The Detroit Lions’ season of injuries continues to mount up.

The Lions are set to be without multiple key contributors when they host the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) on ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Thursday, Dec. 4. The question remaining is whether star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will be among them.

St. Brown exited Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day game against the Green Bay Packers after suffering an ankle injury when a lineman rolled on his leg from behind. His availability has been in doubt since.

Detroit enters Week 14 with a 7-5 record – eighth-best in the NFC – leaving them on the outside looking in to the playoff picture. They are battling to stay in the race and Lions fans are hopeful their All-Pro wide receiver will be available today.

Here’s the latest on St. Brown before ‘Thursday Night Football’ kickoff against the Cowboys.

Amon-Ra St. Brown injury update

The Lions have not yet made a decision about St. Brown’s status for ‘Thursday Night Football.’ Detroit listed him as ‘questionable’ on its final injury report and is expected to make a game-time decision about his status.

St. Brown has only before missed two games during his five-year NFL career to date. The last one he missed was in 2023 when he suffered an abdominal injury in Week 3. He played through it before missing Week 5 due to the injury. Prior to that, he suffered an identical injury to this ankle sprain in Week 3 of 2022, which saw him miss Week 4.

St. Brown failed to participate in practice this week, but the Lions have no plans to place him on IR, which would require that he be out for at least four weeks. He was initially classified as ‘week-to-week’ after suffering the low ankle sprain, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

Pelissero also noted the Lions will have a mini-bye because of the ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup, which allows St. Brown extra time to recover if he can’t play against the Cowboys.

Detroit has been no stranger to playing without its stars on offense, with TE Sam LaPorta lost for the season.

Lions WR depth chart

The Lions have six receivers on their 53-man roster:

Amon-Ra St. Brown (injured)
Jameson Williams
Kalif Raymond
Isaac TeSlaa
Tom Kennedy
Dominic Lovett

Kalif Raymond and TE Brock Wright missed last week’s game, but they may be active for Thursday’s matchup against Dallas. Isaac TeSlaa and Tom Kennedy operated as the No. 2 and 3 WRs behind Jameson Williams after St. Brown exited on Thanksgiving.

Williams will be Jared Goff’s top target if St. Brown is sidelined. The 2022 first-round pick went off for 144 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions and a team-high 10 targets on Thanksgiving.

TeSlaa, a rookie third-round pick this season, could be more involved. His size at 6-4, 214 pounds makes him a legitimate red-zone threat.

Team owner Jimmy Haslam has previously admitted the 2022 trade for Watson was a ‘big swing and miss.’
The Browns are not expected to play Watson, instead focusing on rookie QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Opening the practice window is considered the next step in Watson’s rehabilitation, not a move to showcase him for a trade.

The Cleveland Browns have opened a 21-day practice window for injured quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s missed the entire 2025 season while rehabilitating from multiple ruptures to his right Achilles tendon. He originally tore it during Week 7 of the 2024 campaign and reinjured it three months later during the early stages of his recovery.

It’s natural to wonder what’s behind the move for a last-place team that’s been evaluating rookie passers Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders for most of this season and has already acknowledged how disastrous the trade for Watson was – the controversial former Pro Bowler with his sordid off-field baggage coming to Cleveland in 2022 for a boatload of compensation, including three first-round draft picks, before signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.

‘We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,’ Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said at the league’s spring meeting in March.

The Browns finished last in the AFC North in two of Watson’s first three seasons and only made the playoffs in 2023, when he was injured, thanks to an inspired run by Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco.

‘We thought we had the quarterback, we didn’t and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get (Watson),’ said Haslam. ‘So we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. (It) was an entire organization decision and it ends with (Haslam’s wife) Dee and I, so hold us accountable.’

Haslam’s mea culpa, the club’s decision to select Gabriel and Sanders in this year’s draft, the accumulation of multiple first-round picks for the 2026 draft and the restructuring of Watson’s deal all seem to be fairly clear indicators that the high-priced passer probably won’t play for Cleveland again.

So why open the practice window for Watson, who’s been on the reserve/physically unable to perform list all year? Let’s try to answer a few questions on that front.

Why are the Browns letting Deshaun Watson practice?

In the most basic sense, it’s the next waypoint on his rehabilitation road.

“Excited for him. His focus, my focus is obviously getting him back to playing football, practicing football, which he hasn’t done in over a year. Good next step for him,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said during his press conference Wednesday.

The immediate goal is to get Watson, who did not speak to reporters Wednesday, into individual drills. Depending on how things go, Stefanski said he could eventually get repetitions with the scout team. However the need to get work for inexperienced players like Sanders and Gabriel remains a priority.

“I feel like it’s great he’s going out to practice,” Sanders said of Watson. “He’s been working hard to recover.”

Do the Browns want Deshaun Watson to play in 2025?

The circumstances pretty clearly signal no, though Stefanski deflected when asked about the three-time Pro Bowler’s outlook for this season.

“Really not my focus, not his focus right this minute,” he said. “His focus is putting a helmet on again for the first time, shoulder pads, throwing a football – that’s where the focus is.”

Has Deshaun Watson been a good mentor for Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel?

According to Stefanski, the relationships among the Browns’ quarterbacks is outstanding – and Watson has been part of team meetings and attending games well before his practice window opened.

“He’s been so supportive in the meeting room, on the game field with the players,” said Stefanski. “I know he’s excited to get back out there practicing with his teammates.”

The coach later added: “I think having a guy like Deshaun in there, who’s seen so much and has been through different situations and can provide great counsel to young quarterbacks, I just think that’s invaluable.”

Watson has been the most experienced quarterback on the Browns’ extended roster since Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in October, and Stefanski thinks having him on the practice field is an added opportunity for Watson to convey his NFL experience.

“Deshaun’s been outstanding with all those guys,” Stefanski said while referencing the team’s other QBs. “It’s really an impressive group that helps each other.

“Having all those guys on the field I think is beneficial.”

Are the Browns hoping to showcase Deshaun Watson for a subsequent trade?

It’s a plus for Watson to get onto the practice field in hopes of resuming and resurrecting his career. Whether it will actually happen is anyone’s guess.

Even if he’d played well for the Browns – he hasn’t, losing 10 of his 19 starts during his injury-riddled stint in Cleveland and compiling an 80.7 passer rating with the club – his contract and off-field issues likely make him essentially radioactive moving forward.

Watson’s rampantly lurid behavior at Houston-area massage parlors when he was a member of the Texans led to more than two dozen lawsuits and an 11-game suspension from the NFL, which also mandated that he undergo evaluation and counseling. His acquisition by the Browns caused many supporters to turn in their fan cards and also necessitated the trade of then-incumbent quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has since blossomed into a Pro Bowler for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Asked if the Browns are hoping to salvage the trade, Stefanski replied: “Not my focus … really just excited for him to be able to get back out there on the field. I think for any player when you’re rehabbing, the next step getting out there on the practice field is a big step, so I’m excited for him.’

Were the Browns compelled to open Deshaun Watson’s practice window?

Any notion that Watson forced the team’s hand or that the NFL Players Association helped on his behalf is apparently a misguided theory.

“Absolutely not,” a person familiar with Watson’s situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person received anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

“It’s simply the next phase of his rehab.”

Will Deshaun Watson play in 2025?

Never say never. Quarterbacks get injured, and Gabriel and Sanders both have been. Gabriel was concussed last month, paving the way for Sanders’ first regular-season action, and both players dealt with assorted issues during training camp and preseason. Bailey Zappe is also on the practice squad. It seems unlikely they’d all get hurt over the final five games and effectively force Watson on to the 53-man roster, but stranger scenarios have developed before in this league.

What happens at the end of Deshaun Watson’s practice window?

Watson’s three-week clock now initiated, the Browns must ultimately make a decision on his status. If Watson isn’t restored to Cleveland’s 53-man roster by the end of the window, he’ll revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Will Deshaun Watson be released in 2026?

Obviously, TBD. But the tea leaves suggest this is his last year in Cleveland – especially given the rookie passers on the roster and strong likelihood another one will join them in five months.

Watson’s restructured deal expires following the 2026 season. He’s still owed a fully guaranteed $131.2 million from the Browns, but his contract’s new architecture would allow Cleveland to spread the cap hit into 2027 if he’s designated as a post-June 1 release next year.

When it comes to Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s plenty of smoke for there to be concern about a fire.

The 30-year-old nine-time All-Star had been sidelined with a groin strain but has since returned. The Milwaukee Bucks, however, are still struggling, limping out to a 9-13 record.

Antetokounmpo scrubbed his social media accounts of almost every reference or photo from his time with the Bucks, sparking speculation about trade rumors. That was Tuesday. But on Wednesday, Dec. 3, ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo and his agent have begun conversations with the Bucks about Antetokounmpo’s future and his fit with Milwaukee.

ESPN also reported that a resolution was expected in the coming weeks.

Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is a singular talent, unstoppable in transition and freakishly athletic for someone his size. Any potential trade may involve multiple teams and will certainly be an exchange of significant assets.

One thing to note: the NBA trade deadline is Thursday, Feb. 5, though some Antetokounmpo deals may be easier to execute over the offseason, when draft picks become available to trade.

In the meantime, here’s a look at possible trade destinations for Giannis Antetokounmpo:

New York Knicks

According to a different ESPN report, Antetokounmpo already asked for a trade and specifically asked to be sent to the Knicks. While that may be his preferred destination, the Bucks would be under no obligation to facilitate a deal to New York. Still, Antetokounmpo is wildly talented, so the Knicks could theoretically intensify any potential offer, should the interest be mutual.

Any deal for Antetokounmpo would likely involve forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns and would make the Knicks a legitimate threat to win the Eastern Conference — more than they already are. The bigger issue is New York’s salary cap situation, as it has little breathing room under the punitive second apron.

Brooklyn Nets

Perhaps a more likely scenario is across the East River. No team has been amassing draft capital more than the Nets, who have at least 12 first-round selections over the next seven drafts. Given the state of the Bucks’ roster, draft picks might be the most appealing asset, anyway, and the Nets have the salary cap flexibility to accommodate Antetokounmpo.

In April, Brooklyn also became the first team in NBA history to use five picks in the first round of a draft, so the Nets could offer any current rookies that Milwaukee may find intriguing.

San Antonio Spurs

This would almost be unfair. Pairing Antetokounmpo alongside phenom Victor Wembanyama would present a nightmare for opposing defenses and would give San Antonio a roster that would compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

To make it happen, the Spurs have plenty of talented guards that could entice Milwaukee. Stephon Castle won Rookie of the Year last season and No. 2 overall selection Dylan Harper has flashed through his first six weeks of the season. San Antonio also has De’Aaron Fox. Still, that won’t be nearly enough, as the Spurs would also need to include valuable draft capital.

Houston Rockets

This is an interesting case. Typically, when a player like Antetokounmpo becomes available, just about every team shows some interest. The Rockets have plenty of intriguing young pieces like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. to entice the Bucks. The question is whether Houston would already want to revamp its win-now build with Kevin Durant as the centerpiece.

Atlanta Hawks

This might be more of an under-the-radar candidate, but the Hawks do have some young assets like last season’s No. 1 overall selection Zaccharie Risacher and Jalen Johnson, though Atlanta also may be looking to move on from veteran point guard Trae Young.

Los Angeles Lakers

Antetokounmpo has said he wants to compete for NBA titles, and pairing him alongside Luka Dončić creates a dynamic threat. But the Lakers don’t have very many assets to ship — at least not now. Aside from Austin Reaves, they lack young assets to send. They are also unable to offer multiple first-round draft picks until the offseason.

The field

As mentioned above, pretty much every team would want a player like Antetokounmpo. Teams that are currently competitive but maybe a star away — teams like the Pistons, Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Mavericks, and Heat — may consider packaging their assets in an offer. Still, the ESPN report makes clear that anything related to Antetokounmpo’s future will involve an ongoing conversation with Milwaukee. Because the Bucks, undoubtedly, do not want to move him and likely won’t, unless he asks out and makes things a little messy.

He may have been a Louisville Cardinal, but Will Stein grew up a ‘die-hard’ Kentucky Wildcats fan. Now, the former Oregon offensive coordinator will lead the Wildcats football program after being hired to replace Mark Stoops.

Stoops was the all-time winningest coach at Kentucky, racking up 82 wins. He barely finished his career there above .500, going 82-80 in that span. Kentucky missed bowl games in consecutive years for the first time in 10 seasons, exacerbating the urgency to show Stoops the door.

Here’s how we grade the hire:

Grade: B

Going the hotshot offensive coordinator route makes sense for Kentucky when you consider realistic options. The Wildcats landed a coach who’ll need no introduction to Kentucky. Stein is a Louisville native who played for the Cardinals — but, hey, he says he grew up rooting for the Wildcats, so all good there.

Mark Stoops served up some of the best seasons in Kentucky football history, but those days were finished. With the program heading in reverse, Kentucky swallowed a $38 million buyout to pull the plug.

Stein, 36, shot up the ranks quickly. As recently as 2019, he was an assistant coach at a Texas high school. His fast rise speaks to his success and ability to impress.

At Oregon, Stein coordinated one of the nation’s best offenses the past three seasons. He won’t have the same caliber of athlete at Kentucky, but after the Wildcats consistently produced one of the SEC’s most meager offenses under Stoops, Stein offers hope of fresh air — and hope of success through the air. Perhaps with Stein, Kentucky finally will produce a quality quarterback, a position that’s plagued Kentucky for years.

Stein coached Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore at Oregon. That’s a heck of a run.

He’s shifting from a program awash with NIL resources to a basketball school, and Stoops persistently grumbled he didn’t receive enough financial support. This is one of the SEC’s toughest jobs, and it’s not getting any easier. The Wildcats were on a downward trend throughout the NIL era, but sometimes a new hire can galvanize more booster bucks.

Stein’s lack of head coaching experience makes him a bit of a gamble, but he’s a gamble worth taking for Kentucky.

And then there were four.

Four teams  — No. 1 seeded Stanford, No. 2 seeds TCU and Duke and No. 3 seed Florida State — punched their tickets to the 2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Final Four consists of three Atlantic Coast Conference teams, the fourth consecutive season multiple ACC teams have advanced to the Women’s College Cup.

While ACC powerhouses have been a staple, with at least one conference representative participating in the College Cup in every year of the tournament’s 44-season history, TCU is a newcomer. The Horned Frogs will make their first College Cup appearance on Friday, Dec. 4.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup, including a breakdown of each semifinal matchup and players to watch:

2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup semifinal schedule

No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 2 TCU | Fri. Dec 5, 6 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 2 Duke | Fri. Dec 5, 8:45 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup bracket breakdown

No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 2 TCU

Florida State women’s soccer will make its 15th College Cup appearance, the second-most all-time behind North Carolina. The Seminoles are on the brink of a dynasty. A championship would be their fifth title overall and third in five years (2014, 2018, 2021, 2023). Florida State is riding an eight-game winning streak into the semifinals and have outscored their opponents 19-5 in the NCAA tournament.

Although TCU is set to make its Final Four debut, the Horned Frogs are far from underdogs. TCU has turned in its best postseason run in school history and doubled its previous program-high for wins in a single NCAA Tournament. The Horned Frogs have outscored opponents 14-2 in the tournament.

Florida State advanced to the semifinals by defeating Samford (4-0), Lipscomb (1-0), Georgetown (3-1) and Ohio State (4-1). TCU advanced with wins over Grambling State (7-0), Memphis (4-0), North Carolina (1-1, 4-3 in PKs) and Vanderbilt (2-1).

Players to watch

Florida State forward Jordynn Dudley (11 goals, 14 assists), who recorded her second postseason brace and third of the season against Ohio State; TCU F Seven Castain (17 goals, 4 assists), who is as clutch as they come with seven game-winners this season, second-best in the nation; Florida State F Wrianna Hudson (13 goals, 1 assist), who leads the Seminoles in scoring; TCU GK Olivia Geller (six shutouts, 58 saves), who had a career-high nine saves in TCU’s quarterfinal win over Vanderbilt.

No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 2 Duke

Duke advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive year, becoming one of 12 teams to make back-to-back NCAA Women’s College Cup appearances. Head coach Kieran Hall is the third coach in NCAA history to take their team to the College Cup in their first season. The Blue Devils did so in dominant fashion by shutting out all four opponents during their NCAA tournament run.

That streak will be difficult to keep alive against Stanford, the highest-scoring offense in the nation. The Cardinal, the lone remaining No. 1 seed, has 95 total goals (24 more than the next closest team) and averages 4.13 goals per match. Stanford is riding an 16-game unbeaten streak into the semifinals and is outscoring opponents 21-5 in the tournament, a record for goals through four games. The Cardinal also lead the nation in shots on goal (23) and will surely keep Duke goalkeeper Caroline Dysart busy.

Duke advanced to the semifinals by defeating Elon (3-0), UCF (1-0), Kansas (2-0) and Washington (3-0). Stanford advanced by beating Cal Poly (3-1), Alabama (7-3), BYU (6-0) and Michigan State (5-1).

Players to watch

Stanford M Jasmine Aikey (20 goals, 11 assists), who has scored in three consecutive matches, while ranking fourth-best in the nation in goals and 14th in assists this season; Duke F Kat Rader (12 goals, 12 assists), who has scored or assisted in 17 of her 21 matches and moved to seventh all-time in Duke career goals (32) and points (84); Stanford F Andrea Kitahata (17 goals, 10 assists), who scored a brace in the Cardinal’s quarterfinal win against Michigan State in less than four minutes; Duke F Mia Minestrella (18 goals, six assists), who ranks first in the tournament with six goals and sixth nationally in total goals; Stanford M Charlotte Kohler (12 goals, 17 assists), who leads the nation in assists and scored in five of the last seven matches; Duke GK Caroline Dysart (11 shutouts, 53 saves), who has recorded four straight clean sheets in the tournament and has not allowed a single goal.

2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup championship schedule

The winners of the semifinals will face off for the championship on Monday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. ET at CPKC Stadium, the home of the NWSL’s KC Current, in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić has been ruled out for Thursday’s road game against the Toronto Raptors.

Dončić was ruled out on Wednesday’s status report for ‘personal’ reasons, but no other information was provided.

He played in the Lakers’ 125-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday, a loss that snapped a seven-game win streak. Dončić produced a double-double with 38 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes of play.

The Slovenian has played in 16 of the Lakers’ 20 games this season. He’s averaging 35.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game.

When did Luka Doncic last play in Toronto?

Doncic has not played in Toronto since Dec. 7, 2024, while he was still a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

When do Lakers play Raptors?

The Lakers will play the Raptors in Toronto at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 4. The game will air on Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles) and SportsNet (Toronto).

On a day where big questions arose about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks, the team is now holding its breath about his immediate health.

The Bucks superstar exited Milwaukee’s contest against the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter and was ruled out for the game with what the team called a ‘right calf strain.’

Antetokounmpo went down suddenly while heading back up the court after feeding AJ Green for a layup. The two-time MVP headed back to the locker room and the Bucks ruled him out for the game a short time later.

He scored two points and had a rebound and an assist in just 3 minutes of play.

Despite Antetokounmpo’s early exit, the Bucks defeated the East-best Pistons, 113-109.

Giannis Antetokounmpo injury update

Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters during his postgame availability that Antetokounmpo was getting an MRI ‘right now.’ He was hopeful the team would know more about Antetokounmpo’s status soon but added the team believed it was not an Achilles injury.

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The seeds are set, now its time to get the NCAA Division I volleyball tournament started. The first round will take place Thursday, Dec. 4, and Friday, Dec. 5, at school sites across the country.

Sixty-four teams are vying for the title with the No. 1 overall seed going to undefeated Nebraska, which is 30-0. The Cornhuskers, who are in their first season under coach Dani Busboom Kelly, won the last of their five national titles in 2017.

Kentucky, Texas, and Pitt are the other No. 1 seeds. The Wildcats have lost two matches, the Longhorns three and the Panthers four this season.

Defending champion Penn State finished 18-12 and is a No. 8 seed in the Austin region. The Nittany Lions face South Florida (17-12) in the first round on Friday.

The 2025 NCAA volleyball Final Four will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s the third time since 2010 that the venue, formerly known as the Sprint Center, has hosted the volleyball national championship.

Here’s everything you need to know about the NCAA volleyball tournament:

How to watch NCAA volleyball tournament

Streaming: ESPN+ ∣ Fubo (free trial)

The 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament will air across the ESPN and ABC family of networks. All first- and second-round games can be found streaming on ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Watch the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament live with Fubo (free trial)

What time is NCAA volleyball tournament?

Date: Thursday, Dec. 4 and Friday, Dec. 5
Start time: 32 matches, beginning at 3 p.m. ET Thursday. The last match starts at 10 p.m. ET Friday. Match-by-match times below.

NCAA volleyball first-round matchups, game times

Lexington bracket

No. 1 Kentucky (25-2) vs. Wofford (17-13), 7 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 8 UCLA (18-12) vs. Georgia Tech (16-13), 4:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 5 BYU (22-8) vs. Cal Poly (25-7), 8 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 4 USC (24-6) vs. Princeton (18-6), 10:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 3 Creighton (25-5) vs. Northern Colorado (17-15), 8 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 6 Northern Iowa (25-5) vs. Utah (15-14), 5:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 7 Tennessee (20-7) vs. Utah State (23-7), 6:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 2 Arizona State (26-3) vs. Coppin State (23-11), 9 p.m. ET, Thursday

Austin bracket

No. 1 Texas (23-3) vs. Florida A&M (14-16), 8 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 8 Penn State (18-12) vs. South Florida (17-12), 5:30 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 5 Colorado (22-8) vs. American (24-4), 3 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 4 Indiana (23-7) vs. Toledo (23-10), 5:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 3 Wisconsin (24-4) vs. Eastern Illinois (24-7), 8 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 6 UTEP (25-4) vs. North Carolina (21-8), 5:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 7 South Dakota State (23-4) vs. Arizona (16-12), 7:30 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 2 Stanford (27-4) vs. Utah Valley (16-10), 10 p.m. ET, Friday

Pittsburgh bracket

No. 1 Pitt (26-4) vs. UMBC (13-11), 6:30 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 8 Xavier (26-4) vs. Michigan (21-10), 4 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 5 Iowa State (22-7) vs. St. Thomas (21-9), 5:30 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 4 Minnesota (22-9) vs. Fairfield (25-5), 8 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 3 Purdue (24-6) vs. Wright State (21-10), 7 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 6 Baylor (17-9) vs. Arkansas State (22-8), 4:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 7 Rice (21-9) vs. Florida (15-11), 5 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 2 SMU (25-5) vs. Central Arkansas (18-11), 7:30 p.m. ET, Friday

Lincoln bracket

No. 1 Nebraska (30-0) vs. LIU (20-8), 8 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 8 San Diego (25-4) vs. Kansas State (17-3), 5:30 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 5 Miami (26-5) vs. Tulsa (25-6), 5 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 4 Kansas (22-10) vs. High Point (18-9), 7:30 p.m. ET, Thursday
No. 3 Texas A&M (23-4) vs. Campbell (23-6), 7:30 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 6 TCU (20-10) vs. Stephen F. Austin (23-7), 5 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 7 Western Kentucky (27-5) vs. Marquette (17-10), 4 p.m. ET, Friday
No. 2 Louisville (24-6) vs. Loyola Chicago (17-15), 6:30 p.m. ET, Friday

NCAA volleyball tournament rounds

Second round: Dec. 5-6
Regionals: Dec. 11 and 13 or Dec. 12 and 14
Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 18
National championship: 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 21

All games on ESPN Unlimited, ESPN, ABC

NCAA volleyball tournament automatic qualifiers

Here’s a look at the 31 teams that earned automatic berths to the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament by virtue of winning their conferences:

ACC: Stanford
American: Tulsa
American East: UMBC
Atlantic Sun: Central Arkansas
Atlantic 10: Loyola Chicago
Big East: Creighton
Big Sky: Northern Colorado
Big South: High Point
Big Ten: Nebraska
Big 12: Arizona State
Big West: Cal Poly
CAA: Campbell
Conference USA: Western Kentucky
Horizon: Wright State
Ivy: Princeton
MAAC: Fairfield
MAC: Toledo
MEAC: Coppin State
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa
Mountain West: Utah State
NEC: LIU
Ohio Valley: Eastern Illinois
Patriot: American
SEC: Kentucky
SoCon: Wofford
Southland: Stephen F. Austin
SWAC: Florida A&M
Summit: St. Thomas
Sun Belt: Arkansas State
WAC: Utah Valley
WCC: San Diego

When is the NCAA volleyball Final Four in 2025?

Dates: Thursday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 21

The two semifinal matches in the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18 and will be followed three days later by the national championship game on Sunday, Dec. 21.

NCAA volleyball tournament champions

Penn State is the reigning NCAA volleyball champion, having defeated Louisville in four sets last year in the national title game. It was the Nittany Lions’ eighth volleyball championship since 1999.

Here’s a look at the past 10 NCAA volleyball champions:

2024: Penn State
2023: Texas
2022: Texas
2021: Wisconsin
2020: Kentucky
2019: Stanford
2018: Stanford
2017: Nebraska
2016: Stanford
2015: Nebraska

For the full list of champions, click here.