The wait is nearly over, and the Texas volleyball season is less than a month away. This year, after falling well short of the usual success level that the Longhorns see, the pressure is on, but a nationwide belief in the team is already apparent.
In the Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Texas Longhorns rang in at No. 2 in the SEC, only trailing the Kentucky Wildcats.
So, with lofty expectations both inside the building and from the rest of the sport, there are quite a few must-win and must-see matchups on Texas's schedule (not to mention that it could be one of the last seasons in beloved and historic Gregory Gym).
Texas Longhorns' most intriguing volleyball matchups in 2026
In other words, you're going to want to make sure your calendar is clear when the Horns take the court on these dates:
- vs. Nebraska - Aug. 30, Las Vegas
- vs. USC - Sept. 2, Gregory Gym (Big Ten/SEC Challenge)
- vs. Wisconsin - Sept. 13, Moody Center
- at Tennessee - Sept. 25
- at Kentucky - Sept. 27
- at Oklahoma - Oct. 11 (Red River Rivalry)
- vs. Florida - Oct. 18, Gregory Gym
- vs. Texas A&M - Nov. 1, Gregory Gym (Lone Star Showdown)
- SEC Volleyball Tournament - Nov. 20-24, Savannah, GA
In non-conference play, the Horns will face some of the most historic volleyball programs in the sport's history, including the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Wisconsin Badgers, who Texas frequently sees in the NCAA Tournament's Final Four.
Additionally, the Longhorns will host the USC Trojans as a part of the Big Ten-SEC Volleyball Challenge, in yet another big-time matchup for Texas and head coach Jerritt Elliott.
Then, once conference play does tip off, Texas will host the defending National Champions, none other than the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies, and the No. 4 Florida Gators. On the road in SEC play, the Horns are scheduled to face the No. 1 Wildcats and the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers, as well as the Oklahoma Sooners in yet another rivalry matchup.
Simply put, there aren't many breaks in the Longhorns' schedule, even when the team isn't facing a top-10 opponent in the conference or national standings.
lock us in🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/JbMTDN7w5v
— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) July 27, 2026
Since Elliott took over the program in 2001, he has led Texas to three National Championships (2012, 2022, 2023) and 15 conference titles. However, he has yet to secure an SEC Championship since the Longhorns joined the conference in 2024.
With the gauntlet of a schedule that the Horns are about to play in the regular season, Elliott should have his team more than prepared for the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament that follows.
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