The 2025 volleyball season begins Friday, August 22, with the American Volleyball Coaches Association (ACVA) First Serve event.First Serve is a collection of opening matches that showcases multiple doubleheaders during the four days from Aug. 22-25. Many of the teams featured are ranked in the Division I women’s volleyball preseason poll, including No. 1 Nebraska, No.2 Penn State, the defending national champ, and No. 3 Pitt.

Here are four storylines to keep a pulse on ahead of the 2025 NCAA volleyball season:

Can Penn State repeat?

When the Nittany Lions kick off their season on Saturday, August 23, against Creighton, they will begin with one looming question: Can they win back-to-back? Penn State went 29-2 in the regular season and 19-1 in the Big Ten, which netted the team co-Big Ten Championship honors with the Nebraska Huskers. As head coach Katie Schumacher Cawley guided her roster into the postseason, the Nittany Lions met the Huskers again, sweeping them in the NCAA semifinals. Schumacher-Cawley eventually became the first woman head coach ever to win a volleyball national championship when Penn State beat the Louisville Cardinals, 3-1, for the program’s eighth championship.

The Nittany Lions have a chance to add more hardware to their trophy case in 2025, but it could be tougher this time around. Despite returning nine players from its championship roster, including NCAA All-Tournament team standout Gillian Grimes, the last time Penn State won consecutive titles was 2013 and 2014 and four straight from 2007 to 2010. Since then, only two other teams, the Texas Longhorns (2022, 2023) and Stanford Cardinal (2018, 2019), have gone back-to-back.

Dani Busboom Kelly kicks off new era at Nebraska

One of the biggest changes of the offseason came in Lincoln, Nebraska, when longtime Huskers head coach John Cook retired. Cook announced his retirement in January after more than two decades with the program. His 25 seasons with the Huskers produced four national championships, three AVCA National Coach of the Year awards and many more accolades.

With Cook moving on, Nebraska tapped alumna Dani Busboom Kelly to be its next coach. Busboom Kelly was on the 2006 national championship team under Cook and was also an assistant coach in 2015 when the Huskers won a title. The former libero spent eight seasons at Louisville, taking the program to new heights, including a phenomenal 2021 season that helped the team achieve a No. 1 national rank and reach the first NCAA Final Four in school history. Coinciding with Busboom Kelly’s arrival in Lincoln, the Huskers open the 2025 season as the No. 1 team in the country.

Top players to watch

Izzy Starck, setter, Penn State: Starck is a future powerhouse who led the country in total assists (1483) as a freshman. The AVCA Freshman of the Year started 37 matches for Penn State and recorded 18 double-doubles. She also helped spearhead the Nittany Lions’ national championship run with 10.72 assists a set, landing her a nod on the NCAA State College Regional All-Tournament Team.
Harper Murray, outside hitter, Nebraska: Murray, the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, is a phenomenal talent on the outside, who led the Huskers last season in kills per set (3.4). She finished her season with nine double-doubles and tallied a career-best 411 kills on the year. After a solid regular season with the Huskers, Murray earned a spot on the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team during Nebraska’s postseason run.
Olivia Babcock, outside hitter, Pittsburgh: Babcock is a young star, and in 2024, she won the AVCA National Player of the Year. During her sophomore season, she set a single-season program record with 71 aces, and was ranked third in the country with .62 aces per set. Babcock also led the nation in points (677.5), helping Pitt to a 33-2 record and an NCAA semifinals appearance.

Biggest transfer portal impact player

Perhaps there was no bigger transfer in the offseason than two-time All-American outside hitter Torey Stafford leaving Pitt for Texas. Stafford, previously a stellar complement to outside hitter Olivia Babcock, exited the Panthers after helping them reach the Final Four in her first two seasons. During her time with the program, she added first-team All-ACC honors to her résumé and ranked second on the team in points per set (4.24) and kills per set (3.70). Her .358 hitting percentage during her sophomore season was also noteworthy.

Stafford helps Texas fill the void after losing outside hitter Madisen Skinner, who now plays pro volleyball with LOVB Austin. Skinner was an AVCA second-team All-American and first-team all-SEC in 2024. During her time with Texas, Skinner led the Longhorns with 409 kills and averaged 4.35 kills per set. If Stafford can create similar production, it could be a game-changer for the program.

The Dallas Cowboys’ star shines bright as the symbol for America’s Team.

Yet that star is a little dimmer with just two weeks to go before the NFL regular season kicks off as Micah Parsons remains in search of a new contract. It’s been a difficult offseason on that front for the All-Pro, with seemingly no progress towards resolving the dispute.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones peeled back the curtain during an appearance on Irvin’s YouTube channel, detailing the negotiations with his superstar pass rusher.

‘When we wanted to send the [contract] details to the agent, the agent told us to stick it up our ass,’ Jones said. ‘Micah and I talked and then we were gonna send it over to the agent. We had our agreements on term, amount, guarantees, everything.’

The agent told Jones to not bother because they still had to negotiate – something Jones says already happened in his mind, adding that he already moved off his mark on several fronts.

‘We’ve got this resolved in my mind, for the Dallas Cowboys,’ Jones said. ‘And we got it done. If the agent wants to finish up the details, which he should, and do all the paperwork, then he could do that. We’re ready to go. As far as the amount of money, the years, the guarantees, all of that, we negotiated that.’

Jones wouldn’t say whether the offer would make Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, but did offer another response to Irvin.

‘It would’ve made him the highest guaranteed player other than a quarterback in the NFL,’ he said.

The owner pointed to Dak Prescott’s contract as an example, calling it a precedent and saying they have three years to work it out with Parsons – given that he’s in the final year of his contract and then can be franchise tagged for two more.

Jones repeatedly made mention of the shelf life for football players in particular, pointing out that giving out a big guarantee can sometimes backfire.

‘You and I both know that everybody that walks out here is vulnerable, to a degree, of not playing again,’ Jones said, adding that it could hurt a team’s chances from winning when that money could instead be spent on multiple players.

He still has one goal in mind, however, which remains winning a Super Bowl – and he isn’t afraid to open the checkbook to accomplish that.

‘I’m always willing to do what it takes,’ Jones said. ‘A year ago, I made Dak [Prescott] the highest-paid player ever in the history of the NFL. At the same time, I made the receiver [CeeDee Lamb] about the third or fourth-highest paid receiver in the NFL, Lamb. So I don’t have a cramped up hand. I know how to wiggle a pencil and write a check. It’s a question of doing it as smartly as we can do it. We have some really top players right now and we need to make sure we’re judicious about how we allocate that money.’

Parsons looks to be part of the allocation of funds. There are just two weeks to figure it out before the season kicks off and Jones runs the risk of not spending the money or having the player.

The Indiana Fever’s point guard carousel continues to spin.

The Fever have lost guards Sydney Colson (left ACL tear), Aari McDonald (broken right foot) and Sophie Cunningham (MCL tear) for the year to season-ending injuries, leaving many fans wondering when Caitlin Clark is going to return to the court from her extended absence.

Clark is set to miss her 14th consecutive game due to a right groin injury when the Fever take on the Minnesota Lynx in a rematch of the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title game on Friday, marking the 23rd game of the season Clark has missed.

There’s no official timetable for Clark’s return, but she experienced yet another hurdle after suffering a mild bone bruise in her left ankle during an individual workout session in Phoenix on Aug. 7. Fever head coach Stephanie White called Clark’s latest setback ‘really frustrating’ for the superstar.

‘Caitlin (Clark) wants to play. She’s a competitor. She just wants to be on the floor,’ White said after practice on Thursday. ‘She just wants to play basketball and she’s in the mindset that she’s hungry. She wants to be out there and that she wants to be with her team. She’s working her butt off to get back in those situations.’

White added: ‘Each time you have a tweak or each time you have something else, it’s frustrating, but it’s kind of the nature of the business. When you are an athlete, you are going to have some of these injuries. This is really the first time in her career that she’s had this string of ‘bad luck.’ … It’s emotionally and mentally draining as it is physically.’

Here’s what we know about Clark’s injury status, including a full injury timeline:

Is Caitlin Clark playing Friday? Injury status for Fever-Lynx

Clark (right groin injury) has been ruled out of the Fever’s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Friday in Minneapolis, which is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION. Earlier this week, White said Clark hasn’t returned to practice, which would mark an important step in her ramp-up.

‘Until (Clark) can get into practice… we’re really status quo,’ White said on Wednesday.

How was Caitlin Clark injured?

Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston on July 15. With 39.1 seconds remaining in the contest, Clark completed a bounce pass to Kelsey Mitchell to put the Fever up 84-75. After the pass, Clark immediately grabbed for her right groin and grimaced as she gingerly walked over and headbutted the stanchion. She did not return. 

Caitlin Clark injury timeline

May 24: Clark suffered a left quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, where she recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Clark couldn’t pinpoint the specific play that caused her injury, but noted that it happened early in the contest. Clark said, ‘Adrenaline covers up a lot of stuff when you’re in the heat of battle. After the game, I had some pain, and then we got an MRI, and that kind of gave me the result that I didn’t want to see.’ She missed the Fever’s next five games.
June 14: Clark returned to Indiana’s lineup in the Fever’s 102-88 win over the Liberty and dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. 
June 24: Clark suffered a left groin injury in the Fever’s 94-86 win over the Seattle Storm, which resulted in Clark missing the team’s next four games. Fever coach Stephanie White said she learned of Clark’s groin injury the following night after Clark alerted team trainers of discomfort.
July 1: Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s 2025 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. That didn’t stop Clark from rightfully celebrating the team’s hardware.
July 9: Clark returned to the Fever’s lineup in the Fever’s 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Clark was limited to 10 points, shooting 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line, in addition to six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers. Following the blowout loss, Clark said it was ‘going to take me a second to get my wind back. … Just trying to get my legs under me.’
July 15: Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston. White later confirmed Clark ‘felt a little something in her groin.’ This marked the last game for which Clark suited up.
July 18: Clark announced that she would sit out the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where she was named a team captain. Clark was also set to participate in the 3-point contest. She said, ‘I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate … I have to rest my body.’
July 24: The Fever said Clark’s medical evaluations confirmed there’s ‘no additional injuries or damage,’ but the team said it will be cautious with Clark’s rehab and recovery.
August 7: Clark reportedly suffered a mild bone bruise in her left ankle while during an individual workout session in Phoenix on Aug. 7, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
August 8: During an appearance on Sue Bird’s podcast, ‘Bird’s Eye View,’ Clark spoke about the frustrations of her injury-filled season: “It’s not like I have a training camp to build up to play in my first game again. It’s like no, you’re tossed into Game 30 — like, ‘Go try to play well.’ It’s hard, it really is.”
August 10: Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark has progressed in her recovery and has started running full court again, but Clark hasn’t returned to practice just yet: an important step in her ramp-up. ‘She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with all of her body weight… She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice yet,’ White said.
August 20: White confirmed that Clark has not returned to practice yet.

Caitlin Clark stats

Clark is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and a career-high 8.8 assists in 13 games this season. Her assists average is the second-highest in the league, behind Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (9.0).

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The SEC just tossed one of its cupcake games into the trash. Now, will the Big Ten dare strengthen its schedule?
The SEC will join the Big Ten and Big 12 in playing a ninth conference game starting in 2026.
SEC keeps requirement for members to play a Power Four non-conference opponent.

The SEC just tossed one of its cupcakes into the rubbish bin. Thank goodness. Good riddance. About time.

In news that ought to be welcomed by any college football fan who enjoys compelling matchups, instead of games against overmatched directional schools, the SEC announced Thursday, Aug. 21 it will increase to playing nine conference games starting in 2026. That will equal the number of conference games played by the Big Ten and Big 12.

Importantly, the SEC still will require its members play at least one non-conference game against either a Power Four opponent or Notre Dame.

Let me translate that: SEC teams will be required to play a minimum of 10 games against opponents seated at the big-kids table, leaving room for a maximum of two cupcake games.

Hallelujah.

Too many irrelevant games had long been one of the few stains on college football’s regular season. This decision by the SEC helps rectify that.

This move also makes the Big Ten’s scheduling model look pitiable.

Your move, Tony Petitti.

SEC stiffening schedule puts ball in Big Ten’s court

The Big Ten plays nine conference games, but its members are not required to play a Power Four non-conference opponent.

Some Big Ten teams choose to play a marquee non-conference clash, but others – cough, cough, Indiana, cough, cough – pursue the path of least resistance and avoid any non-conference opponent with a pulse.

Penn State’s non-conference lineup this season consists of Nevada, Florida International and Villanova. That’s a bad joke, and unless the Big Ten addresses its scheduling, it won’t enjoy a leg to stand on when trying to stump for its members’ résumés compared to those forged in the SEC. Six Big Ten teams will not play a single non-conference game against a Power Four opponent this season.

For years, the Big Ten fans and coaches held one good card in arguments against SEC peers about which league played a tougher schedule: The Big Ten played one additional conference game compared to the SEC. The SEC would counter that its conference, top to bottom, was stronger than other conferences, but it could not escape the reality that its membership collectively feasted on more cupcakes than other leagues.

No more.

The SEC’s addition of another conference game while maintaining its Power Four non-conference requirement solidifies its strength of schedule campaign and leaves the Big Ten standing on its back foot.

SEC aces offseason while Big Ten monkeys around

While the Big Ten spent the offseason floating absurd College Football Playoff formats that failed to gain traction, the SEC deftly moved chess pieces to strengthen its positioning in the playoff construct that currently exists – and might continue to exist in 2026 and beyond.

First, the SEC waged an offseason messaging campaign focused on its desire for the playoff selection committee to more greatly consider strength of schedule when awarding at-large bids. That campaign hit pay dirt this week. The CFP announced that, effective immediately, it will more greatly weight victories against good competition, minimize the penalty for losses against tough teams, and devalue triumphs over cupcakes.

Next, the SEC positioned itself to further capitalize on the CFP’s strength of schedule tweaks by adding a ninth conference game.

To stick the landing, the SEC could cement a 16-team, 5+11 playoff model that would unlock access to up to 75% of the playoff bracket, while knowing it enjoys the strongest cards in strength of schedule debates.

And what’s the Big Ten been up to? Well, teams like Nebraska and Indiana got busy canceling future Power Four opponents while filling their plate with tasty cupcakes.

Great move, guys. Enjoy those empty calories.

There’s really only one move for the Big Ten to make. It must reinstate an old requirement that membership play at least 10 games against Power Four opponents. Maybe, Indiana can tape together that contract it tore up when it decided to duck Virginia.

Better yet, the Big Ten could stop playing catchup and get ahead of the game by requiring not 10 but 11 total games against Power Four opponents, thereby gaining a trump card over the SEC.

Let’s hear it, Big Ten. Are you willing to join the SEC and dispose of some cupcake games?

The SEC making this overdue decision to add a ninth conference game places it in an unimpeachable position for future résumé debates. The Big Ten’s only response can be to add more meat to its schedule.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

The Pittsburgh Steelers may be without their top rookie for the near future.

Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was carted off the field during the Steelers’ preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.

Harmon was injured while rushing from the interior. Panthers lineman Brandon Walton blocked him on the play and Harmon ended up on the ground as Carolina quarterback Jack Plummer rolled out to his right.

Harmon was later seen on the broadcast reacting to his injury on the back of the cart. He’s been ruled out of the rest of tonight’s game.

Pittsburgh drafted Harmon at No. 21 overall in the first round out of Oregon. One of the top interior defensive line prospects in the class, he is expected to start for the Steelers this season alongside Keeanu Benton and Cameron Heyward.

That may change after tonight’s injury.

This story will be updated with more information when available.

The SEC is shifting to a nine-game conference schedule in the 2026 college football season.
The SEC has played a nine-game conference schedule for college football since 1992.
The SEC will join the Big Ten and Big 12 as Power 4 conferences with a nine-game schedule.

This story was updated with new information

One of college football’s longest-standing debates is over.

On Aug. 21, the SEC announced that beginning with the 2026 college football season, the conference will shift to a nine-game conference schedule format for college football.

‘Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,’ SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. ‘This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.’

The SEC currently plays an eight-game conference schedule for college football and has done so since the 1992 season. The decision also now lines the SEC up with the Big Ten and the Big 12, two Power Four conferences that have already adopted a nine-game conference schedule.

The shift to a nine-game regular season schedule for the SEC also comes less than a day after the College Football Playoff selection committee announced that it will put a greater emphasis on strength of schedule in determining the 12-team field for the CFP this season. The CFP selection committee also announced it is introducing a record strength metric that will go ‘beyond a team’s schedule strength to assess how a team performed against that schedule’ to its selection process.

Here’s what to know the SEC’s announcement that it is implementing a nine-game conference schedule:

SEC schedule format

Here’s what the full nine-game conference format would look like beginning in 2026, per the SEC’s release:

The SEC will continue with a single-standings, non-divisional structure
Each school will play three annual opponents focused on maintaining many traditional rivalries
Each team’s remaining six games will rotate among the remaining conference schools
Each team will face every other SEC program at least once every two years and every opponent home and away in four years

Additionally, SEC teams will be required to schedule at least one additional high-quality non-conference game from the ACC, Big Ten or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame each season under this new format.

When is SEC moving to 9-game schedule?

In its announcement on Thursday, the SEC announced that it will shift to a nine-game regular season conference schedule starting in 2026. It is the first adjustment to the SEC’s conference schedule since 1992, when the conference first expanded from a 10-team membership to 12-team membership with the additions of Arkansas and South Carolina.

Power Four college football scheduling formats

With the SEC’s announcement on Thursday, the ACC is the outlier among the Power Four conferences that won’t play a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026.

Noted by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger prior to the SEC’s official announcement on Thursday, the ACC is expected to follow suit with the SEC by adopting a nine-game conference schedule.

SEC statement on conference scheduling

Here’s an additional statement from Sankey on the conference’s shift to a nine-game conference schedule:

‘The SEC has established itself as the leader in delivering the most compelling football schedule in college athletics,’ Sankey said. ‘Fans will see traditional rivalries preserved, new matchups more frequently, and a level of competition unmatched across the nation.’

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Jaxson Dart gave the New York Giants and their fans a scare on Thursday night in the team’s final preseason game.

After earning the start for ‘Big Blue,’ the rookie out of Ole Miss had his chance to shine against the New England Patriots in front of the home crowd. Dart responded with an opening drive touchdown, continuing to showcase the talent that has everyone in blue excited for the future.

However, Dart took a hit late in the first quarter that threatened his availability going forward. The rookie landed awkwardly and had his head and shoulder driven to the turf, which caused a trip to the medical tent.

Here’s the latest on Dart:

Jaxson Dart injury update

Dart was cleared for a return to play after being evaluated for a concussion, according to Prime Video’s Kaylee Hartung.

The rookie quarterback was taken into the blue medical tent after having his head slammed into the turf on a run late in the first quarter of Thursday night’s preseason game against the New England Patriots.

Perhaps the key takeaway Thursday from the NFL’s Football Operations and Player Health and Safety media briefing to reporters who cover the league was that many of its staffers have returned to work at their Midtown Manhattan headquarters after four people were fatally shot at the building July 28, when a gunman apparently targeted league employees. None of the deceased worked for the NFL, which shares its building with other companies, however one person who works for the league was injured and hospitalized with serious injuries.

NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller, who oversees player health and safety, said the league has been extremely appreciative for the outpouring of support it has received from many quarters.

“As we’ve gone through what has been a very traumatic last couple weeks for our employees here, the fact that so many people from around the country – partners, members of the media, clubs, friends – have reached out and sent their good wishes means a great deal,” said Miller.

“Not having been in this position before for many of us – and hopefully never again – I did learn the lesson that hearing from people, expressing positive sentiments and well wishes really makes a difference.”

Miller also said the NFL, in conjunction with its building managers, is implementing augmented security measures.

“We’re very lucky that our security chief, Cathy Lanier, the former police chief in Washington, D.C., has tremendous experience in this space and that we have terrific partners in the building as we look for ways to make it even more secure than it was before,” he said.

Lanier was head of the D.C. police from 2007 until her retirement in 2016, when she took her position at the NFL. That period included an incident in 2013, when she and the force had to navigate a mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard in the Southeastern portion of the District that left 12 people dead.

Miller said an NFL security committee will make a full report to the league’s ownership regarding recommendations moving forward, not only in New York City but throughout the league.

After employees worked remotely in the aftermath of the incident, a league spokesman told USA TODAY Sports that the NFL offices reopened August 11 to those who were ready to physically return to the building.