 17) and championship (Dec 20, 2026) are at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas [3].
Who is the preseason No. 1 in 2026?
Nebraska took the top spot in the NCAA.com preseason Power 10 released August 4, 2026, ahead of Kentucky at No. 2 [1].
Where will the 2027 NCAA volleyball final be played?
Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on December 16 and 19, 2027 [3].
Sources
- NCAA.com — “Nebraska takes top spot in 2026 women’s volleyball preseason Power 10” (Aug 4, 2026)
- NCAA.com — Final 2025 AVCA Division I women’s volleyball rankings
- NCAA.com — “Women’s college volleyball championship: Future dates and sites”
- Big Ten Conference — “Big Ten Announces 2026 Volleyball Preseason Honors” (Jul 30, 2026) and tournament announcement (Apr 16, 2026)
- SEC — “Kentucky tabbed 2026 SEC Volleyball preseason favorite” (Jul 29, 2026)
- NCAA.com — Texas A&M national championship recap (Dec 21, 2025)
- Big Ten 2026 preseason poll, full standings
- Texas Longhorns Athletics — “Volleyball ranked No. 5 in AVCA preseason poll”
- SportsBrackets — “2026 College Volleyball Schedule: Key Dates & Championship” (Jul 26, 2026)
- Greater Columbus Sports Commission — 2027 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship announcement (Oct 2, 2024)
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