Amber Aniston • September 23, 2026
No. 3 Kentucky Rallies Past Vanderbilt 3-1 Behind DeLeye and Gaerte’s 21 Kills Each
No. 3 Kentucky recovered from an opening-set loss with a dominant offensive response Wednesday night, defeating previously unbeaten Vanderbilt 3-1 in the Wildcats’ SEC opener at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville.
Kentucky won 21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-21, improving to 9-2 while handing Vanderbilt its first loss of the season. The Commodores fell to 9-1.
Brooklyn DeLeye and Morgan Gaerte each delivered 21 kills, while setter Kassie O’Brien recorded 54 assists as Kentucky hit .444 for the match. The Wildcats also extended their SEC winning streak to 27 consecutive matches.
Vanderbilt Takes the Opening Set
Kentucky scored the first two points of the match, but Vanderbilt quickly changed the direction of the opening set.
The Commodores moved ahead 15-12 and later stretched their advantage to 21-16, forcing Kentucky to use its final timeout.
Vanderbilt reached set point at 24-19. Kentucky answered with two consecutive points, but a service error ended the comeback attempt and gave the Commodores a 25-21 victory.
The Wildcats committed five attacking errors and five service errors in the first set while hitting .250.
Gaerte still provided an early spark with five kills, but Kentucky needed a cleaner performance to turn the match around.
Kentucky Responds With 9-0 Run
The Wildcats found their rhythm in the second set.
With Kentucky leading just 8-7, Trinity Ward took over from the service line and helped fuel a 9-0 scoring run. By the time the run ended, the Wildcats had transformed their one-point advantage into a commanding 17-8 lead.
Kentucky never gave Vanderbilt an opportunity to fully recover.
The Wildcats hit .500 in the second set while holding Vanderbilt to .226, eventually closing out a 25-17 victory to even the match.
Gaerte had nine kills through the first two sets, while DeLeye had eight. Both were hitting .412 at that stage of the night.
Wildcats Hit .680 in Dominant Third Set
Kentucky’s offensive efficiency reached another level in the third.
The Wildcats recorded 17 kills without a single attacking error, producing an extraordinary .680 hitting percentage in the set.
Kentucky moved ahead 7-3 and extended its advantage to 12-6 when O’Brien turned an overpass into another opportunity for Gaerte, who finished the play with her 14th kill.
Vanderbilt tried to answer, cutting the deficit to 15-12 with a three-point run, but Kentucky prevented the Commodores from completing the comeback.
A solo block from DeLeye and Ward’s second ace helped push the Wildcats ahead 21-17. Lizzie Carr eventually finished the set with a kill, giving Kentucky a 25-19 victory and its first match lead at 2-1.
DeLeye and Gaerte Power Kentucky Attack
DeLeye and Gaerte provided Kentucky with two consistently productive options throughout the night.
Both finished with 21 kills, combining for 42 of Kentucky’s attacks that resulted in points. Carr and Asia Thigpen added eight kills apiece.
O’Brien was at the center of the offensive performance with 54 assists.
After hitting .250 in the first set, Kentucky hit at least .400 in each of the final three frames, finishing the match at .444.
Kentucky’s defense also created a significant advantage at the net.
The Wildcats finished with 12 blocks compared with only two for Vanderbilt. Carr led all players with seven blocks, while Gaerte contributed five. Vanderbilt recorded both of its blocks in the opening set and did not register another over the final three frames.
Vanderbilt Pushes Kentucky in Fourth
Kentucky jumped ahead 4-0 in the fourth set, but Vanderbilt refused to allow the Wildcats to pull away.
The Commodores remained close and eventually tied the score at 17-17.
That was when O’Brien again made an impact from the service line.
Kentucky scored four consecutive points with O’Brien serving, moving ahead 21-17 and forcing Vanderbilt into back-to-back timeouts.
The Commodores could not erase the deficit.
Gaerte delivered the final kill of the night, her 21st, as Kentucky completed the fourth set 25-21 and secured the 3-1 victory.
Samantha Wunsch Leads Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt had several strong offensive performances despite suffering its first loss.
Samantha Wunsch led the Commodores with 16 kills, while Reese Animashaun added 13. Rachel Ogunleye recorded seven kills while hitting .500.
Maddy Bowser was nearly perfect off the bench, producing eight kills on nine attempts without an error for an .889 hitting percentage.
Defensively, Hailee Mack led Vanderbilt with 13 digs.
The Commodores finished with 54 kills while hitting .273, but Kentucky’s efficiency and blocking advantage proved difficult to overcome after the first set.
Kentucky Opens SEC Play With 27th Straight Conference Win
Kentucky’s opening-set struggles did not carry into the rest of the match.
After committing five attacking errors in the first frame, the Wildcats committed only two combined attacking errors across the next two sets, including none in their dominant third-set performance.
The result pushed Kentucky’s winning streak in SEC matches to 27 straight and gave the Wildcats a successful start to conference play.
Their next challenge will be considerably different.
Kentucky returns home to Historic Memorial Coliseum to host No. 7 Texas on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. ET in another Top 10 matchup.
Vanderbilt will try to respond to its first loss when the Commodores begin their SEC road schedule at Missouri on Sunday.
Florida State opened ACC volleyball play with a dramatic comeback Wednesday night, fighting off match point before rallying past rival Miami 3-2 inside Tully Gymnasium in Tallahassee. The Seminoles won 25-14, 22-25, 22-25, 26-24, 15-11 , overcoming a 2-1 deficit to improve to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in the ACC . Miami fell to 2-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The victory was Florida State’s sixth consecutive win in an ACC opener . Senior outside hitter Kyleene Filimaua led Florida State with 18 kills and 15 digs , while freshman Sofia Moss added a career-high 16 kills and 11 digs. The Seminoles also delivered one of their strongest blocking performances of the season, recording a season-high 14 blocks. Florida State Opens With Dominant First Set Miami scored the opening point and briefly held the early advantage, but Florida State quickly took control. The Seminoles moved ahead 5-4 and continued building momentum from there. After taking an 11-8 advantage, Florida State closed the opening frame on a 14-6 run to secure a convincing 25-14 victory . That strong start appeared to put Florida State in control, but Miami responded immediately. The Hurricanes raced ahead 6-1 in the second set and later stretched the advantage to 11-4. Florida State worked its way back into contention, but Miami held off the rally and took the set 25-22 , tying the match at 1-1. Miami Takes a 2-1 Match Lead The third set developed into another competitive battle. The teams were tied at 3-3 before Miami moved ahead 8-5. Florida State answered with a 4-1 run to tie the score at 9-9, but the Hurricanes eventually created separation and established a 17-13 advantage. Florida State again tried to close the gap, but Miami finished the set 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead and move within one set of winning the ACC opener. That put the Seminoles in a must-win fourth set. Seminoles Fight Off Match Point Florida State opened the fourth with a 5-2 advantage, but Miami refused to allow the Seminoles to pull away. The Hurricanes tied the score at 10-10, and the set remained tight deep into the frame. With the teams even at 19-19, neither side had established control. Miami eventually moved ahead 24-23 , giving the Hurricanes match point and putting Florida State one point away from a four-set defeat. The Seminoles responded under pressure. Florida State erased match point and rallied to win the fourth 26-24 , forcing a deciding fifth set. The comeback was part of a tactical adjustment by Florida State. Head coach Lindsay Allman said the Seminoles shifted into a 5-1 offensive formation during the match to create different attacking opportunities and disrupt Miami’s blocking rhythm. Florida State also leaned on its bench for additional serving options. Florida State Completes Comeback in Fifth Miami once again put Florida State under pressure at the start of the deciding set. The Hurricanes jumped ahead 5-2 , putting the Seminoles in another early hole. Florida State answered with a 6-2 run and moved in front 8-7 . The Seminoles continued to create separation after the teams switched sides and eventually reached match point with a 14-11 advantage. Miami challenged the final play, but the original decision was upheld. Florida State had completed the comeback, taking the fifth set 15-11 and the match 3-2. Kyleene Filimaua Leads Seminoles Filimaua delivered Florida State’s most productive all-around performance. The senior finished with a match-high 18 kills, 15 digs and three service aces , giving the Seminoles production in multiple phases of the match. Moss also played a major role in the comeback. The freshman recorded a career-high 16 kills , added 11 digs and hit .323. Her performance gave Florida State another consistent attacking option as the match stretched to five sets. Setter Emma Lilo contributed 28 assists and 12 digs , giving Florida State three players with double-doubles. Callie Kieffer added another 21 assists. Nenu Kpea also provided an efficient performance with eight kills without committing an attacking error. Florida State Defense Produces Season-High 14 Blocks The Seminoles’ defense was another major factor in the comeback. Florida State held Miami to a .088 hitting percentage while finishing with a season-high 14 blocks . The Seminoles also held a commanding 7-1 advantage in service aces. Bailey Higgins and Delaney Ewing each recorded seven blocks , a career high for Higgins and a season high for Ewing. Florida State also held a 58-51 advantage in kills. Miami’s Denitsa Angelova led the Hurricanes with 11 kills and five blocks , while Gaby Arroyo collected 23 digs. Ariana Rodriguez contributed 33 assists and 10 digs while adding five kills on a .545 hitting percentage. Florida State Starts ACC Play at 1-0 The Seminoles could have seen their conference opener end in the fourth set when Miami reached match point. Instead, Florida State survived, won three straight points to extend the match and then recovered from another deficit in the fifth. The result gives Florida State its sixth consecutive ACC-opening victory and sends the Seminoles into the conference schedule at 1-0. The rivalry will resume almost immediately. Florida State travels to Coral Gables to face Miami again on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. , giving the Hurricanes an opportunity to answer and the Seminoles a chance to build on their comeback victory.
Wofford needed five sets and a late comeback to escape Boiling Springs with a victory Tuesday night. The Terriers rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Gardner-Webb 3-2 , winning 21-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11 at Paul Porter Arena. Wofford improved to 7-5 , while Gardner-Webb dropped to 9-5. Chloe Smith led Wofford with a match-high 19 kills and 11 digs , recording her fifth double-double of the season. The Terriers also received 16 kills from Bradley Brown and a career-high 13 from Taylor Mendez as their offense produced 69 kills in the five-set battle. Gardner-Webb Takes the Opening Set The Runnin' Bulldogs overcame an early deficit to strike first. Gardner-Webb held a 7-5 advantage before Wofford answered with an 8-2 run to move ahead 13-9. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded, eventually pulling even at 18-18. Gardner-Webb then controlled the closing stretch, using a late run to secure a 25-21 opening-set victory . Wofford answered immediately in the second. With the Terriers trailing 9-8, they scored six consecutive points to build a 13-9 advantage. Gardner-Webb eventually cut the margin to 17-15, but Wofford prevented the comeback and pulled away. The Terriers won 25-19 , evening the match at one set apiece. Gardner-Webb Regains the Lead Momentum shifted again in the third set. Gardner-Webb took an 8-5 advantage before using an 8-1 run to stretch its lead to 12-6. Blocks from Milla Lugo and Samia Sayd helped fuel the Runnin' Bulldogs' surge. Gardner-Webb eventually built a 19-11 advantage, but Wofford refused to let the set get away easily. The Terriers fought back to within one point at 21-20 before Gardner-Webb stopped the rally. Kills from Sayd and Kiera Vazquez helped the Runnin' Bulldogs close out a 25-22 victory and take a 2-1 lead in the match. That left Wofford needing to win two consecutive sets on the road. Wofford Forces a Fifth Set The Terriers responded with their strongest start of the night. Wofford scored the first four points of the fourth set and soon expanded its advantage to 9-3 . The Terriers maintained control and carried a 15-9 lead into the media timeout. Gardner-Webb again made things interesting, trimming the deficit to 21-19. This time, Wofford had the answer. The Terriers scored three straight points to reach set point at 24-19 before eventually completing a 25-22 victory . The match was headed to a decisive fifth set. Terriers Take Control With Key Fifth-Set Run Gardner-Webb initially appeared ready to reclaim momentum in the fifth. The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped ahead 4-2 , and Wofford remained behind 6-5 a few points later. Then came the run that decided the match. Wofford scored five consecutive points , turning the one-point deficit into a 10-6 advantage. Gardner-Webb managed to cut the lead to two multiple times, but the Terriers never surrendered control. Wofford closed the fifth set 15-11 , completing the 3-2 comeback and earning its first five-set victory of the season . Chloe Smith Leads Balanced Wofford Attack Smith delivered Wofford's biggest offensive performance. Her 19 kills were a match high , and she added 11 digs for her fifth double-double of 2026. Brown supplied another 16 kills, while Mendez's career-high 13 kills gave the Terriers a third major attacking option. Charlotte Bell also reached double figures with 10 kills while hitting .350. Taylor Pecht directed the offense with 31 assists and 11 digs , earning her fourth double-double of the season. Maddy Frazier added 22 assists. Wofford ultimately finished with 69 kills and a .197 hitting percentage , compared with Gardner-Webb's 51 kills and .147 percentage. Laney Klika Records 35 Digs Wofford's defense also produced one of the most notable individual performances of the match. Laney Klika finished with a season-high 35 digs , giving her consecutive matches with at least 30. Her 35 digs were also the fifth-most in a single match in Wofford program history . Ella Coleman contributed 22 digs, marking the first time since 2024 that two Wofford players recorded at least 20 digs in the same match. Bell led the Terriers at the net with five blocks. As a team, Wofford accumulated 97 digs , its highest total since the 2025 SoCon Championship. The Terriers also recorded seven service aces. Gardner-Webb Gets 11 Kills From Samia Sayd Gardner-Webb had several contributors during the five-set battle. Samia Sayd led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 11 kills , while Peyton Slone added 10 and Caroline Franklin finished with nine kills and two service aces. Olivia Lefebvre recorded 21 assists, and Aleina Manaois contributed 20. Ella Moss anchored Gardner-Webb's defense with 20 digs , leading four Runnin' Bulldogs who reached double figures. Lugo led the team at the net with five blocks, including two solo blocks and three assisted blocks. Gardner-Webb actually held a 9-8 advantage in total blocks, but Wofford's edge in kills and digs helped the Terriers survive the five-set contest. Wofford Completes the Comeback The Terriers faced elimination after Gardner-Webb took a 2-1 advantage, but they responded when the match reached its most important moments. Wofford controlled the beginning of the fourth set, held off Gardner-Webb's late push and then overcame an early deficit in the fifth. The decisive 5-0 run gave the Terriers enough separation to finish the comeback. Wofford now turns its attention to Southern Conference play , with the Terriers scheduled to travel to Chattanooga for matches on Sept. 25-26. Gardner-Webb will also begin conference competition, hosting Winthrop on Saturday at Paul Porter Arena.
Alabama A&M used a balanced offensive attack and a strong response after dropping the third set to defeat Tennessee State 3-1 Tuesday night in Huntsville. The Bulldogs won 25-19, 25-15, 26-28, 25-17 , improving to 7-7 on the season. Tennessee State fell to 0-11 despite extending the match with its best offensive set of the night in the third. Rayishon Jackman led Alabama A&M with 15 kills while hitting .324 , while Amya Jennings added 14 kills and Gerren Tomlin finished with 13. The Bulldogs totaled 57 kills and hit .213 as a team. Alabama A&M Takes Opening Set 25-19 Tennessee State started aggressively, responding to Alabama A&M's opening point with four straight to take a 4-1 lead. The Bulldogs gradually erased the deficit, and the teams were tied at 9-9 before Alabama A&M began creating separation. A 6-3 stretch forced Tennessee State to call timeout, but the Tigers were unable to regain control. Alabama A&M maintained its advantage through the remainder of the set and secured a 25-19 victory to take the early match lead. The Bulldogs then produced an even stronger performance in the second. Bulldogs Dominate Second Set Alabama A&M's offense found another level in the second frame while its defense made life increasingly difficult for Tennessee State. The Bulldogs hit .296 in the set and limited the Tigers to nine kills. Tennessee State also committed 12 attacking errors as Alabama A&M pulled away for a convincing 25-15 victory . Alabama A&M entered the break with a 2-0 advantage and appeared positioned to complete a sweep. Tennessee State, however, responded with its strongest stretch of the match. Tennessee State Forces Fourth Set With 28-26 Win The Tigers dramatically improved their offensive execution in the third set. Tennessee State produced 17 kills on 33 attacks with only five errors , finishing the frame with a .364 hitting percentage. Neither team could create much separation. The third set featured eight ties and two lead changes , eventually moving beyond the normal 25-point finish. Tennessee State finally broke through for a 28-26 victory , cutting Alabama A&M's match lead to 2-1. The extended set gave the Tigers an opportunity to force a deciding fifth frame, but Alabama A&M responded immediately. Alabama A&M Finishes Match in Fourth Tennessee State again started quickly in the fourth. After Alabama A&M scored the first point, the Tigers answered with five consecutive points to take an early advantage. The Bulldogs remained composed, worked their way back into the set and eventually regained control. Alabama A&M then pulled away for a 25-17 victory , ending Tennessee State's comeback attempt and securing the match in four sets. The Bulldogs recorded 16 kills and hit .231 in the fourth set , providing the offensive response they needed after dropping the previous frame. Jackman Leads Balanced Alabama A&M Attack Jackman was at the center of Alabama A&M's offensive success. She finished with 15 kills and a .324 hitting percentage , while also recording 10 digs. Jennings followed closely with 14 kills while hitting .300 , and Tomlin contributed 13 kills. Having three players reach double-digit kills helped the Bulldogs maintain offensive pressure throughout the four-set match. Briana Smith directed the offense with 31 assists , while Kelani Talakai led the Bulldogs defensively with 28 digs . As a team, Alabama A&M finished with 57 kills, 51 assists, 73 digs and eight service aces while hitting .213. Tennessee State Gets Production From Jakubik and Jackson Tennessee State had several individual performances to build on despite the loss. Wiktoria Jakubik led the Tigers with 10 kills and was active defensively at the net, finishing with two solo blocks and three block assists. Sydney Robinson added eight kills on 15 swings while hitting .267. Freshman setter Triniti Jackson delivered one of Tennessee State's most efficient performances. She recorded seven kills on 12 attempts with only one error, giving her a team-best .500 hitting percentage . Jackson also distributed 28 assists , collected six digs and contributed three total blocks. Jordan Imperial led Tennessee State with 12 digs and recorded both of the Tigers' service aces. Julia Culpepper Returns From Knee Injury Tuesday also marked an important return for Tennessee State. Julia Culpepper made her first start of the 2026 season after returning from a knee injury. She immediately contributed seven kills and 10 digs while playing all four sets. Culpepper was one of three Tennessee State players to finish with double-digit digs, joining Imperial and Jakubik. At the net, Gabrielle Washington contributed two solo blocks and five block assists, while Jakubik finished with five total blocks. Bulldogs Improve to 7-7 The final team numbers reflected Alabama A&M's offensive advantage. The Bulldogs recorded 57 kills compared with Tennessee State's 41 and finished with a .213 hitting percentage. The Tigers hit .107. Tennessee State's third-set response prevented a sweep, but Alabama A&M answered when the pressure increased in the fourth. Jackman, Jennings and Tomlin gave the Bulldogs three consistent attacking options, while Smith managed the offense and Talakai anchored the back row. The victory moves Alabama A&M to 7-7 overall . The Bulldogs will next travel to face Bethune-Cookman on Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m.
Virginia Tech entered its first major test of the James Franklin era looking for evidence that its strong start could translate against tougher competition. Ethan Grunkemeyer provided plenty of it. Grunkemeyer threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns and added another score on the ground as Virginia Tech defeated Maryland 35-26 on Saturday night in College Park. The Hokies improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2017 while handing the Terrapins their first loss of the season. The victory also ended two significant streaks. Virginia Tech snapped a 15-game losing streak against nonconference Power Four opponents, while Maryland's nation-leading 20-game nonconference winning streak came to an end. Grunkemeyer Delivers Another 300-Yard Performance Grunkemeyer continued his impressive start by completing 31 of 39 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns . It was his second consecutive 300-yard passing performance, making him the first Virginia Tech quarterback to accomplish that since Ryan Willis in 2018. The Penn State transfer also made an impact with his legs. Facing third-and-goal from the Maryland 18, Grunkemeyer escaped the pocket and ran for a touchdown. Combined with his three passing scores, the quarterback accounted for four of Virginia Tech's five touchdowns . His first came through the air on the Hokies' opening possession, when he connected with Luke Reynolds for a 14-yard touchdown . Virginia Tech's offense kept applying pressure from there. Hokies Build a 27-14 Halftime Lead Maryland answered with a 2-yard touchdown run from Iverson Howard, but Virginia Tech responded when Jeffrey Overton Jr. turned a reception into a 49-yard touchdown , extending the Hokies' advantage to 20-7. The Terrapins cut into the lead again when Malik Washington found Chris Durr Jr. for a 12-yard touchdown with 2:11 remaining before halftime. Virginia Tech refused to let Maryland carry that momentum into the locker room. The Hokies responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive , capped by Grunkemeyer's 2-yard scoring pass to Ja'Ricous Hairston. Virginia Tech entered halftime ahead 27-14. The efficiency was striking. Virginia Tech converted eight of nine third downs in the first half and accumulated 302 total yards. Luke Reynolds Emerges as Grunkemeyer's Top Target Reynolds was central to the passing attack throughout the night. The sophomore tight end established a career high with 12 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown . It followed an eight-catch, 108-yard performance against Old Dominion, making Reynolds Virginia Tech's first player since Damon Hazelton in 2018 to record consecutive 100-yard receiving games. His contributions went beyond the opening touchdown. With Maryland attempting to complete a fourth-quarter comeback, Virginia Tech faced a critical fourth down with 2:54 remaining. Grunkemeyer rolled to his right and found Reynolds beyond the first-down marker. The conversion allowed the Hokies to maintain possession, and Maryland never got the football back. Virginia Tech Takes a 35-14 Lead The Hokies continued building their advantage after halftime. Overton scored again, this time on a 2-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. That pushed Virginia Tech's lead to 35-14 entering the fourth. Virginia Tech had scored touchdowns on five of its first six possessions , putting Maryland in a three-score hole. The Hokies ultimately finished 10-of-16 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down , helping them sustain drives and keep Maryland's offense off the field when it mattered most. Maryland Makes a Fourth-Quarter Push The Terrapins did not disappear quietly. Washington threw fourth-quarter touchdown passes of 2 yards to Dorian Fleming and 13 yards to Durr , giving Maryland 12 unanswered points and putting pressure on Virginia Tech late. Maryland missed a two-point conversion following each touchdown, preventing the Terrapins from pulling within one possession. Washington finished with 359 passing yards and three touchdowns , completing 30 of 43 attempts. Virginia Tech went scoreless in the fourth quarter, but the Hokies were able to protect the lead and close out the game with their offense on the field. Virginia Tech Ends Maryland's 20-Game Streak The result carried significance beyond Virginia Tech's undefeated record. Maryland entered Saturday with the longest active nonconference winning streak in the FBS at 20 consecutive games . Virginia Tech brought that run to an end, with BYU's 16-game streak becoming the longest active mark afterward. For the Hokies, the victory ended their own unwanted streak. Virginia Tech had not defeated a nonconference Power Four opponent since 2017. The program had lost 15 consecutive games in that category before Saturday night's breakthrough. It also provided Franklin with his first major road victory since taking over Virginia Tech. The Hokies opened the season with convincing victories over VMI and Old Dominion, but Maryland presented their first opportunity to show what the new-look team could do against a Power Four opponent. Grunkemeyer responded with his strongest performance yet, Reynolds delivered another 100-yard receiving game, and Virginia Tech produced enough offense early to withstand Maryland's late push. Now 3-0 , Virginia Tech turns its attention toward ACC competition with a road game at Boston College next Saturday. Maryland returns home to host UCLA.
Source 1: No. 16 Texas A&M closed its nonconference volleyball schedule with another victory Tuesday night, sweeping Rice 3-0 at Reed Arena in College Station. The Aggies won 25-22, 25-12, 25-19 , extending their winning streak to three matches and improving to 7-5 heading into SEC play. Rice dropped to 6-6. Kyndal Stowers led Texas A&M with a match-high 17 kills , while Megan Fitch delivered 11 kills and 11 digs for a double-double. Taryn Morris added 10 kills as the Aggies overcame an unfamiliar lineup and steadily took control of the match. Texas A&M Battles Through Tight Opening Set Rice gave the Aggies their biggest challenge of the night in the opening frame. The Owls built a 15-13 lead , but Texas A&M responded with a critical 5-0 run. Freshman Lolufe Adedeji played a major role in the turnaround, producing back-to-back blocks before adding a kill to help the Aggies take control. Rice later fought off two set points before Fitch ended the frame with a kill, securing a 25-22 Texas A&M victory . The competitive opening set came as Texas A&M worked through significant lineup changes. Eliza Sharp and Kaia Castle were unavailable, while Addi Applegate also did not compete. Those absences created opportunities for several younger Aggies, and the group settled into the match after the uneven opening stretch. Aggies Dominate Second Set Texas A&M turned a close match into a commanding one during the second set. The Aggies raced to a 12-3 advantage , converting 10 of their first 12 attacks into kills. They finished the set hitting .457 with only three attacking errors. Texas A&M ultimately took the frame 25-12 . The offensive difference was substantial. The Aggies produced 19 kills compared with five for Rice in the second set, allowing them to take complete control of the match. Fitch was particularly effective from the outside. She finished the night with 11 kills while hitting .474 and collecting 11 digs. Kyndal Stowers Leads Aggies With 17 Kills Stowers remained the centerpiece of Texas A&M's attack. The outside hitter finished with a match-high 17 kills , leading three Aggies who reached double figures. Fitch followed with 11, while Morris recorded 10. Morris provided an especially versatile performance. She hit .304, added nine digs and four blocks , and reached the 100-career-kill milestone during the first set. With Applegate unavailable, Morris also took on an expanded six-rotation role that included additional back-row responsibilities. Setter Kirra Musgrove recorded 46 assists and seven digs , helping distribute the offense across the Aggies' lineup. Lolufe Adedeji Steps Up in Expanded Role One of the most important developments for Texas A&M came from its younger players. Adedeji made the most of her opportunity with a career-high eight kills and four blocks , committing only one attacking error. She hit .438 in just her second collegiate match. Djurdja Stanojevic also stepped into a larger role, making her first career start and contributing four kills and a team-high five blocks . Their production helped Texas A&M maintain its level despite missing regular contributors. The Aggies finished the match hitting .311 , with several underclassmen taking on prominent roles throughout the lineup. Texas A&M Finishes Sweep With 25-19 Win Rice stayed competitive early in the third set. The teams went through six ties and three lead changes before reaching an 11-11 tie . Texas A&M then created the separation it needed with a 6-1 run. Once again, the Aggies held a major offensive advantage. Texas A&M recorded 19 kills to Rice's seven in the final frame before Amaré Hernandez delivered the match-clinching kill for a 25-19 victory. The result completed the straight-set victory and gave Texas A&M its third consecutive win. Freshman libero Gabi Rodriguez also helped anchor the defense with a match-high 14 digs, while Stanojevic's five blocks were the highest total in the match. Texas A&M Turns Attention to SEC Play The Aggies finish their nonconference schedule at 7-5 , with the Rice victory providing another positive result before the start of conference competition. More importantly, Texas A&M demonstrated its depth while working through lineup changes. Stowers continued to produce as the leading attacker, Fitch supplied an efficient double-double, Morris contributed across multiple areas, and Adedeji and Stanojevic delivered when given expanded opportunities. The Aggies now turn their attention to the SEC. No. 16 Texas A&M will host South Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2:30 p.m. CT at Reed Arena in its conference opener. After three consecutive victories to finish nonconference play, the Aggies will enter the SEC portion of their schedule with momentum and a deeper rotation than they had at the beginning of the season.
Duke opened Atlantic Coast Conference play with another convincing performance Saturday, riding a dominant rushing attack and a disruptive defense to a 35-7 victory over Stanford at Wallace Wade Stadium. Sophomore running back Nate Sheppard delivered the centerpiece of the Blue Devils' attack, rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score as a receiver. Duke improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC , while Stanford fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The victory gave Duke its fifth consecutive ACC-opening win , the longest such streak in program history. The Blue Devils have also won seven straight games overall. Nate Sheppard Takes Control for Duke After a scoreless first quarter, Sheppard quickly changed the direction of the game. He broke loose for a 32-yard touchdown run with 10:42 remaining in the second quarter, completing a 90-yard Duke scoring drive. The possession also included completions of 22 yards to Jared Richardson and 19 yards to Jaivon Solomon. Duke's defense then created another opportunity by forcing and recovering a Stanford fumble. The Blue Devils capitalized when Jeremiah Hasley's 19-yard catch helped set up Sheppard's 2-yard touchdown reception , giving the running back his second score of the quarter. Stanford finally reached the end zone with 16 seconds remaining before halftime, cutting Duke's advantage to 14-7. Even with the late Cardinal score, Sheppard had already established control on the ground. He finished the opening half with 114 rushing yards , giving him at least 100 rushing yards in the first half of each of Duke's first three games. Duke Pulls Away After Halftime Any momentum Stanford gained before halftime disappeared quickly in the third quarter. Duke opened the second half with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Solomon made a 32-yard reception along the sideline, and Hasley followed with a 26-yard catch before Sheppard powered into the end zone from one yard out. It completed Sheppard's three-touchdown performance. He finished with 23 carries for 154 rushing yards , along with the 2-yard touchdown reception. Through three games, Sheppard has scored eight touchdowns and surpassed 500 rushing yards after rushing for 1,132 yards last season. Duke wasn't finished. After forcing another Stanford punt, the Blue Devils marched 73 yards in 10 plays. Kavon Simmons scored on a 16-yard run with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter, extending Duke's control of the game. Jayvian Tanelus added the final touchdown on a 5-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, the first touchdown of his career. Duke Rushing Attack Produces 268 Yards Sheppard led a Duke offense that finished with 268 rushing yards . Quarterback Walker Eget completed 14 of 24 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown, although his interception in the end zone ended Duke's opening possession after the Blue Devils recovered a surprise onside kick. Hasley emerged as Eget's leading target with five receptions for a career-high 88 yards . Solomon contributed two receptions for 51 yards, including the 32-yard play that helped set up Sheppard's third touchdown. The Blue Devils complemented those offensive numbers with a defense that kept Stanford from developing sustained momentum. Duke Defense Shuts Down Stanford Stanford managed only 237 yards of total offense and failed to reach double digits for the second time in its first two ACC games. Duke recorded a season-high four sacks . Tyshon Reed Jr. produced two for the first multi-sack game of his career. Kevin O'Connor also recorded the first two sacks of his career and forced a fumble. O'Connor's performance was also reflected in the additional grading information included in the source. He received an 85.3 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus , the highest listed Duke defensive grade, while recording two tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and the forced fumble. Duke was especially effective late, limiting Stanford to only 61 total yards over the final 18 minutes . Stanford quarterback Davis Warren finished 18-of-32 for 151 yards and connected with Caden High for the Cardinal's only touchdown. Micah Ford led Stanford's ground game with 76 yards on 11 carries. Duke Extends Winning Streak to Seven The victory continued an impressive stretch for the Blue Devils. Duke has now won seven consecutive games , matching its longest winning streak since a seven-game run spanning November 2023 through October 2024. More importantly for conference play, Duke has won five straight ACC openers for the first time in program history. The Blue Devils followed their road victory over Illinois with a much different challenge against Stanford and controlled the game after the scoreless opening quarter. Sheppard once again provided the offensive foundation, while Duke's defense prevented Stanford from mounting a second-half response. Duke will remain at home and host William & Mary on Sept. 26 at 3:30 p.m. Stanford returns home to face Georgia Tech. At 3-0 and with another ACC-opening victory secured, Duke's unbeaten start continues with Sheppard emerging as one of the central figures behind it.
Texas remains the No. 1 team in college football, but the Week 3 AP Top 25 rankings feature major movement after a weekend of ranked matchups, upsets and statement victories. The Longhorns stayed at No. 1 after improving to 3-0 with a 30-6 victory over UTSA. Georgia and Notre Dame remain second and third, while Ole Miss made the biggest move near the top, jumping four spots from No. 8 to No. 4 after defeating LSU 32-24. Louisville also surged seven positions to No. 16 following its 41-31 win over SMU. Florida and Mississippi State entered the poll, while Oklahoma dropped out. Complete Week 3 AP Top 25 Rankings Here is the full Week 3 poll from No. 1 through No. 25: Texas — 3-0 Georgia — 3-0 Notre Dame — 3-0 Ole Miss — 3-0 Indiana — 3-0 Miami — 3-0 Ohio State — 2-1 Alabama — 3-0 BYU — 3-0 LSU — 2-1 Texas Tech — 3-0 USC — 4-0 Penn State — 3-0 Tennessee — 3-0 Utah — 3-0 Louisville — 2-1 Iowa — 3-0 Michigan — 3-0 Missouri — 3-0 Oregon — 2-1 Florida — 3-0 SMU — 2-1 Texas A&M — 2-1 Mississippi State — 3-0 Houston — 2-1 Texas Holds the No. 1 Ranking Texas remained exactly where it was a week ago. The Longhorns improved to 3-0 with a 30-6 victory over UTSA and retained the No. 1 ranking. Texas is now 3-0 all-time against UTSA. The schedule gets significantly more difficult next. Texas travels to face No. 14 Tennessee , creating one of Week 4's biggest ranked matchups. Georgia remains No. 2 after beating Arkansas 45-17. The Bulldogs have now started 3-0 for 12 consecutive seasons , the longest such streak by an FBS program during the AP poll era. Notre Dame stays at No. 3 after a 27-10 victory over Michigan State. The Fighting Irish have won 13 consecutive games. Ole Miss Surges From No. 8 to No. 4 Ole Miss delivered one of the weekend's defining performances. The Rebels defeated then-No. 7 LSU 32-24 , sending Ole Miss four positions higher from No. 8 to No. 4 . The victory also gave Ole Miss a notable milestone. This is the first season in program history in which the Rebels have defeated two AP Top 10 opponents within their first three games . Indiana slipped one position to No. 5 despite remaining undefeated. The Hoosiers beat Western Kentucky 38-0 and have posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1993. Miami and Ohio State Remain Near the Top Miami dropped one spot to No. 6 despite defeating Wake Forest 33-20. Quarterback Darian Mensah completed 35 consecutive passes across his past two games, establishing an ACC record according to the source. Ohio State moved from No. 6 to No. 7 after a 59-3 victory over Kent State. The game included a major individual milestone, with Jeremiah Smith moving into the lead in career receiving yards at Ohio State. Alabama climbed two positions to No. 8 after beating Florida State 50-36. BYU moved from No. 11 to No. 9, while LSU's loss to Ole Miss sent the Tigers from No. 7 to No. 10 . Louisville Makes One of Week 3's Biggest Jumps Louisville's climb is one of the most significant developments in the new poll. The Cardinals jumped seven positions from No. 23 to No. 16 after defeating SMU 41-31. Louisville has now opened the season with three consecutive games scoring at least 38 points for only the third time in program history. SMU moved in the opposite direction. The Mustangs dropped six positions from No. 16 to No. 22 after the loss. Before this season, SMU had been 4-0 all-time against Louisville. Texas A&M Takes a Major Fall Texas A&M experienced an even larger drop. The Aggies fell 14 positions from No. 9 to No. 23 after losing 31-21 to Kentucky. The defeat snapped Texas A&M's 19-game home winning streak against unranked opponents. The Aggies now face No. 10 LSU on the road. Oregon, meanwhile, moved up one position to No. 20 after responding to its previous loss with an 84-0 victory over Portland State . It was Oregon's largest shutout victory since 1916. Florida and Mississippi State Enter the Rankings Two SEC programs are newcomers to the Week 3 Top 25. Florida enters at No. 21 after defeating Auburn 44-39. The Gators are 3-0 for the first time since 2019. Mississippi State enters at No. 24 following a 41-34 victory over South Carolina. The Bulldogs' 41 points tied the program record for most points scored against South Carolina in the history of the series. Houston rounds out the rankings at No. 25 after falling three positions following a 28-26 loss to Texas Tech. Oklahoma, meanwhile, dropped completely out of the rankings after being No. 24 in Week 2. The Sooners fell out despite beating New Mexico, with the source noting Oklahoma scored its fewest points in a victory in decades. Week 4 Brings More Ranked Showdowns The Week 3 rankings set the stage for another important weekend. No. 1 Texas travels to No. 14 Tennessee , while No. 2 Georgia hosts Oklahoma. No. 4 Ole Miss travels to face newly ranked No. 21 Florida. No. 10 LSU hosts No. 23 Texas A&M, and No. 12 USC welcomes No. 20 Oregon. No. 17 Iowa also travels to No. 18 Michigan. Texas remains the team everyone is chasing, but Week 3 showed just how quickly the poll can change. Ole Miss and Louisville made major climbs, Texas A&M and SMU suffered sharp falls, and Florida and Mississippi State pushed their way into the rankings. With multiple ranked matchups ahead, the Week 3 AP Top 25 may look very different again after the next round of games.
The Week 2 AP Top 25 has a new No. 1 after one of the biggest games of the young 2026 college football season reshaped the national rankings. Texas climbed from No. 4 to No. 1 after completing a second-half comeback to defeat Ohio State 24-23. The loss sent the Buckeyes from the top of the poll all the way to No. 6, while Georgia remained No. 2 and Notre Dame held at No. 3. Oregon suffered an even more dramatic fall. The Ducks dropped from No. 6 to No. 21 following a 39-31 loss to unranked Oklahoma State. Michigan, meanwhile, returned to the rankings at No. 19 after beating Oklahoma 17-10. Complete Week 2 AP Top 25 Rankings The Week 2 poll features significant movement throughout the Top 25, including a new No. 1, five teams moving up at least three positions and Michigan entering after being unranked. Texas — 2-0 Georgia — 2-0 Notre Dame — 2-0 Indiana — 2-0 Miami — 2-0 Ohio State — 1-1 LSU — 2-0 Ole Miss — 2-0 Texas A&M — 2-0 Alabama — 2-0 BYU — 2-0 USC — 3-0 Texas Tech — 2-0 Penn State — 2-0 Tennessee — 2-0 SMU — 2-0 Utah — 2-0 Iowa — 2-0 Michigan — 2-0 Missouri — 2-0 Oregon — 1-1 Houston — 2-0 Louisville — 1-1 Oklahoma — 1-1 Virginia — 2-0 Texas Takes Over No. 1 After Beating Ohio State Texas delivered the result that defined Week 2. The Longhorns entered their matchup against Ohio State ranked No. 4 and left with a 24-23 victory over the nation's No. 1 team . The win moved Texas three positions to the top of the poll. The comeback was especially significant because teams trailing an AP No. 1 opponent by at least 20 points in the fourth quarter had been 0-197 since 2004, according to the source. Texas broke that streak and earned the No. 1 ranking in the process. Georgia remains directly behind Texas at No. 2 after overwhelming Western Kentucky 70-20. Notre Dame stayed No. 3 following a 52-0 shutout of Rice and extended its winning streak to 12 games. Indiana and Miami Move Into the Top Five Indiana moved one position to No. 4 after beating Howard 55-0. The Hoosiers are 2-0 and have now scored at least 50 points in 13 games under Curt Cignetti. Miami made an even bigger move. The Hurricanes climbed two spots from No. 7 to No. 5 following a dominant 77-7 victory over Florida A&M. Miami produced 856 total yards , setting a program record. According to the source, the total was also the second-highest in an ACC game, trailing Florida State's 858-yard performance against Maryland in 1992. Ohio State Tumbles From No. 1 to No. 6 Ohio State experienced the largest change near the top of the rankings. The Buckeyes fell five positions from No. 1 to No. 6 following the one-point loss to Texas. Before the defeat, Ohio State had won 115 consecutive games in which it held a lead of at least 20 points at any stage. That streak ended with Texas' comeback. LSU moved up to No. 7, Ole Miss climbed to No. 8 and Texas A&M advanced to No. 9. Alabama rounds out the Week 2 Top 10 after moving from No. 12. BYU, Tennessee and Utah Continue Climbing Several undefeated teams made notable moves in the middle of the poll. BYU jumped from No. 15 to No. 11 following a 28-17 victory over Arizona. USC moved from No. 14 to No. 12, while Texas Tech remained at No. 13. Penn State climbed two positions to No. 14. Tennessee moved from No. 18 to No. 15 after defeating Georgia Tech 45-24. The Volunteers are 2-0 for the fifth consecutive season. SMU follows at No. 16 after a 56-10 victory over UC Davis. Utah also gained three positions, moving from No. 20 to No. 17 after a 43-10 win over Arkansas. Iowa climbed from No. 21 to No. 18 after beating Iowa State 16-13. Michigan Returns at No. 19 Michigan produced another significant change in the rankings. The Wolverines were unranked entering the week but returned at No. 19 after defeating then-No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10. It was Michigan's first home victory over a ranked opponent while the Wolverines were unranked since 2015. The head-to-head result had consequences for Oklahoma as well. The Sooners plunged 13 positions from No. 11 to No. 24 . Oklahoma scored only 10 points in the loss, its second-lowest scoring total as a ranked team against an unranked opponent since 2010. Oregon Plummets to No. 21 No team still ranked in the poll suffered a larger fall than Oregon. The Ducks entered Week 2 at No. 6 but dropped 15 positions to No. 21 after Oklahoma State handed them a 39-31 loss. The defeat also snapped Oregon's 41-game winning streak against unranked opponents. Missouri sits one spot ahead of Oregon at No. 20 after beating Kansas 38-21. Houston remains No. 22 following a 77-6 victory over Southern. Louisville and Virginia Remain in the Top 25 Louisville moved from No. 24 to No. 23 after responding to its season-opening loss with a 59-13 victory over Villanova. The Cardinals have scored at least 50 points in their home opener in each of the past four seasons. Louisville's next challenge comes against No. 16 SMU. Virginia holds the final position at No. 25 after beating Norfolk State 59-3. The Cavaliers improved to 2-0 and own a plus-82 scoring differential through two games, their best mark through the opening two contests since 1930. Week 2 Reshapes the National Picture The biggest story is clear: Texas has replaced Ohio State at No. 1 . But the movement stretches well beyond the top spot. Miami has reached the Top 5, Michigan has returned to the rankings, Oklahoma has fallen to No. 24 and Oregon has plunged from No. 6 to No. 21. The next round of games could create even more movement. No. 7 LSU is scheduled to visit No. 8 Ole Miss, while No. 16 SMU travels to No. 23 Louisville. After two weeks, the 2026 AP Top 25 already looks considerably different at both the top and bottom of the rankings.