The first weekend of the 2023 NCAA volleyball season has Big 12 teams competing in six matches against opponents ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Preseason Top 25, including five against top 10 teams.
No. 15 Baylor and TCU take on two top 10 teams in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. The Bears and Horned Frogs will match up against No. 2 Wisconsin and No. 7 Minnesota in Minneapolis. All four matches can be seen on Big Ten Network.
No. 17 BYU and No. 19 Houston will each face ranked opposition in their debut matches as league members.
BYU has an NCAA Tournament Second Round rematch from last season with 2022 national semifinalist and preseason No. 5 Pitt in Missoula, Montana. The fourth matchup in three seasons between the Cougars and Panthers can be seen on ESPN+.
Houston hosts No. 22 Southern California at the Fertitta Center. The Top 25 showdown will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Last season, the Big 12 finished with the highest RPI of any league and ended the season with a 23-14 (.622) record versus other autonomy leagues. At least one current member of the Big 12 has advanced to the National Semifinals in nine of the last 11 seasons (Baylor – 2019, BYU – 2014 & 2018, Kansas – 2015, Texas – 2012-16, 2020, 2022).
A full schedule along with updated results during the weekend can be found
here.
Big 12 Teams vs. Ranked Opponents During Opening Weekend
| Friday, Aug 25 |
Time (CT) |
| No. 17 BYU vs. No. 5 Pitt [Missoula, Mont.] (ESPN+) |
3 p.m. |
| No. 15 Baylor vs. No. 2 Wisconsin [Minneapolis] (Big Ten Network) |
4:30 p.m. |
| TCU at No. 7 Minnesota (Big Ten Network) |
7 p.m. |
| No. 22 Southern California at No. 19 Houston (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) |
8 p.m. |
| Saturday, Aug. 26 |
|
| TCU vs. No. 2 Wisconsin [Minneapolis] (Big Ten Network) |
4:30 p.m. |
| No. 15 Baylor at No. 7 Minnesota (Big Ten Network) |
7 p.m. |